The Opportunity:

The Urban Institute’s Development Department fosters a truly collaborative environment while strengthening funding partnerships that sustain its relevance in a changing world. Urban’s Development Department seeks a highly motivated professional to serve as a Development Coordinator (Executive Office Fundraising).

Reporting to a Senior Manager on the Development team, the Development Coordinator will play a key role in supporting executive-level fundraising and engagement across Urban’s Development function. This position works closely with senior leadership and trustees to coordinate and execute high-impact engagement strategies with funders, with a focus on strengthening relationships, advancing cultivation and stewardship efforts, and ensuring thoughtful follow-through.

Through strong internal coordination and attention to detail, the Development Coordinator will help enable effective leadership and trustee engagement, contributing to the growth of Urban’s philanthropic partnerships and the overall strength of its Development efforts. This is a unique opportunity to support and shape a critical area of fundraising at one of the nation’s leading research and policy organizations.

What You’ll Do:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies to identify, cultivate, and steward philanthropic funders with a focus on executive- and trustee-led engagement.

• Work closely with Development and Executive Office colleagues to coordinate funder communications, including outreach and follow-up.

• Prepare high-quality briefings, strategy memos, and background materials to equip senior leadership and trustees for meetings, events, and external engagements.

• Conduct targeted research on prospective funders to identify alignment with Urban’s priorities and inform engagement strategies.

• Conduct in-depth research on prospective funders to identify alignment with Urban Institute.

• Track and manage funder interactions in the CRM and related systems, ensuring accurate, timely documentation of meetings, communications, and next steps.

• Coordinate internal information flow by synthesizing and sharing updates on fundraising activity across Development, Executive Office, and relevant program teams.

• Support planning and execution of trustee and executive engagement opportunities, including small group convenings, events, and donor trips.

• Provide cross-team coordination and operational support to ensure alignment across Development efforts, including donor tracking, reporting, and event logistics as needed.

Who You Are:

This position requires outstanding communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills as well as technological competence. The ideal candidate will have a strong sense of initiative and possess sound judgment, a sense of discretion and unfaltering personal integrity.

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience needed to perform the development coordinator job duties), plus 1-2 years’ experience, ideally with fundraising, nonprofit development, or advancement services work or relevant internship or volunteer experience.

• Demonstrate strong collaboration skills, with a genuine interest in supporting colleagues and learning from others.

• Exhibit strong oral and written communication skills, proven organizational skills, and attention to detail. Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), databases, online research tools, project management tools, and other information technology, including Salesforce, a plus, but not required.

• Work and make decisions autonomously and solve problems effectively and creatively.

• Display an interest in public policy and Urban Institute’s mission.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to professional ethics in working with highly confidential, sensitive information.

• Effectively manage competing responsibilities and adapt to quickly changing priorities and deadlines.

Applications must include all of the following:

• Resume

• Cover letter

The recruitment process for the selected candidates is as follows:

• Initial interviews with human resources and hiring manager

• Panel interview with a small group of Urban team members (if selected to proceed)

• Final interview with the Chief Business Development Officer

Note: Candidates in the Washington, DC metropolitan area are preferred; however, we also welcome hybrid and remote applicants.

What You’ll Experience:

No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. We are committed to working in a manner defined by our mission and values.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

The salary range for this position is $62,115 – $69,589 – $77,063. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal comparisons. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package. Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The Urban Institute has formally recognized the Urban Institute Employees’ Union, which is part of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). Urban management and the Union work together in good faith and are motivated by a shared commitment to this institution. This position is included in the Union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@urban.org. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.