CorpsAfrica Development Associate 2026: Apply for a $55,000–$60,000 Fundraising and Donor Relations Role in Washington, DC

CorpsAfrica is accepting applications for its Development Associate position in Washington, DC, offering an opportunity for early-career professionals interested in fundraising, donor relations, nonprofit management, communications, community development, and international development.

The full-time position offers an annual salary of $55,000 to $60,000 and is designed for a professional who can combine strong communication and relationship-building abilities with careful donor data management, prospect research, event support, and cross-departmental collaboration.

The Development Associate will work closely with CorpsAfrica’s Donor Relations Manager and contribute to efforts to expand and strengthen the organisation’s donor base. The successful candidate will support donor cultivation and stewardship, fundraising campaigns, donor events, prospect research, financial reconciliation, and the maintenance of accurate donor information.

The position is based in Washington, DC, with a hybrid arrangement requiring two days per week, although remote work may also be considered. The successful applicant should also be willing to travel domestically and internationally for up to 20% of their time.

Applications must be submitted by September 30, 2026.

About CorpsAfrica

CorpsAfrica is an organisation focused on empowering young Africans to lead community-driven development initiatives within their own countries and across the African continent.

The organisation was founded in 2011 by former Peace Corps Volunteer Liz Fanning. The idea behind CorpsAfrica emerged from her experience with young Moroccans who expressed an interest in becoming Peace Corps Volunteers so they could contribute to communities in their own country.

At the time, the Peace Corps opportunity was available to Americans serving internationally. CorpsAfrica was subsequently developed around a different model: creating opportunities for young Africans to serve as volunteers and contribute to locally led development across Africa.

CorpsAfrica launched its first programme in Morocco in 2013. Since then, the organisation has expanded significantly across the continent.

According to CorpsAfrica, its programmes have operated across countries including:

• Morocco
• Senegal
• Malawi
• Rwanda
• Kenya
• South Africa
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Ethiopia

The organisation has expanded to 11 countries and has an ambitious long-term objective of eventually reaching all 54 African countries.

Hundreds of CorpsAfrica Volunteers have participated in the organisation’s programmes, supporting more than 800 community projects.

These projects have covered a broad range of community priorities, including:

• Building wells
• Constructing schools
• Developing roads
• Establishing irrigation systems
• Creating literacy programmes
• Supporting vegetable farming
• Supporting livestock farming
• Advancing community-led development initiatives

The organisation’s broader approach centres on enabling communities and local changemakers to identify priorities and participate actively in designing and implementing solutions.

About the CorpsAfrica Development Associate Position

The Development Associate will support CorpsAfrica as the organisation continues to develop its donor community and strengthen its culture of philanthropy.

Rather than concentrating exclusively on fundraising outreach, the position combines donor-facing relationship management with operational fundraising responsibilities.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Donor Relations Manager to cultivate, steward, and strengthen relationships with donors.

An important part of the position involves ensuring donors receive timely and professional communication while maintaining accurate records of their engagement with CorpsAfrica.

The Development Associate will also help identify and qualify potential donors, support donor relations strategies, assist with fundraising events and campaigns, and track and analyse donor activity.

This means candidates should be comfortable moving between communication-oriented responsibilities and detailed administrative and data-management work.

Position Details

Key information about the vacancy includes:

• Position: Development Associate
• Organisation: CorpsAfrica
• Location: Washington, DC
• Employment type: Full-time
• Classification: Exempt
• Experience level: Entry level
• Salary: $55,000–$60,000 annually
• Working arrangement: Hybrid, two days per week, with remote work considered
• Reports to: Donor Relations Manager
• Travel: Domestic and international travel of up to 20%
• Application deadline: September 30, 2026

Key Responsibilities of the Development Associate

The Development Associate will have responsibilities spanning donor stewardship, database management, fundraising operations, prospect research, events, communications, and financial coordination.

1. Donor Acknowledgements and Stewardship

One of the central responsibilities of the position is supporting positive and professional relationships between CorpsAfrica and its donors.

The Development Associate will be responsible for processing donor receipts and acknowledgements promptly.

Timely donor acknowledgement is an important component of nonprofit fundraising because it ensures supporters receive appropriate recognition for their contributions while helping the organisation maintain strong relationships with its donor community.

The Associate will also help maintain high-quality donor information within Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud.

2. Donor Data Management

Accurate data management will be another important component of the position.

The Development Associate will:

• Enter donor information into relevant systems
• Update existing donor records
• Verify donor information
• Maintain accurate fundraising data
• Support reporting requirements
• Help ensure fundraising records remain organised and reliable

The role will support both fundraising and finance teams, making attention to detail particularly important.

Candidates with experience using donor databases or customer relationship management systems may therefore have relevant experience for this position.

3. Cross-Departmental Collaboration

The Development Associate will not work exclusively within one team.

Instead, the successful candidate will collaborate with colleagues across different departments and geographical locations.

