Development Officer

Reports to: Senior Development Director
Position Type: Exempt, Full-Time, Hybrid

About the New England Foundation for the Arts

New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is a 501(c)3 organization that invests in artists and communities and fosters equitable access to the arts, enriching the cultural landscape in New England and the nation.

As an organization, NEFA values an equitable, diverse, and inclusive world, which we interpret as all people having fair access to the tools and resources they need to realize creative and community endeavors. We acknowledge structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunities based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography and strive to counter those inequities in our work.

We are committed to hiring individuals who support and share our values, and who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. NEFA does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About the Position

The Development Officer plays an integral role in resource development at NEFA, supporting and driving a range of activity focused on data management, processing and reporting on funding, donor stewardship, and special events. Reporting to the Senior Development Director, the Officer interfaces with staff across the organization, as well as with Board members, donors, and other major organizational stakeholders.

The Development Officer will be highly organized and able to prioritize and manage multiple and varied projects concurrently; have strong administrative, organizational, and communication skills; develop and maintain positive interpersonal relations with all parties; and exercise a high degree of integrity while managing confidential information. The Development Officer will be able to work effectively both within teams and independently, to accomplish goals and advance projects. 

Essential Functions - % of Time 

Development Administration – 65% 

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of NEFA’s mission, history, programs, projects, and initiatives in order to effectively steward NEFA’s fundraising and development priorities;
• Serve as department contact for Salesforce, working closely with finance and technology departments, for data management, data coordination, and project management;
• Maintain development data in Salesforce database, ensuring timely processing of all funding, retrieval data, tracking of and reporting on cultivation, proposals, and reports to internal and external constituents;
• Serve as project lead for NEFA’s annual appeal and other mailings, including generating mailing lists and producing letters;
• Write and produce gift acknowledgements for all institutional and individual donations;
• Evaluate development technology and operating systems for optimal efficiency; recommend and implement changes to systems and processes;
• Research prospective funders, including foundations, government sources, corporations, and individuals;
• Work with Senior Development Director to evaluate development efforts and set annual goals and workplans; participate in department and organizational strategic planning.

Donor Research, Cultivation, and Stewardship - 25%  

• Support preparation and submission of funding proposals and reports to both institutional and individual donors;
• Lead solicitations and stewardship for sponsorships of NEFA convenings and events including tracking sponsor benefits;
• Analyze and report on development data to internal and external stakeholders, including content for board and committee meetings, and print and web materials;
• Lead planning efforts for all donor cultivation events;
• Partner with Senior Development Director, Executive Director, and Executive Affairs and Special Projects Officer to support cultivation and stewardship efforts for NEFA’s board of directors.

Connecting and Learning – 10%  

• Represent the organization at conferences, meetings, performances, and other events; report on learning and outcomes;
• Plan and/or participate in organization-wide convenings and events, planning sessions, and working groups. 

Scope 

Does this position supervise others?   No 

Internal/External Contacts

Develop, maintain, and support positive relationships with a variety of external stakeholders such as current and prospective donors, state arts agencies representatives, board members, advisory council members, and event participants, as well as with internal NEFA staff.

Financial/Operational Resources Impacted

$ 115,000 

Decision Making/Problem Solving

Maintain the integrity of NEFA’s development data in Salesforce; strategically engage and communicate with NEFA’s external stakeholders; analyze current systems to develop and implement new procedures and guidelines; serve as partner to Senior Development Director and other staff in department planning, budgeting, and evaluation; manage projects with various departments across the organization simultaneously. 

FY26 Officer Starting Salary

$ 72,000  

Opportunities for Advancement

At the beginning of their tenure in the role, staff in officer level positions should set performance, development, and skill-building goals with their supervisor based on the expectations of the position and needs of the department. After two (2) years in an officer level position, employees who have a proven track record of success in their role, have accomplished or made significant progress toward their performance goals and have demonstrated steady growth as measured in their annual performance assessments, may be considered for promotion with careful consideration of department conditions.  

Qualifications

Required

• 4-8 years of professional experience or a mix of professional and relevant volunteer or informal experience in fundraising, donor relations and stewardship, grantwriting, or other similar activities;
• Outstanding communication skills - verbal, written, and interpersonal with impeccable attention to detail;
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel;
• Familiarity with project management software (Asana or similar a plus);
• Past experience with online research methods;
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to anticipate, initiate, and advance multiple priorities and projects concurrently;
• Previous experience working with a CRM database; past experience with Salesforce a significant plus;
• Adept with event planning at different scales; past experience in cultivation or fundraising event planning a significant plus;
• Identification with and appreciation for NEFA’s mission, vision, and values, and an interest in contributing to efforts to operationalize those values. 

Preferred

• Experience working with a variety of funders including government, private foundations, and individuals donors;
• Strong interest in arts and culture. 

Workplace Requirements 

NEFA is a multi-state organization and an evolving and dynamic workplace. NEFA staff work in a variety of contexts, including in-person in Boston and remotely across New England and other approved states. This position is best suited to individuals who are interested in working in-person or hybrid schedules who currently or will reside within a reasonable commuting distance that allows for at 1-2 days in the office per week at NEFA’s office in Boston. This is not a remote role. 

Physical/Mental Demands

Stationary position, occasional lifting (up to 20 lbs.), occasional travel (regional/national), computational skills, reasoning, decision-making, detailed work, discretion, confidentiality, communication, organization skills, reading, processing 

Application Instructions 

All candidates will apply using the application form at nefa.org/about/employment. We ask all candidates to submit a current resume and a cover letter describing their interest in and preparedness for the role, and to respond to a limited set of questions about relevant skills. 

If you need assistance in order to fully participate in the application or hiring process, you may request an accommodation by contacting NEFA’s co-accessibility coordinator: Ann Wicks | tel/tty 617-423-1390

The deadline to apply for this position is Monday, July 28, 2025. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we encourage interested candidates to apply prior to the deadline. Applications received after the deadline may not be reviewed if the existing candidate pool is deemed sufficient. Requests for initial phone interviews will go out approximately one week after the application deadline.