Development Associate

Company: Make The Road New Jersey
Location: Passaic
Posted on: February 18, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Make the Road States (MRstates) is the national home for the second-generation Make the Road family of organizations in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Nevada, this in addition to New York, that serves to uplift the voices of working-class, immigrants, women, LGBTQIA people, and people of color across the Make the Roads umbrella. From an operational spectrum it serves as the Finance and Human Resources Compliance Officers for the umbrella at large. Make the Road New Jersey (MRNJ) builds the power of immigrant and working class communities to achieve dignity and respect through community organizing, the provision of high quality legal and support services, transformative education and policy innovation. MRNJ is a project of Make the Road States. Founded in 2014, MRNJ operates centers in Elizabeth, Passaic, and Perth Amboy, NJ that reach thousands of immigrant and working class people of color each year. Our member-led organizing committees which work on the issues named above implement strategies to combat shared problems, and develop leadership and the capacity for civic participation. Since our founding, MRNJ has won more than 20 pro-immigrant and pro-worker policies, including the nation's first guaranteed severance law, landmark anti-wage theft legislation, occupational and drivers’ license for undocumented immigrants and a $15 minimum wage. We also provide an array of high-quality bilingual services including legal services in the areas of immigration, tenants', and workplace rights, civic engagement and leadership development, healthcare access, and college access. Make the Road Action (MRA), a 501(c)(4) organization is committed to building power for justice in immigrant and low-income working-class communities of color. MRA operates in five states - New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. We work to create social change, connect voters to the candidates and issues that are most important to them, and work hands-on in a fast-paced environment to create long-term impact in the communities that need it most. Current Opening: The Development Associate in collaboration with the Development Director is responsible for overseeing MRNJ’s fundraising program. They will play a vital role in fundraising for the entire organization, primarily by assisting with fundraising events, preparing grant proposals, and cultivating individual donors. The Development Associate must be able to meet deadlines and have excellent attention to detail. The role is a new position that will play a critical part in increasing MRNJ’s fundraising capacity to better achieve MRNJ’s vision & mission. MRNJ is an unionized work place, This position is not part of the bargaining unit Responsibilities: Identify local, state, and national funding opportunities Draft grant applications and reports, and track deadlines Work with Development Director to cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with current, former, and potential funders and agency leaders Compile detailed profiles of prospective funders using a variety of strategies, including online research Provide administrative support to Development Director Work closely with Senior Communications Manager to draft language and design materials for external audiences Work with other departments to track deliverables for grant reports Support Development Director in developing long and short-term fundraising strategies and goals Produce grant content including but not limited to letters of intent, grant proposals, one-pagers, and other content for funding appeals Lead end of year fundraising campaign and create materials to support staff in organizational fundraising efforts Support the annual fundraising gala and other fundraising events Update and maintain the donor database Help develop thank you letters/notes and other appreciation content for donors Represent, and advocate on behalf of MRNJ members in coalition spaces, with elected officials, and government agencies Participate in all-staff events and meetings Stay updated on program, department or organization related matters, events and practices to provide clients, students, guests and volunteers with accurate information; Attend, participate in, and/or facilitate MRNJ’s events, meetings, and trainings as needed; Support rapid response efforts as needed. Uphold MRNJ’s values and mission; May perform other duties as assigned Requirements: Eligible to work in the U.S Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience At least 3 years' work experience in development, communications, public relations, advocacy, or political campaign preferred Demonstrated commitment to social justice, community organizing, leadership development and the elevation of directly impacted and marginalized people to create change; Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred Have experience working in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic work environment Job Competencies: Self-starter with strong organizational skills and strong attention to detail Be highly professional and team oriented with a passion for excellence and eagerness to help the department meet our goals. Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and complete assignments under strict deadlines with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment. Ability to work under pressure required. Have a working knowledge of spreadsheets, Microsoft Office suite, and using a database to run reports. Regular hours (9am-5pm or 10am-6pm) with some evenings or weekends required Strong verbal and written communication skills High level of accountability and initiative; needs to be a self-starter and eager to do team work to support the organization as a whole Salary and Benefits: MRStates offers an excellent benefit package including health insurance, 401K, and generous paid vacation, sick, personal days. The salary range for this position is from $64,661 to $73,913. How to Apply: Please attach cover letter/resume and submit all documents to the Make the Road New States career center. Make the Road believes that social change is best achieved through grassroots community-based organizing that flows directly from and engages the community demanding the change. As a membership-based organization, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, criminal history, or Veteran status. We strongly encourage those from historically excluded groups to apply.

Keywords: Make The Road New Jersey, Paterson , Development Associate, PR / Public Relations , Passaic, New Jersey