This includes working with:

• Communications teams
• Development teams
• Regional teams
• Finance colleagues
• Other stakeholders involved in donor engagement

This collaboration will help support donor engagement initiatives, fundraising activities, events, reporting, and organisational campaigns.

Because CorpsAfrica operates internationally, applicants should be comfortable collaborating across different cultures and time zones.

4. Supporting Donor Events

Events are another component of CorpsAfrica’s donor engagement strategy.

The Development Associate will assist with the planning and execution of regional donor events.

Responsibilities may include:

• Event logistics
• Donor outreach
• Event coordination
• Communications
• Follow-up activities
• Supporting the overall donor experience

Candidates with previous experience in event planning, fundraising events, nonprofit events, stakeholder engagement, or similar activities may find this aspect of the role particularly relevant to their background.

5. Prospect Research

Expanding an organisation’s donor base requires identifying individuals and organisations that may have an interest in supporting its mission.

The Development Associate will support the Donor Relations Manager with researching and qualifying major donor prospects.

Tools used for this work may include:

• WealthEngine
• Salesforce

Prospect research can involve reviewing potential supporters, maintaining accurate information, helping determine whether prospects align with the organisation’s fundraising priorities, and supporting future cultivation strategies.

Experience with WealthEngine is preferred but is not listed as an absolute requirement.

6. Finance Coordination

The Development Associate will also collaborate closely with CorpsAfrica’s finance team.

This work will help ensure fundraising records and financial systems remain aligned.

Responsibilities will include supporting accurate reconciliation and reporting between fundraising and financial systems.

Because donor contributions have both fundraising and financial reporting implications, accurate coordination between these systems is an important part of maintaining organisational accountability.

Educational Requirements

Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.

CorpsAfrica specifically identifies the following fields:

• Marketing
• Business
• Communications
• Nonprofit management
• Related disciplines

Applicants whose degrees are in closely related fields may also qualify, depending on the relevance of their education and professional experience.

Professional Experience Required

Candidates should have approximately one to three years of relevant professional experience.

Relevant experience may include areas such as:

• Fundraising
• Donor relations
• Development
• Event planning
• Nonprofit administration
• Communications
• Donor database management
• Stakeholder engagement
• Related fields

As the position is described as entry level, it could be particularly relevant to early-career professionals who have already developed foundational experience and now want to strengthen their careers in nonprofit development and fundraising.

Communication and Organisational Skills

Strong written and verbal communication abilities are required.

The Development Associate will interact with donor information, support donor communications, coordinate across departments, and assist with events. Clear and professional communication will therefore be important.

Applicants should also possess excellent organisational skills.

The successful candidate must be capable of managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

This may require balancing responsibilities such as:

• Processing donor acknowledgements
• Updating donor records
• Conducting prospect research
• Supporting fundraising campaigns
• Assisting with events
• Coordinating with finance
• Responding to internal requests
• Supporting donor reporting

Candidates should therefore be comfortable working in an environment where priorities may overlap.

Technology and Database Skills

Applicants should be proficient in Google Workspace.

Experience with donor databases and fundraising technology is preferred.

CorpsAfrica specifically mentions experience with:

• Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud
• WealthEngine

These platforms can support donor relationship management, fundraising operations, prospect research, data analysis, and reporting.

Although previous experience with these tools is preferred, the vacancy does not state that candidates without such experience are automatically excluded.

Ability to Work Across Cultures and Time Zones

CorpsAfrica operates across multiple countries, meaning the Development Associate may collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders working in different cultural and geographical environments.

The organisation is therefore looking for someone who is:

• Highly collaborative
• Comfortable working across cultures
• Able to communicate effectively with different teams
• Comfortable working across different time zones
• Capable of balancing operational and relationship-focused responsibilities

These capabilities are particularly relevant given CorpsAfrica’s expanding presence across the African continent.

Travel Requirements

Applicants must be willing to travel both domestically and internationally.

Travel may account for up to 20% of the position.

Prospective applicants should consider this requirement before applying, particularly if they have restrictions that would make regular domestic or international travel difficult.

Commitment to CorpsAfrica’s Mission

Beyond education and technical skills, CorpsAfrica is looking for a candidate who demonstrates a genuine commitment to the organisation’s mission and values.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate alignment with areas including:

• Youth leadership
• Participatory community development
• Impact evaluation
• Transparency
• Accountability

Understanding CorpsAfrica’s mission will be particularly important when preparing the cover letter.

Applicants should consider explaining not only why they have the technical qualifications for the role, but also why CorpsAfrica’s approach to community development and youth leadership is meaningful to them.

Salary and Working Arrangement

The Development Associate position offers an annual salary range of $55,000 to $60,000.

The role is classified as a full-time, exempt position.

It is based in Washington, DC, with a hybrid working arrangement involving two days per week. CorpsAfrica also states that remote work may be considered.

Candidates interested in remote work should nevertheless carefully review the position’s travel and collaboration requirements.

