Development Assistant

Open Position:  Development Assistant

Direct Reports: N/A

Reporting To: Assistant Head of School for Advancement

FLSA Status: non-exempt

When Needed: As soon as possible 

FT/PT: Full-time (1.0 FTE)

On-site: Yes

Pay rate: $60,000-$70,000

Who Thrives at Bush

Are you a dynamic connector who thrives on building meaningful relationships and turning community passion into lasting impact? The Bush School is seeking an enthusiastic and mission-driven Development Assistant to join our team — someone who brings both energy and integrity to every donor conversation, community event, and fundraising initiative. In this role, you'll be at the heart of our development efforts, combining sharp attention to detail and exceptional organizational skills with the relationship-building and stewardship that fuel our work and strengthen the ties between our team and the school community.

Who We Are

Founded in 1924 and located in Seattle’s Madison Valley neighborhood, The Bush School is an independent school serving students from Kindergarten through Twelfth Grade. Bush offers a rich, intellectually engaging program grounded in experiential learning, designed to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities. Our curriculum challenges students to think deeply and creatively, preparing them to thrive in future endeavors while remaining rooted in the school’s longstanding core values.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community in which every individual can say, “I belong.” We seek educators and staff who are passionate about their work, highly skilled in their practice, and who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences to our community. We believe deeply in the role education and diverse learning environments play in advancing equity, inclusion, and a shared sense of responsibility for one another.

The Bush School seeks a highly organized, detail-oriented professional to join our Development Office as a Development Assistant. This role provides comprehensive administrative and operational support to advance the school’s fundraising, engagement, and community-building efforts.

The Development Assistant reports to the Assistant Head of School for Advancement (AHOSA) and works collaboratively with members of the Development team and across campus. This is a salaried, non-exempt position.

Position Summary

The Development Assistant supports the day-to-day operations of the Development Office and contributes to the successful execution of events, communications, and strategic initiatives. This role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.

Key Responsibilities

Office Operations and Administrative Support

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  Maintain and update the constituent database, including tracking relationship activity and action steps

  
  


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  Manage the AHOSA’s calendar, including scheduling meetings and coordinating logistics

  
  


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  Maintain the Development Office calendar and key deadlines

  
  


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  Track expenses and process reimbursements, payments, and related documentation

  
  


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  Maintain accurate and organized files and records for Development programs and operations

  
  


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  Identify and implement process improvements to support office efficiency

  
  

Meeting and Committee Support

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  Coordinate logistics for meetings with volunteers, parents/guardians, and school leaders, including space reservations and catering

  
  


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  Prepare and distribute meeting materials and communications

  
  


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  Attend meetings, record minutes, and ensure timely follow-up

  
  

Event Coordination and Support

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  Assist in the planning and execution of development events, including:

  
  




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  Managing invitations and RSVP tracking

  
  


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  Coordinating catering, setup, and breakdown

  
  


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  Partnering with campus departments on logistics and execution

  
  




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  Track event-related tasks and support post-event evaluation processes

  
  

Communications and Advancement Initiatives

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  Provide support for development communications, as needed

  
  


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  Assist with key initiatives, including:

  
  




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  Capital campaign calendar coordination

  
  


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  Prospect research at a high level

  
  


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  Scheduling and coordination of new family engagement meetings

  
  

Additional Responsibilities

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  Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Advancement Office and school priorities

  
  

Required Qualifications

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  Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with strong attention to detail

  
  


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  Clear and professional written and verbal communication skills

  
  


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  Ability to manage multiple priorities and work both independently and collaboratively

  
  


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  Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated cultural competency

  
  


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  Sound judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain strict confidentiality

  
  

Preferred Qualifications

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  Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

  
  


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  Two to three years of administrative support experience, preferably in a nonprofit or school setting

  
  


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  Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook

  
  


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  Experience with database systems; familiarity with Raiser’s Edge is preferred but not required

  
  

Additional Requirements: 

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  Have a current Adult and Children CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification (or receive one soon after hire date) 

  
  

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  Meet the school’s standards when completing two separate background screenings 

  
  

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  Stamina: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, manage long days, and support body with core muscles. 

  
  

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  Fine Motor Skills: Using hands to grasp, move, or assemble small objects (e.g., papers, writing). 

  
  

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  Sensory: Clear hearing to distinguish sounds and vision to see differences in color, shade, brightness. 

  
  


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  Ability to sit and keyboard for up to 8 hours per day & lift up to 30 pounds (file boxes). 

  
  

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants interested in applying for this opportunity should visit our website at www.bush.edu and navigate to the employment section of the website (found under the “About Bush” tab) for additional information/instructions.

If you are interested in working at The Bush School, but this position doesn’t fit your talents, please visit our website for additional openings: www.bush.edu.

While we sincerely appreciate all applications, only those candidates selected for interview will be contacted.

The Bush School is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admission or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment based on the basis of age or marital status.

*This position requires applicants to be, at the time of application, legally authorized to work in the United States. The Bush School does not offer visa sponsorship for this position and will not consider applicants who require visa sponsorship.