About Us

ARI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to policy advocacy in the public interest, focused on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). We believe in establishing a thoughtful governance framework for rapidly advancing AI technology that protects the public from harm while continuing to foster innovation. ARI takes a bipartisan approach, building coalitions across the political spectrum.

About the Role

Reporting to the Manager of Development and External Relations, the Development Assistant will support the development team through fundraising efforts and relationship building with key stakeholders (primarily donors and AI organizations). This is a fast-paced position that requires agility, discretion, and agency.

Key Responsibilities

The time allocated to the responsibilities will likely vary significantly on a daily or weekly basis, but over the long run, we will aim to achieve the split as indicated by the percentages below. The chief responsibility of the Development Assistant will be to support the execution of fundraising strategies and initiatives across ARI, our 501(c)(4) advocacy organization, and ARI’s Political Action Committee (PAC), with expected responsibilities including:

Database Management & Donor Analytics (50%)

• Maintain and update our CRM, currently Airtable. 
• Pull fundraising reports for Leadership review. 
• Track upcoming government affairs events, fundraising targets, and deadlines, ensuring FEC compliance. 
• Track external trends in philanthropy and policy to surface new opportunities for engagement.

Prospecting & Stewardship (35%)

• Proactively identify and research prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, and aligned philanthropic networks. 
• Support donor pipelines, ensuring timely follow-ups and stewardship. 
• Prepare donor memos, briefing materials, and correspondence to strengthen relationships with current and potential supporters. 
• Support in grant writing and/or editing.

External Affairs & Representation (15%)

• Represent ARI at donor events, convenings, and community gatherings, serving as an ambassador for the organization.
• Help expand ARI’s presence in adjacent philanthropic and policy communities by cultivating new networks and outreach channels.
• Build visibility among under-engaged donor populations.

Qualifications

Required

• 1–3 years of professional experience. 
• Detail-oriented with data-management experience. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a talent for building authentic, trusted relationships across diverse networks.
• High interpersonal awareness, integrity, and discretion with the ability to engage effectively with donors, stakeholders, and partners.
• Proactive, resourceful, and opportunity-oriented; motivated to grow in the fields of philanthropy.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate dynamic, fast-moving environments with agility and sound judgment.
• Interest in emerging technologies, especially AI. 
• Alignment with ARI’s mission and vision. 

Preferred

• Background in development, donor relations, or external affairs strongly preferred.
• Strong data and CRM management skills.
• PAC experience. 

Compensation, Benefits, and Location

This is a full-time position based in the San Francisco, CA area. This will be a hybrid role with access to a co-working space with the Manager of Development and External Affairs. Occasional travel is expected to the ARI main office in Washington, D.C. 

The salary range for this role is $65,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience.

ARI offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Healthcare insurance - 85% of healthcare, vision, and dental insurance premiums are covered for employees, partners, and dependents.
• Discretionary PTO and ~20 office holidays, including all Federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 6% Employer Match.
• Wellness Benefit - $150/month taxable stipend to support physical and mental well-being.
• Internet & Utilities Reimbursement - $150/month taxable stipend to cover internet and utilities expenses from remote work.
• Home Office Expenses for New Employees - up to $500 to all new full-time employees for home office set-up expenses.
• Professional Development Stipend - Up to $2,500 annually to be used towards building new knowledge and skills.
• Basic Life, Basic AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability - 100% employer-paid with the option to elect for employee-paid supplemental coverage.
• Dependent Care FSA.
• Medical FSA.
• Transit FSA. 
• Parking FSA. 

Hiring Process

We plan to use the following steps for this hiring process. We are aiming to close the search by the end of November, and for the candidate of choice to start by mid-December. Candidates who apply by October 3rd will receive priority consideration. 

1. Application Review: Our team will review submitted applications and make a decision on who to move forward to the next step of the process. 
2. 1st Round Interview: Virtual 1:1 conversation with our recruiter. 
3. 2nd Round Interview: Virtual 1:1 conversation with the Hiring Manager. 
4. Hiring Exercise: A roughly 3-hour paid sample work task. Candidates who submit an exercise will be compensated for their time. 
5. Final Interview: Virtual panel interview.
6. Reference Checks: We’ll ask for references from the top candidate(s) to help us confirm and/or make a final decision. 
7. Job offer

Please note that due to the anticipated number of applicants, you may experience a delay in communication. 

We offer a $1,500 referral bonus to non-employees whose referrals result in a successful hire. If you know someone who would be a great fit for this role, please have them mention your name in the application. For more information on the referral bonus, please visit https://ari.us/careers/.

ARI is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education. We encourage women, people of color, and individuals from other marginalized backgrounds to apply.