About the Organization 

The Sun Valley Policy Forum (SVPF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering serious, high-level conversations about public policy, economic freedom, and the foundations of a flourishing society. Based in Sun Valley, Idaho, SVPF convenes policymakers, industry leaders, scholars, and community members for thoughtful dialogue on the most pressing issues shaping the country and the global economy.

Through conferences, forums, and other public programming, SVPF creates a platform where ideas are debated rigorously and respectfully. The Forum’s events bring together national voices and local leaders to examine the future of free enterprise, governance, and civic life.

About the Opportunity 

The Sun Valley Policy Forum is seeking a Development Associate to support its growing development efforts. This is a foundational role for a highly organized, detail-oriented individual interested in nonprofit development, donor engagement, and policy-oriented work.

The Development Associate will play a critical role in supporting donor outreach, maintaining and improving development systems, and conducting research to inform fundraising strategy. This individual will work closely with the SVPF leadership and development team to ensure that donor relationships are thoughtfully managed and that the organization’s growth is supported by strong operational infrastructure.

This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit fundraising while contributing to a mission-driven organization operating at the intersection of policy, philanthropy, and convening.

The Development Associate will report directly to the COO and can work from a virtual office anywhere in the US.

Responsibilities: 

  • Support donor outreach efforts, including drafting communications, tracking engagement, and assisting with follow-ups
  • Conduct prospect research to identify potential donors, partners, and funding opportunities
  • Maintain and organize donor Salesforce database, ensuring accuracy and completeness of records
  • Track donations, pledges, and engagement activity across development channels
  • Assist in preparing donor materials, including briefings, reports, and event-related collateral
  • Coordinate with internal teams to support fundraising initiatives tied to events and programs
  • Help manage donor pipelines and reporting for leadership review
  • Support administrative aspects of development operations as needed

Requirements 

The ideal candidate will possess the following attributes:

  • 0–2+ years of experience (internships or entry-level roles in development, research, or nonprofit operations preferred)
  • Strong research skills with the ability to synthesize information clearly and concisely
  • High attention to detail and strong organizational ability
  • Experience with or willingness to learn CRM systems (Salesforce Preferred)
  • Ability to travel to the office in Sun Valley, ID, at least three times per year
  • Excellent written communication skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a remote environment
  • Self-starter with a high degree of ownership and accountability
  • Professional, discreet, and comfortable handling sensitive donor information
  • Familiarity with events and event management is a plus
  • Alignment with SVPF’s mission and interest in public policy and economic growth

Salary and Benefits 

The salary range for this position is $45,000–$55,000, commensurate with experience.

The Sun Valley Policy Forum offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

  • Employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with a 4% employer match
  • Pet insurance options
  • Flexible paid time off (PTO)

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • Cover letter including:
    • An introductory paragraph describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to Sun Valley Policy Forum’s mission
    • Salary requirements
  • Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Bailey Drouant, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law and limited regulation.