Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies is the largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people worldwide with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower people with IDD to form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure jobs, improve communication and advocacy skills, and live independently, while also offering support for their families.

Job Title: Development Associate, Best Buddies Challenges 

Department: Strategic Development and Marketing 

Reports to: Regional Ride Director 

# of direct reports: n/a 

Salary: $40k-45k

Position Overview: The Development Associate is a key position on the Development Team charged with recruiting new participants and teams, retaining alumni, increasing participant fundraising and providing excellent customer service to all participants in the Best Buddies Challenge Rides (which support Best Buddies International). This position focuses heavily on peer-to-peer fundraiser recruitment and support. Areas of responsibility and associated task functions are outlined below. The goals and direct responsibilities associated with this position are to increase participant recruitment while providing positive relationships resulting in increased participation and revenue. By accomplishing these goals, participant recruitment and fundraising revenues will directly contribute to the bottom-line profitability and success of the Best Buddies Challenges.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in marketing and/or communications
• Experience with P2P fundraising campaigns is highly desirable 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Excellent customer service skills
• Experience in managing relationships with key stakeholders
• Database knowledge (pulling reports, analyzing data, updating records, etc) 
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines 
• Ability to work independently in a team environment 
• Work well under pressure and with a variety of people
• Motivated self-starter personality
• Deadline conscious with ability to work within sales and development goals
• Ability and flexibility to work nights and weekends
• Plan and manage events
• Own a car and be willing and able to travel locally and nationally
• Be a team player
• Knowledge of cycling a plus
• Ability to approach potentially stressful situations with a sense of humor

Job Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Oversee and manage key participant relationships for the organization aimed at increased revenue
• Create and follow participant on-boarding, lead-flow, and fundraising stratification processes and protocols
• Support participants with fundraising and team development
• Manage all aspects of participant database for the rides 
• Manage and maintain ride and sponsor CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform including regular updates and collection of data from team
• Assist with rider team development and customer service leading up to and during the event
• Plan and execute information sessions in person and over the phone
• Write and assist with external communications
• Assist in data collection process and analyzation for annual survey and marketing reports
• Handle customer service issues as requested
• Create regional calendar and attends events, expos, and conventions to promote the Best Buddies Challenge and recruit new riders

Objectives:

• Increase participants and participant revenue
• Build new community and corporate teams
• Achieve and exceed participant revenue goals
• Develop new leads for teams
• Retain and grow current teams
• Improve participant customer service
• Utilize standardized lead and participant communication plans 
• Assist in management of CRM database

Location: Hybrid WFH/National Rides Office in Boston, MA

Best Buddies® is an affirmative action employer, in addition to an EOE and M/F/V/PWD/PV employer. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are foundational to Best Buddies International’s core values and help the organization continue to achieve its mission. Here at Best Buddies, our goal is to lead and advocate for a more inclusive world.

Best Buddies offers a comprehensive and generous benefits program that include financial security, health and wellness and time off.