Development Assistant

Temporary, Part-Time - Development Assistant

Development Department

Reporting to: Institutional Fundraising Officer

Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Temporary, One-Year Contract, 20 hours per week

Location: New York City [Hybrid - 2 days in-office]

Monthly Pay: $2,720/month (reflecting an annual salary of $66,300)

Application Deadline: Friday, August 7, 2026

Kennedy Human Rights is seeking a temporary, part-time, Development Assistant to join our Development team for a one-year contract - a hands-on introduction to donor research, database management, and grant writing at a mission-driven organization with a global reach.

This role is designed as a launchpad: you'll build practical, transferable skills in prospect research, Salesforce administration, and writing grant proposals, working directly alongside our Institutional Fundraising Officer and gaining exposure to how a human rights nonprofit runs its fundraising operation day to day. This is a great opportunity for a recent graduate looking to gain work experience in the non-profit human rights space and curious about how human rights work gets funded.

Development Department:

The work of Kennedy Human Rights Center is possible thanks to a dynamic, multi-source model of revenue, supported by an endowment, individual giving (largely driven by board and leadership council support), events (such as our annual Ripple of Hope gala and Compass Investor Conference), and institutional (grant-based) support. 

Responsibilities:

• Research potential funders and build prospect briefs and tracking systems for the Development team; 
• Maintain and update donor records in our donor data management system (Salesforce), keeping outreach history current and accurate
• Produce donor and funder reports directly from Salesforce to support team strategy and decision-making
• Partner with Institutional Funding Officer and the Communications team on monthly funder engagement materials and donor mailing lists
• Help maintain and improve systems for tracking grants, funder engagement, and departmental workflows
• Assist in drafting and editing funding proposals for Kennedy Human Rights programs
• Liaise with colleagues across our programmatic teams, at every level, as projects require
• Assist in event planning and support for special donor related events
• Assist with other tasks and activities as needed, including but not limited to general admin work. 

What You’ll Gain from this Role:

• Professional technical skills in Salesforce (common non-profit CRM platform) - one of the most transferable skills in the nonprofit sector
• Real experience conducting donor prospect research, a specialized skill in high demand across fundraising teams
• Grant-writing experience, from drafting through editing, on live proposals
• Direct mentorship from an Institutional Fundraising Officer and exposure to how a multi-source revenue model works in practice
• A close-up view of the human rights field alongside attorneys, educators, and human rights organizers - useful whether you stay in development or move toward programming, policy, or advocacy.

A successful candidate must have the following skills and experiences:

• Recent graduate with coursework or prior experience related to nonprofit, social justice, or human rights work;
• Strong interest in fundraising, development, grant writing, data management, or nonprofit operations;
• Familiarity with the nonprofit sector and comfort working in a mission-driven environment;
• Awareness and interest in current events and issues relating to human rights around the world;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, including spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel & Google Sheets;
• Proven ability to learn complex organizational work quickly and connect program goals to funding opportunities; genuine curiosity to understand Kennedy Human Rights’ mission, strategy, and partners in depth;
• Strong initiative and self-motivation - able to identify next steps, conduct follow-up research, and advance projects independently once trained;
• Excellent organizational and systems skills, with experience maintaining or improving databases, pipelines, or internal processes to increase team efficiency;
• Strong research, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt tone and content for funders, partners, and colleagues;
• Exceptional attention to detail and willingness to identify, own, and correct errors;
• Effective time management and ability to balance multiple projects independently and collaboratively;
• Self-starter with the drive to propose and execute content pieces on their own;
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information;
• Collaborative, team-oriented, and eager to contribute to a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Innovative thinking, an unwillingness to accept things as they are, and a strong work ethic are essential;
• Teamwork, ability  to build positive relationships with your colleagues and are willing to help others;
•  Inclusive, ability to work with people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives from your own.

Preferred but not required qualifications:

• Experience working with a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system such as Salesforce.
• Prior grant-writing or fundraising experience is a plus.
• Working proficiency/fluency in Spanish or another foreign language is a plus.

Availability and Compensation:

• Pay: $2,762.50/month, paid on the 1st of each month. That reflects a full-time-equivalent annual salary of $66,300, prorated for 20 hours/week - actual annual pay comes out to $33,150/year.
• Term: A fixed, one-year contract, with a possible (not guaranteed) extension depending on Development team needs.
• Benefits: Because this is a part-time, temporary contract position, it is not eligible for medical insurance, retirement, or other full-time employee benefits.
• Schedule: Hybrid, based in our New York City office, approximately 20 hours/week.
• Start date: As early as September 2026.

No phone calls, please. Kennedy Human Rights will contact qualified candidates directly. 

Kennedy Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer and believes we are stronger and more effective by working internally and externally with people of all abilities, diverse backgrounds, and a range of perspectives, particularly those who have historically been marginalized or underrepresented. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We do not discriminate in our hiring practices and in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seek a diverse applicant pool. If you're in need of an accommodation at any time during the application and hiring process please contact us by emailing your request to hr@rfkhumanrights.org with the subj. line "Accommodation Request". Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Having documents in alternate formats or read aloud
• Having interviews in a more accessible location/format