U.S. Work Authorisation Requirement

There is an important eligibility requirement that prospective international applicants should note before preparing an application.

Applicants must be legally authorised to work full-time in the United States.

CorpsAfrica also states that candidates should not require employment sponsorship.

Therefore, applicants who would require CorpsAfrica to sponsor them for U.S. employment authorisation should take this restriction into consideration before applying.

Equal Opportunity Employment

CorpsAfrica identifies itself as an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The organisation encourages applications from individuals regardless of:

• Age
• Gender
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Physical ability
• Other legally protected characteristics

Selection should therefore be based on the requirements and qualifications associated with the position rather than these personal characteristics.

Application Requirements

Candidates interested in the Development Associate position must submit an application through CorpsAfrica’s JazzHR recruitment platform.

Applicants are required to provide a résumé and cover letter.

The cover letter should clearly demonstrate how the applicant’s qualifications and experience relate to the Development Associate role.

Applicants should use the cover letter as an opportunity to connect their professional background with responsibilities such as donor relations, fundraising, event coordination, data management, communications, stakeholder engagement, and nonprofit development.

The online application also requests information including:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Address
• Résumé
• Cover letter
• References and their contact information
• A description of experience relevant to the position

Applicants should ensure all required fields are completed before submitting their application.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Because CorpsAfrica states that only complete applications will be considered, applicants should carefully review their materials before submission.

A strong application should clearly demonstrate relevant experience rather than relying on general statements.

For example, candidates with fundraising experience may highlight their involvement in donor communications, fundraising campaigns, donor databases, prospect research, stewardship, or reporting.

Candidates with event-planning experience could describe responsibilities such as:

• Coordinating event logistics
• Managing invitations
• Communicating with stakeholders
• Supporting event delivery
• Conducting post-event follow-up
• Managing multiple deadlines

Applicants with database or administrative experience should consider demonstrating their ability to maintain accurate records and work with detailed information.

Experience using Salesforce, WealthEngine, or comparable platforms should also be clearly identified.

What to Highlight in Your Cover Letter

The cover letter is specifically requested to illustrate qualifications relevant to the position.

Applicants may therefore want to structure their cover letter around several major themes.

Relevant professional experience

Explain how previous positions, internships, volunteer experiences, or projects have developed skills relevant to fundraising, donor relations, event planning, communications, or nonprofit management.

Data and technology skills

Mention relevant experience with Google Workspace, Salesforce, WealthEngine, donor databases, CRM platforms, spreadsheets, reporting systems, or other related tools.

Communication abilities

Provide examples demonstrating strong written and verbal communication, particularly where the work involved donors, clients, partners, stakeholders, or colleagues.

Organisational skills

Explain how you have managed multiple responsibilities, deadlines, projects, events, or stakeholders simultaneously.

Cross-cultural collaboration

Where applicable, highlight experience working with international teams, diverse communities, or colleagues across different locations and time zones.

Mission alignment

Explain why CorpsAfrica’s work in youth leadership and participatory community development aligns with your professional interests and values.

Applicants should ensure that all claims made in their application materials accurately reflect their actual experience.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the CorpsAfrica Development Associate position is September 30, 2026.

Prospective candidates should aim to prepare and submit their materials before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.

Only complete applications will be considered.

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Why This Position May Appeal to Early-Career Development Professionals

The CorpsAfrica Development Associate role combines several important areas of nonprofit development work within one position.

Rather than concentrating on only one fundraising function, the successful candidate will gain exposure to donor stewardship, prospect research, database management, fundraising operations, events, finance coordination, and cross-departmental collaboration.

For someone building a career in nonprofit development or international development, this combination can provide practical experience across both the relationship-building and operational sides of fundraising.

The international nature of CorpsAfrica’s work also means the successful candidate will be supporting an organisation focused on locally led development and youth leadership across Africa.

Conclusion

The CorpsAfrica Development Associate 2026 opportunity offers an early-career professional the chance to contribute to the fundraising and donor engagement operations of an organisation working to advance locally led community development across Africa.

Based in Washington, DC, with a hybrid arrangement and remote work potentially considered, the full-time role offers an annual salary of $55,000–$60,000 and combines donor relations, fundraising operations, event support, prospect research, data management, and finance coordination.

Applicants should have a relevant bachelor’s degree, approximately one to three years of applicable experience, strong communication and organisational abilities, proficiency with Google Workspace, and an ability to collaborate effectively across cultures and time zones. Experience with Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud and WealthEngine is preferred.

Candidates must also be legally authorised to work full-time in the United States without requiring employment sponsorship and should be willing to travel domestically and internationally for up to 20% of their time.

Most importantly, CorpsAfrica is looking for an individual who can demonstrate a commitment to its mission and values, including youth leadership, participatory community development, impact evaluation, transparency, and accountability.

Interested candidates should prepare a complete application, including a résumé and a cover letter that clearly demonstrates their relevant qualifications and experience.

Application deadline: September 30, 2026.

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