Aug 5th, 2026
Southern Center for Human Rights
About the Organization
The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) is working for equality, dignity, and justice for people impacted by the criminal legal system in the Deep South. SCHR fights for a world free from mass incarceration, the death penalty, the criminalization of poverty, and racial injustice.
Now in its 50th year, SCHR has litigated precedent-setting cases in the South, in hostile climates, against all odds. SCHR has forced county and state governments to make significant improvements in prisons and jails to reduce overcrowding, provide adequate medical and mental health care, and abate violence and abuse. We have argued and won five death penalty cases at the US Supreme Court, four of which challenged profound race discrimination in capital trials. Our combined litigation and policy advocacy helped bring about the creation of a statewide public defender system in Georgia. For more information about SCHR, see our website at www.schr.org.
SCHR is actively engaged in sustaining a healthy, supportive, and productive organizational culture.
Job Description
Position salary range: $55,000-65,000
Position reports to: Development Director
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Development Associate: The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) is seeking to hire a full-time Development Associate to support our fundraising efforts through communications and appeals, database management, and special event support.
ABOUT THE POSITION
We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Development Associate to join our team. The successful candidate will play a key role in fundraising efforts by managing appeal, donor database, and gift acknowledgment processes, supporting special events to bolster support for our mission, and providing valuable input and support for giving strategies.
SCHR’s $6.5 million annual budget supports multi-faceted legal advocacy campaigns to challenge abuses within the criminal legal system throughout the Deep South. Our revenue stream comes from a mix of foundation grants, individual and corporate contributions, special events, fellowships, and investment income. SCHR neither solicits nor receives government funding. We typically host four in-person fundraisers per year, which take place in Atlanta, San Francisco, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The Development Associate reports to the Development Director and works closely with the Development, Marketing and Communications Team, as well as the Finance, Deputy, and Executive Directors.
We seek someone with a deep and authentic commitment to the inherent dignity of our clients and our mission to create a world free from mass incarceration, the death penalty, the criminalization of poverty, and racial injustice. This is an opportunity to create systemic change working in a purpose-driven organization. The high stakes in our work can require weeknight or weekend hours. We support the resiliency of our staff through our generous benefits package and positive, passionate work environment. Further, we are dedicated to uprooting anti-Blackness and working to advance SCHR’s commitment to antiracism.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Gift Entry/Acknowledgement and Donor Database Management
- Serve as the lead team member managing gift entry and integrity, including gift entry, pledge management, and upkeep for relationship and contact records in the database/CRM
- Manage third party platforms (PayPal, Greater Giving, GiveEffect, etc.) and ensure gift records are transferred to primary CRM
- Manage gift acknowledgments, ensuring a thorough and responsive process is in place for high-touch letters, annual gift statements, digital acknowledgements, and tribute notifications
- Pull reports as needed, including regular contribution reports for the development team and third-party gift processing information for the Finance team
- Plan and execute an annual calendar of data maintenance tasks to improve database accuracy and continually improve data management
Individual Giving
- Manage program and appeals for Pillars of Justice Society, our monthly donor program
- Coordinate appeals by drafting language, managing lists, and coordinating with the Marketing Director to meet print and mail deadlines
- Assist with stewardship efforts like major donor calls, greeting card mailings, etc.
- Assist in the development and implementation of donor stewardship and cultivation strategies, including wealth screenings
- Follow up on pledges, lapsed donations, and other opportunities as needed
Special Event Coordination
- Help coordinate four annual special events in Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC, alongside Development team and event consultants
- Identify new prospective event supporters and support event appeals and outreach
- Support event logistics by updating timelines and coordinating volunteer responsibilities, event communications, print/signage preparation, and participant engagement
- Manage check-in, check-out, and auction processes and support event software entry and management
- As needed, assist Development Director with the coordination of key volunteers and event committees to elevate event experiences for our guests
Other Responsibilities
- Keep process documentation up to date and ensure coverage for gift processing when needed
- Maintain Development team office supplies (stationary, printer needs)
- Write, edit, and maintain templates for acknowledgement
- Provide general support as needed for departmental projects and publications
- Contribute to strategy by bringing your ideas and leadership to the role
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
SCHR seeks a commitment of a minimum of three years. Start date is negotiable with a strong preference for as soon as possible. Salary is commensurate with experience, within SCHR’s modest, public-interest salary range of $55,000 – $65,000. SCHR offers an excellent, 100% premium-paid benefit package for staff and their families, including medical, dental, vision care, and life insurance. Additional benefits include unlimited paid vacation time, modest stipends for transportation and wellness, access to a flexible spending account, and childcare assistance (if eligible).
This position is in-person at our Atlanta office. Our office maintains a hybrid schedule, with staff required to be in-person three days per week (absent travel, illness, or other excused absences) and flexibility to work remotely for the remaining two days. Accordingly, all applicants should be willing to live in the Atlanta area.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Those who are interested are encouraged to apply immediately. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Email careers@schr.org with the following:
- Statement in the subject line of the e-mail that you are applying for the Development Associate position;
- Letter of interest; and Resume
Contact email for applicants careers@schr.org