Development and Communications Associate

FLSA Status: Full-Time, At- Will, Exempt

Location: Hybrid / San Jose, CA

Pay Range: $69,000 - $76,000

Reports to: Senior Director of Growth & Strategic Communications

Organization Overview

The Latino Education Advancement Foundation (LEAF) is committed to promoting equal

opportunities for Latinx students to excel in higher education and realize their career aspirations

for social and economic advancement. As a 501(c)(3) organization, we offer a range of

programs and education initiatives, including comprehensive support services for

postsecondary enrollment and persistence, career pathways preparation, and educational equity

advocacy.

Since 2019, we have supported over 1,000 LEAF Scholars and their families throughout their

college journey. In 2024 alone, we served more than 500 LEAF Scholars and over 90 LEAF

Mentors, along with more than 200 families. A remarkable 85% of our students persist in

college, considering that fewer than 20% of low-income Latinx students nationally persist in

earning a college degree within six years. Our comprehensive support system includes

scholarships, workshops, peer mentorship, parent engagement, and college partnerships, which

all work together to increase the enrollment and retention rates of Latinx students. With our

unwavering commitment, we aspire to empower and uplift our community's next generation of

Latinx leaders.

Position Overview

The Development and Communications Associate will strengthen LEAF’s fundraising capacity

through donor communications, gift processing, stewardship, and events, while also managing

external communications and brand visibility to increase awareness and support.

This position is responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive communication

plans that enhance the organization's visibility, engage diverse audiences, and drive support for

our mission and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Development Operations and Donor Stewardship

● Manage timely processing of all donations (online, check, in-kind) in collaboration with

Finance/Operations.

● Ensure accurate entry of gifts into the donor database; reconcile regularly with Finance.

● Draft, personalize, and send donor acknowledgment letters within 48–72 hours of

receipt.

● Maintain donor records and giving history to support cultivation and stewardship.

● Produce monthly fundraising and communications dashboard reports for leadership and

the Board.

Fundraising Campaigns and Events

● Collaborate with leadership to design and implement annual fundraising campaigns

(EOY appeal, spring/fall campaigns, Giving Tuesday, etc.).

● Draft donor-centered appeals, stewardship emails, impact reports, and case statements.

● Develop tailored materials for major donor cultivation (one-pagers, program briefs).

● Support planning and promotion of donor engagement events, site tours, and cultivation

activities.

● Ensure donor recognition is timely and visible (annual report, newsletters, website, social

media).

Communications and Marketing

● Project manage and draft LEAF’s Annual Impact Report (content, donor lists, impact

highlights).

● Integrate storytelling into all fundraising and stewardship efforts (highlighting students,

parents, mentors).

● Align website, newsletters, and social media content with fundraising campaigns.

● Maintain consistency of brand and messaging across donor-facing and

community-facing materials.

● Create basic collateral and graphics (using tools like Canva) and coordinate with

consultants/designers as needed for larger projects.

● Manage LEAF’s website and social media presence to ensure content is current,

accurate, and engaging.

● Other duties as required and assigned by the manager

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed

by the incumbent in this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all

responsibilities, duties, and skills.

Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or related field, or

equivalent experience.

● 2–3 years of experience in fundraising, development communications, donor relations,

or nonprofit communications.

● Experience with gift processing and donor acknowledgment systems.

● Familiarity with donor databases/CRM system Network for Good a plus.

● Experience supporting fundraising campaigns and/or events.

● Strong project management skills; able to manage timelines across campaigns,

calendars, and events.

● Excellent writing skills with ability to craft clear, persuasive, donor-centered content.

● Proficiency in social media management and content creation; experience with Canva or

similar tools.

● Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across staff, Board, and external

partners.

● Familiarity with nonprofit fundraising best practices.

● Strong ethical values and a passion for LEAF’s mission.

Compensation and Benefits

LEAF offers a generous pay and benefits package which includes:

● $69,000 - $76,000 annual base salary, based on experience and qualifications

● 50% employer paid medical and dental/vision coverage options

● 401(k) retirement plan with a LEAF match: 100% of contributions on the first 3%

deferred, then 50% of contributions from 3% to 5%

● Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays, 15 days accrued vacation- increases with length of

service, 10 days paid sick leave, Winter break between Christmas and New Year.

● Parking and mileage reimbursement

● Cell phone stipend

● Employer-sponsored professional development opportunities

● Optional disability, life insurance coverage options, as well as Flexible Spending

Accounts, employee-paid

Work Environment

● LEAF offices are located at 1550 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126. This position is

required to work on-site 2-3 days per week and travel to multiple school sites within the

Bay Area.

● Regular evening and occasional weekend events may be required, with the ability to flex

working hours accordingly.

● Local travel may be required for this job; reliable transportation is solely the

responsibility of the employee.

How to apply

Interested candidates submit a cover letter, resume and portfolio showcasing relevant

communication materials or sample work at https://www.leafca.org/careers or

careers@leafca.org. Application screening and initial phone interviews will be completed on a

rolling basis. Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.

LEAF is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive

consideration for employment without regard to race, color, citizenship status, national origin,

ancestry (including caste), gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,

genetic information, age, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status,

reproductive health status, family caregiver status, political or religious affiliations, or any other

characteristic protected by law.