Development Associate

Role:                  Development Associate

Team:                Development

Location:           Baltimore, MD

Status:             National Organization of Legal Services Workers Bargaining Unit

Be a critical member in a team of dedicated social justice advocates! The Public Justice Center seeks a Development Associate to raise resources and to inform and engage the growing community of partners working to change systems to build a more just society. This new position is an excellent opportunity for a motivated, detail-oriented professional looking to grow their skills in fundraising and communications while advancing the PJC’s core mission and strengthening the PJC’s national impact in support of the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel.

 The Public Justice Center (PJC)

The Public Justice Center pursues systemic change to build a just society. The PJC uses legal advocacy tools to pursue social justice, economic and racial equity, and fundamental human rights for people who are struggling to provide for their basic needs. The PJC is a non-profit civil rights law firm that provides advice and representation to clients with low incomes, advocates before legislatures and government agencies, and collaborates with community and advocacy organizations. Founded in 1985, the PJC is a leader in public interest law reform in Maryland and nationally. For more about the PJC, visit our website: www.publicjustice.org. 

 The Position and Core Duties

The Development Associate will play a critical role in increasing the PJC’s capacity to advocate for systemic change nationally. The Development Associate reports to the Director of Development and works closely with members of three PJC teams—NCCRC, development, and communications—to raise more than $1 million annually from foundations, individuals, and law firms and to implement multi-channel communications. **Please note the Public Justice Center has recognized a new collective bargaining unit that is now under development. This role will be a member of the unit.

Fundraising (60%)

The Development Associate will work with the Director of Development, NCCRC Managing Attorney, and others to:

• Maintain a calendar of deadlines for proposals and reports for project-specific funding.
• Identify, research, and prioritize funding prospects based on alignment with the PJC’s mission and project needs.
• Facilitate cultivation and stewardship of funders by the Executive Director, Director of Development, and other team members.
• Write and submit proposals and reports for project-specific funding.
• Support implementation of a strategy to solicit donations for project-specific funding.
• Track cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors in the EveryAction database.

 Communications (25%)

The Development Associate will work with the NCCRC Managing Attorney, communications team, and others to:

• Assist with implementation of the project team communications plan.
• Edit, design, and distribute external national communications related to right to counsel, such as e-newsletters and press releases.
• Update and maintain content on the PJC’s website and online resources for assigned project teams.
• Provide communications support for assigned webinars, trainings, and conferences.
• Contribute content to the annual report based on the work of assigned teams.
• Monitor news and other sources—national and local— for the latest advancements in relevant work.
• Support posting to social media accounts and engagement with followers.

Other (15%)

• Maintain accurate records of donors, advocates, and allies in the EveryAction database.
• Provide administrative support for gift processing, fundraising appeals, and donor stewardship, as needed.
• Actively participate in development and project team meetings, all-staff meetings, and organization-wide initiatives, including our race equity work.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

 Desired Skills and Experience

Successful candidates will likely have one or more of the following qualifications:

• 3+ years of relevant experience, preferably in a legal services or social justice-related nonprofit.
• Associate’s degree or additional relevant experience preferred.

 In addition, the following qualifications are valued for this position. Applicants should also identify other related or supplementary skills and experiences.

Passion for social justice and commitment to the mission of the Public Justice Center.

• Exceptional writer and editor, with the ability to translate complex legal information into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences; to adapt writing style to different mediums and audiences; and to tell a compelling story. 
• Excellent organizational/project management skills and the ability to manage tight deadlines and multiple projects concurrently.
• Experience with donor management software (EveryAction preferred), prospect research tools, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Google (Docs, Sheets, and Slides), Adobe, and meeting and productivity tools (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Slack). 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with others within and outside the PJC.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, fundraising ethics, and a learning culture.
• Spanish/English bilingual (or Spanish proficiency) in written translation is a plus.

 Compensation

This is a full-time, exempt position and may require more than 40 hours in a workweek, including the potential for evening and weekend work. This position is based in Baltimore with the option to work remotely two to three days per week and may require some travel. The target salary for the Development Associate is from $50,000 to $65,000 and is contingent on experience. A language bonus of $3,000/year is given to Spanish/English proficient staff.

 An excellent cafeteria benefit package is also provided. This package offers health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, and retirement options. A cafeteria benefits package gives employees flexibility to choose how to direct their benefits. For example, this package can cover 100% of employee healthcare premiums; an employee can choose to direct those funds towards retirement if they already have health insurance or can have remaining funds added to the employee’s taxable salary. PJC employees receive at least 20 days of paid leave, with increases based on length of tenure, 12 paid holidays, and 15 days of sick leave annually. In addition, the PJC closes for two paid rest weeks each year in June and December.

 Applications

To apply, please submit (1) a cover letter explaining your interest, (2) a resume, (3) the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of three references, and (4) two writing samples (preferably of a grant report or proposal), including a short explanation of your specific contribution to each writing sample. Apply at https://bit.ly/PJCDevelopmentAssociate

 The desired start date for this position is April 6, 2026. Applications will be accepted and interviews conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled, but for priority consideration, please apply by February 23.

Physical/Mental Demands and Office Environment

The physical/mental demands described in this job announcement are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

 Equal Employment Opportunity

The Public Justice Center is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer that encourages all interested persons to apply regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, religion, genetic information, physical or mental disability, marital status, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage Black, Latine, Indigenous, and other applicants of color, people with disabilities, and other people historically underrepresented in the practice of law to apply.