Associate, North America Major Gifts

Job Posting Organization:
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization that was established to conduct in-depth investigations and provide incisive and timely reporting on human rights issues. HRW is known for its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns and has a proven track record of influencing the policies and practices of governments and international institutions regarding human rights. The organization operates globally, with a diverse workforce that reflects a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. HRW actively seeks to promote diversity within its staff and encourages candidates from all walks of life to apply. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and respected.

Job Overview:
The Associate position within the North America Major Gifts team at Human Rights Watch is a full-time role that focuses on providing essential administrative and clerical support to the fundraising efforts aimed at major and leadership gifts. The Associate will play a crucial role in supporting the organization's strategic development initiatives across the United States, particularly in areas where HRW does not have a dedicated Development office. This position requires a detail-oriented individual who will manage and organize the Salesforce database, ensuring that donor information is accurate and up-to-date. The Associate will also collaborate on various communications, administrative tasks, and travel coordination, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the Development and Outreach team. The role offers opportunities for professional growth through participation in team meetings, training sessions, and networking events related to human rights, allowing the Associate to engage with colleagues from around the world.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support donor relationship management for the major and leadership gifts fundraising team by coordinating donor communications, including sending impact updates and newsletters, inviting donors to calls/events, and drafting messages.
• Liaise with the Fundraising Systems and Data Analysis team to assist with financial reporting for the team.
• Act as a communication bridge between the Major Gifts team and the Direct Marketing team.
• Coordinate all year-end and fiscal year-end solicitations for the team.
• Draft and edit pledge, gift, and meeting acknowledgment letters, as well as other correspondence.
• Update Salesforce database records with pledges, call reports, research profiles, and other relevant data.
• Monitor and coordinate internal organization-wide communication regarding relevant donors and prospects.
• Schedule internal and external meetings, arrange travel, prepare expense reports, and manage donor mailings for the team and managing directors.
• Conduct web-based prospect research to identify potential donors. 1
• In collaboration with the Major Gifts team, respond to internal and external requests for information on major, leadership, and planned gifts. 1
• Coordinate the recruiting, hiring, and training of interns as necessary. 1
• Carry out other duties as required by the team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in fields such as international relations, journalism, social sciences, or related studies. A minimum of one year of relevant work experience is required, demonstrating the ability to build and manage relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential, along with experience in prospect research or other research-related roles. Familiarity with Salesforce and donor databases is highly desirable, and experience with Salesforce Marketing Cloud or other email marketing systems is a plus. Proficiency in project management software, such as Asana, and knowledge of HTML are also advantageous. Candidates should have prior office or administrative experience, strong organizational skills, and meticulous attention to detail. The ability to work well under pressure while managing multiple tasks simultaneously is crucial, as is the capacity to prioritize tasks with minimal supervision and work independently or as part of a team. A strong interest in international human rights is required, along with proficiency in MS Office applications.

Educational Background:
A bachelor’s degree in international relations, journalism, social sciences, or a related field is required for this position. Equivalent work experience may also be considered in lieu of a formal degree, provided that the candidate demonstrates the necessary skills and knowledge relevant to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of one year of relevant work experience. This experience should ideally include roles that involve building and managing relationships with stakeholders, as well as administrative support functions. Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to handle tasks related to donor communications and fundraising support.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory for this position, particularly in oral and written communication. While not required, proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, especially in roles that involve international engagement or communication with diverse donor bases.

Additional Notes:
This is a full-time position based in the New York office, with the expectation that the Associate will work from the office approximately 2-3 days a week. The salary range for this position is between US $60,001 and $64,328, and HRW offers competitive compensation along with employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance. Applicants must possess valid US work authorization to be considered for this role. The application deadline is April 3, 2026, and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible through the HRW online job portal.