Senior development associate

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

At GBH, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are hybrid and work both from home and onsite. Our current hybrid approach requires staff to work onsite a minimum of two days each week, every Tuesday and one other day, to be determined by their business unit. Hybrid staff are also welcome to come in additional days each week or may be asked to come in on other days by their manager.

Senior Development Associate - 2 openings

GBH enriches people's lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

At GBH, we believe in the advantages of coming together to build community, mentor and learn from colleagues, and connect more deeply with our mission. As a result, the majority of our staff are hybrid and work both from home and onsite. Our current hybrid approach requires staff to work onsite a minimum of two days each week, every Tuesday and one other day, to be determined by their business unit. Hybrid staff are also welcome to come in additional days each week or may be asked to come in on other days by their manager.

GBH is a vibrant public media powerhouse that enriches people’s lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain–fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

GBH is more than a station or a channel—it is a leader in independent public media, telling the stories that matter to our audiences and producing programs that can change the world. For the past 75 years we have grown to become the largest producer of content for PBS, making award winning series such as FRONTLINE, NOVA, MASTERPIECE, American Experience , and ANTIQUES ROADSHOW. PBS is the most trusted source of media in the United States carrying the local, national and international news that audiences rely on.

Department Overview

The Development Division is responsible for raising funds from individuals and institutions. It plays a vital role in helping to finance broadcast, video, digital, and audio programs, including celebrated dramas, investigative journalism, documentaries, children’s media, podcasts, and other local and national programming in the public media system.

This is a transformative period for GBH, as it navigates profound changes in its business model, driven by the changing media landscape and evolving sources of revenue. GBH will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026, and will be launching a comprehensive campaign in fall 2025 that will position us solidly for the next chapter of our storied history as a local and national leader in public media.

Job Overview

The Senior Development Associate (SDA ) provides donor relations support to the Major Gifts team connected with all fundraising, stewardship, and cultivation activities. Reporting to an Associate Director of Major Gifts, the SDA is a versatile writer, responsible for producing broad scope and highly individualized donor communications, writing reports, documenting communications, supporting briefing and proposal development, tracking deadlines, providing event support, and tending to other related tasks.

The SDA partners with the Major Gifts Officers on these activities and works closely with one or more national production unit(s) and other GBH departments, supporting the Major Gifts team as liaison for these areas to ensure the department has accurate and timely content to share with key donors and prospects.

Responsibilities

• Work with Major Gifts Officers and other account managers on donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities. These activities include gathering necessary information from other GBH departments, drafting communications, drafting/editing proposals and reports to funders promptly, ensuring proper funder recognition, and other related activities.
• Manage implementation of donor engagement and stewardship strategies and evaluate and prepare associated status reports
• Ensure that donor and gift database records are updated and current, including cultivation plans and activity entry, and maintenance of donor files
• Draft emails, acknowledgment letters, tax receipts and other written correspondence
• Coordinate donor events and meetings
• Support the production of briefings and other relevant materials for Major Gifts Officers in preparation for prospect visits or meetings
• Proactively keep the Major Gifts team informed of upcoming proposal and stewardship deadlines
• Help with relevant administrative support, including research requests, database entry and reports, correspondence, and other tasks
• Stay abreast of GBH projects and activities by attending other departments' team meetings, reading proposals and treatments, etc.
• Work on special projects and requests as they arise

SKILL SET

• Exceptional communication skills, especially written, are essential.
• Must be able to write in different voices, for various media platforms.
• Experience in a fundraising environment is highly desired.
• Strong candidates will possess top-notch organizational, computer, and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with the ability to foster productive relationships with colleagues, balanced with an ability to be self-directed and work independently.
• Must be a thorough, detail-oriented individual and very effective in managing multiple projects, responding to various requests, and prioritizing and meeting deadlines. S/he/they must be willing to handle administrative tasks, be flexible, and work within a team-oriented environment to support the overall goals for the department and GBH.
• Familiarity with relational databases and knowledge of database management practices is required.
• Ideal candidates will possess an interest in a career in development. Interest in participating in GBH Employee Resource Groups is a plus.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Three to five years of experience, preferably in a development or nonprofit environment required.

JOB SPECIFICS

Staff position

Hybrid position

LOCATION

1 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135

This position is located in Boston, MA, and requires on-site presence.

GBH is an equal opportunity employer. The community and audience we serve are diverse, and we wish to foster that diversity in our workplace. Toward that end, GBH does not discriminate against individuals in hiring, employment, or promotion based on race, religion, color, sex/gender, gender identity and gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, citizenship, disability, veteran or military status, political belief, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Process Assistance

GBH will reasonably accommodate applicants with disabilities who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. To initiate an accommodation request, contact the Human Resource department by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling 617-300-2000.