Development Associate

About the Organization

Beit Ruth for Young Women and Girls at Risk is a long-term therapeutic residence, school, and Youth Village in Israel. Its mission is to help vulnerable and at-risk girls build emotional, social, and academic strength so they can break cycles of violence and grow into independent, educated, empowered young women. The organization provides a safe, structured, and nurturing home-like setting with therapeutic and educational support. It also shares its model and advocacy work to help create broader social change.

Role Overview

The American Friends of Beit Ruth is expanding and is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, and ideas-driven Development Associate for its Manhattan office. This is a full-time hybrid role that offers international nonprofit exposure in an organization focused on gender equality, advocacy, and support for at-risk girls.

The role reports to the Development Director and works closely with the Communications Director, Executive Director, and the leadership team in Israel. The associate will contribute across development functions and help advance both immediate fundraising objectives and the organization’s longer-term goals.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer, communicator, creative thinker, and strategist who can turn ideas into action. This person should be comfortable working with goals rather than detailed instructions, enjoy collaboration without needing close supervision, and bring energy, optimism, and a solutions-focused mindset. The role also requires occasional evening and weekend work.

Development and Fundraising

The Associate will support fundraising execution and donor relationship efforts, including event coordination, speaking opportunities, stakeholder outreach, and year-round fundraising planning with U.S. and Israel-based teams. They will assist with cultivation, donor asks, stewardship, visitor and volunteer engagement, prospect research, and identifying new funding and partnership opportunities with individuals, foundations, and organizations.

Communications and Outreach

This position includes planning and producing internal and external communications that motivate donors, prospects, partners, board members, and institutional stakeholders. The Associate will help create persuasive and polished materials such as appeals, newsletters, annual reports, updates, social media content, website content, and event collateral. They will also maintain the organization’s digital presence, including the website, Facebook, and Instagram, and look for new ways to increase visibility.

Programs and Special Initiatives

The Associate will help connect the U.S. and Israel teams by staying informed about village activities, programs, and events and translating that into consistent storytelling and messaging. They will also help manage special initiatives such as University Fellowships, B’nai Mitzvah programs, and the Young Leadership Council, with attention to fundraising outcomes. The role includes outreach to young leadership and B’nai Mitzvah families and substantial involvement in special events, including the annual Gala.

Foundations and Grants

This role supports the foundations and grants effort by helping identify new opportunities and strengthening current relationships. In partnership with the Communications Director, the Associate will help manage the grant calendar, draft and submit proposals, prepare reports and related materials, and coordinate with the Finance team to ensure financial accuracy for funding opportunities.

Required Experience and Skills

Applicants should have a bachelor’s degree and 2 to 4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, and communications, including social media work. Strong results in strategic fundraising and communications are expected, along with the ability to engage a range of audiences persuasively.

The role also calls for strong computer proficiency, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Facebook, Instagram, donor management systems, and creative tools such as Canva, Constant Contact, Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite, and Squarespace. Candidates should be highly organized, detail-oriented, able to manage several projects and deadlines, and comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

Additional strengths include sound judgment, discretion, a social justice orientation, a passion for Beit Ruth’s mission, familiarity with Israel and the Jewish philanthropic community, strong interpersonal skills, active listening, adaptability, critical thinking, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Application Instructions

Applications or nominations should be emailed to Allison Forrester with the subject line “Development Associate Application.” A resume in PDF format is required.

Additional Information

This role requires occasional evening and weekend availability.

The job is based in Manhattan, NY and is a full-time onsite position.

Eligibility

This role is intended for candidates with a bachelor’s degree and 2 to 4 years of relevant nonprofit development and communications experience.