Now Hiring: Development Associate

Open House New York seeks an energetic, entrepreneurial, collaborative professional to join our team as Development Associate. The Development Associate will support fundraising operations to drive growth, while gaining access to the people and projects shaping the future of New York City through public programming, including the signature five-borough OHNY Weekend festival.  

This position requires 3+ years of fundraising experience across a range of activities, including special events, individual giving, membership, and sponsorship plus a proven ability to draft compelling messages, from donor correspondence to corporate pitches. The ideal candidate will bring a Swiss Army knife skill set, and an eagerness to grow on a small, dynamic team, and bring deep passion and curiosity for New York City, particularly its built environment (architecture, planning, real estate, infrastructure). 

This is a full-time, exempt position reporting to the Deputy Director.  

Development Associate Responsibilities and Duties:  

• In collaboration with the Deputy Director, support core fundraising activities including: membership, individual giving, special events, sponsorship, and grant writing 
• Manage donor research, tracking, acknowledgments, and correspondence through Salesforce  
• Accurately maintain organizational systems and fundraising data to support accounting processes like financial transactions for the monthly close 
• Draft and design content for donor materials, including appeal letters and corporate pitches 
• Support logistics and production for donor events, including cultivation and community events, the Open City Benefit in the spring, and the OHNY Weekend Launch Party in the fall 
• Additional administrative and operational duties as needed 

Development Associate Qualifications and Skills:  

• Track record of successful donor engagement, from prospect research to solicitation to relationship stewardship 
• Event production experience 
• Aptitude for problem-solving and the ability to manage multiple projects at once and work independently 
• Must be adaptable and highly organized with exceptional attention to detail   
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 
• Ability to initiate and maintain relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders including Board members, donors, members, and program partners  
• Fluency with Microsoft Office, CRM and CMS platforms (databases like Salesforce preferred), and project management platforms (Asana, Slack, etc.) 
• Curiosity for New York City and the built environment (architecture, planning, real estate, infrastructure) 
• Commitment to the mission and values of Open House New York  
• 3+ years of experience in fundraising required, Bachelor’s or commensurate experience 

Education 

Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate experience. 

Location and Hours 

We currently work on a hybrid schedule. The Development Associate will work three days per week (typically Tuesday-Thursday) in our office at 150 Varick Street, though this schedule may shift and evolve, particularly in the run-up to major events.  

Ability to attend events in the evening and some weekends is required. Note: OHNY Weekend is October 16-18, 2026.  

Salary and Benefits 

Salary is commensurate with experience, in the range of $64,000—$70,000. Full benefits provided, including health insurance, retirement contribution, and pre-tax flexible spending accounts. We welcome an open discussion with interested candidates about the full compensation package. 

Application 

A successful application includes a cover letter that addresses your relevant experience and your interest in New York City’s built environment. Cover letter and resume should be emailed as a single PDF to jobs@ohny.org with “Development Associate + Your Name” in the subject line.  

Selected applicants will be invited to interview the OHNY team in May. Applicants who advance to this stage will be asked to provide work samples, including donor correspondence. 

Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with resume reviews starting on April 22. Position is for immediate hire with an anticipated start by June.  

Open House New York encourages candidates from any and all backgrounds, nationalities, ethnicities, gender identities, and lived experiences to apply. We are an organization that is committed to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, most importantly our team. 

A note of encouragement: Statistics show that individuals coming from systematically excluded or oppressed groups apply to jobs only if they meet every qualification. Open House New York wishes to remind applicants that rarely does someone meet 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to hearing from you. 

About Open House New York 

Open House New York promotes broad, unparalleled access to the city—to the places, people, projects, systems and ideas that define New York and its future—and fosters civic dialogue about how the city functions and who it serves. Through year-round programming and the annual OHNY Weekend, which ranks among the largest public design festivals in the nation, Open House New York offers a citywide platform for public education and engagement. For more information, visit ohny.org.