Associate, Institutional Advancement

Title: Associate, Institutional Advancement

Employment Status: NON-EXEMPT

Salary: $21.71 per hour

Supervisor Title: Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships and Philanthropy

Date Revised: May 2025

Summary of Position:

The Institutional Advancement Associate works within the External Affairs division to support our organization’s individual development program, through providing administrative, research, and programming support for philanthropic partner-related events with the organization. Primary responsibilities include all elements of gift management, research for individual fundraising, drafting meeting briefs, program and event support and other special projects as needed. A positive attitude and collaborative work style is required.

This position is located in Washington D.C. and Meridian requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. The position may work partially remotely until further notice.

Position Responsibilities:

Fundraising Support

  • Conduct donor and philanthropic partner research and write meeting briefs for cultivation of major prospects
  • Support stewardship and meetings with the Board of Trustees
  • Assist with drafting gift agreements and proposals
  • Ensure timely gift entry of donations; create and post biweekly batches of acknowledgement letters

Event Support

  • Provide administrative and logistical support for Meridian Council events as well as outreach and administrative support related to philanthropic partners for other events across the External Affairs team
  • Draft events invitations, event programs, and other printed collateral
  • Build guest list campaigns within Salesforce, build out event registration pages through Linvio, track RSVPS, drive event attendance, and assist with follow up to attendees and speakers
  • Create event descriptions and other content for both paper and digital assets including the website, newsletters, invitations, event reminders, social media posts, the annual report, and event follow-up emails.
  • Staff all Institutional Advancement events from set-up through cleanup and other events as assigned
  • Process event invoices in a timely manner as needed
  • Ensure a premier engagement experience from start to finish for all events across Meridian attended by philanthropic partners

Other

  • Support the Institutional Advancement team’s Salesforce entry, adhering to organizational processes and suggesting improvements over time
  • Responsible for completing all organizational administrative responsibilities in a timely manner and meeting all organizational administrative deadlines
  • Other duties as assigned

Education/Experience

  • Bachelor’s Degree
  • 1-3 years of related experience
  • Or any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Customer service experience and mindset
  • Understanding of and interest in non-profit development and fundraising activities
  • Superior communication skills, both written and verbal; experience drafting invitations, bios, event descriptions
  • Familiarity with staffing events
  • Exceptional organizational skills, detail oriented, with excellent time management skills
  • Driven and high-energy personality with ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
  • Strong inter-cultural communication skills; maturity, cultural sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with individuals from around the world

Technical Requirements:

  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams is necessary for this role
  • Experience with a CRM is required; experience with Salesforce is preferred
  • Experience with third party Salesforce applications like Pardot, Linvio, iWave, and payment connectors like Stripe preferred

Employer’s Statement

Meridian is committed to empowering global leaders and amplifying voices of a wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater understanding, shared values, and respect. Connecting people has been our foundation for over 65 years. If you share our values and enthusiasm to promote non-partisan collaboration to address global challenges and opportunities, you can find a home at Meridian.

As an equal opportunity employer, Meridian promotes equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, personal appearance, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, family responsibilities, marital, veteran or military status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity will be offered and maintained to all persons at every stage and condition of employment, including recruiting, hiring, training, upgrading, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.

Meridian offers a comprehensive benefits package including a full medical plan with no deductible, dental (including orthodontics), a retirement plan with a substantial employer contribution from day one, fully paid life, long- and short-term disability, a variety of voluntary benefits, and generous paid leave and holidays.

How to Apply 

Qualified candidates should apply here. Only candidates being considered for this position will be contacted. NO PHONE CALLS in reference to this position will be accepted.