Development Associate 

The Development Associate is a permanent staff position with opportunity for growth. Desired start date is November 30, 2024. 

The Great Northern summary: The Great Northern celebrates cold, creative winters in Minneapolis and Saint Paul through ten days of diverse programming that invigorate mind and body. 

Position Summary: The Development Associate supports the fundraising and revenue-generating efforts of The Great Northern through grant writing, donor cultivation, event planning, and the management of development operations. This role is essential to ensuring that TGN meets its annual fundraising goals and continues to deliver high-quality programming. The ideal candidate will be resourceful, entrepreneurial, self-motivated, collaborative, nimble, and highly organized. 

The Great Northern is a fast-growing nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating Minnesota’s cold, creative winters through programming that invigorates mind and body. In an era of changing climate that threatens our signature season, we seek to create community, inspire action, and share the resilient spirit of the North with the world. Our work is fueled by passionate individuals committed to making a meaningful difference in the world. 

Reports to: Executive Director 

Location: The candidate should be based in the Twin Cities and available for in-person staff and stakeholder meetings, networking, donor engagement, and festival events across Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Duties and responsibilities

Fundraising Support 

• Assist in the implementation of fundraising strategy to meet annual revenue goals

• Conduct donor research to identify new funding opportunities (individual, corporate, and foundation donors) 

• Help develop and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, and grantmakers through personalized communications and regular updates 

• Assist in preparing donor cultivation materials, including proposals, reports, and presentations 

• Manage the scheduling and coordination of donor meetings and stewardship activities

Grant Writing and Reporting

• Research and identify potential grant opportunities from local, regional, and national foundations

• Prepare and submit grant applications, with support from Executive Director

• Assist in tracking grant deadlines and reporting requirement

• Collaborate with internal teams to gather necessary information for grant proposals and reports

Event Planning and Coordination 

• Assist in planning and executing donor cultivation and fundraising events, including annual gala, donor receptions, and other special events 

• Manage event logistics, including invitations, RSVPs, vendor coordination, and day-of-event details 

• Collaborate with marketing and programming teams to ensure the integration of development objectives into events

Donor Database and Record Management

• Maintain and update the donor database (CRM), ensuring the accuracy of records, including donor profiles, interactions, and contributions

• Generate regular reports for internal and external use, tracking fundraising progress and donor engagement

• Assist in managing gift processing and donor acknowledgment letters, ensuring timely and accurate receipts

• Support the creation of donor impact reports to demonstrate the importance of their contributions

Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships

• Assist in identifying and approaching potential corporate sponsors for the festival and programming

• Support the development of sponsorship packages and proposals, tailored to corporate interests

• Track sponsor benefits and deliverables, ensuring fulfillment of sponsorship agreements, in partnership with Sales & Marketing Manager

Collaboration and Cross-Departmental Work

• Work closely with the marketing, programming, and finance teams to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and timelines

• Collaborate with external partners, such as grantmakers, corporate sponsors, and community organizations, to build and strengthen relationships

• Participate in strategic planning sessions to develop long-term development and fundraising goals

Desired qualifications and experience:

• 2-5 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, or related roles

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to work collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced environment

• Demonstrated success with both local and national funding prospects

• Entrepreneurial with respect to identifying and pursuing creative income opportunities

• Positive, flexible, partner mindset

• Commitment to the mission and values of The Great Northern

• Well versed in GSuite, fundraising and donor management software, and a variety of presentation platforms

Salary and Benefits: Starting salary $60,000-$72,000

• Accrued Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)

• Annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

• Professional Development Stipend

How to Apply: Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their relevant experience and qualifications to hello@thegreatnorthernfestival.com. Please include "Development Associate" in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The Great Northern overview: The Great Northern is a platform that sparks conversations and cultivates community through diverse programming, which draws inspiration from Minnesota’s cold, creative winters—engaging the mind and invigorating the body and spirit. In an era of changing climate that threatens our signature season, we bring people together, inspire action, and share the resilient spirit of the North with the world. 

Each year, The Great Northern (TGN) shines a light on Minneapolis and Saint Paul in late January and early February, drawing national attention to the region during its coldest time of year. The festival offers events including outdoor experiences, world premiere performances, food events, 

site-specific art, panels and speakers, films and regional craft, in addition to commissioned writing, storytelling, and partnerships with local and national institutions. 

While the festival invokes joy and celebration, it also highlights an existential threat to winter: climate change. There is no place on earth unaffected by warming weather, and our own region has seen some of its beloved traditions diminished and its environment compromised. In celebrating winter, the festival is also a call to action. To that end, we have expanded the

festival’s impact by presenting a broader range of programming focused on climate change, the richness of our winter arts scene, and diverse perspectives on how we, as a community, embrace winter. TGN views its arts, outdoor, and cultural programming as a powerful strategy for raising awareness about our changing climate, with the belief that visceral experiences like music, art, storytelling, and immersion in nature help attendees make emotional connections and can successfully shift mindsets toward understanding and adopting solutions. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

The Great Northern is a dedicated equal opportunity employer, deeply committed to reflecting the rich diversity of the Twin Cities community in its workforce, programming, and partnerships. We actively foster a dynamic work environment that values and promotes inclusion, respect, entrepreneurship, innovation, community, and service. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals, with particular emphasis on welcoming those from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion. We are committed to equitable hiring practices and the continuous pursuit of a workplace that truly embraces diversity in all its forms.