How to apply for Interim Development Operations Consultant

About Row New York

Row New York is a nonprofit that empowers young people from under-resourced communities through the sport of rowing, combining athletic training with academic support and college readiness. Working here means contributing to a mission that builds discipline, confidence, and opportunity for NYC youth. The development team is small and collaborative, making this interim role a chance to directly impact fundraising efficiency and donor relationships.

About the role

This interim, part-time (5–8 hrs/week) remote contract runs through December 2026, with potential for extension. You'll be the backbone of development operations, ensuring Salesforce data integrity, gift processing, reporting, and process documentation. Your work will enable the fundraising team to focus on donor relationships and revenue growth, directly supporting Row New York's programs.

A typical day

You might start by logging into Salesforce to process overnight gifts, update donor records, and reconcile with finance. Later, you'll pull a pipeline report for the development team, update moves management notes, and troubleshoot a data discrepancy. You'll also document a new workflow for gift acknowledgments and check in with the CEO on ad hoc operational needs—all within your 5–8 hour weekly window.

Who Row New York is looking for

• 2–3+ years of nonprofit development operations experience, with hands-on Salesforce management (data entry, hygiene, reporting, troubleshooting).
• Salesforce administrator credential or equivalent knowledge preferred; able to quickly learn and optimize existing Salesforce setup.
• Exceptionally organized and detail-oriented, with a track record of maintaining accurate records and meeting deadlines independently in a remote setting.
• Comfortable producing regular reports and dashboards, supporting moves management, and improving workflows/documentation.
• Available 5–8 hours/week through December 2026, with flexibility to ramp up quickly and communicate proactively.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific Salesforce tasks you've handled (e.g., data deduplication, custom reports, gift entry) and quantify improvements (e.g., reduced data errors by X%).
• Mention your experience with nonprofit fundraising operations, especially gift processing, acknowledgment tracking, and reconciliation—use terms like 'batch entry' and 'reconciliation' to show fluency.
• Address the interim nature directly: express enthusiasm for short-term, high-impact work and your ability to onboard quickly and work independently.
• If you have a Salesforce admin certification, state it prominently; if not, describe equivalent hands-on experience with Salesforce configuration and reporting.
• Tailor your resume to emphasize part-time or contract roles and remote work success, showing you can manage 5–8 hours/week efficiently without micromanagement.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your specific Salesforce expertise and how you've used it to improve data hygiene and reporting in a nonprofit setting.", 'Your ability to work independently and reliably in a remote, part-time capacity, with examples of managing competing priorities.', "Your understanding of development operations within a youth-focused nonprofit, and why Row New York's mission resonates with you.", 'Your experience with gift processing, acknowledgment tracking, and reconciliation, and how you ensure accuracy and timeliness.']

Research before applying

• Explore Row New York's website, especially their mission, programs, and recent impact reports, to understand their fundraising priorities.
• Look up the backgrounds of the development team and CEO on LinkedIn to tailor your communication and understand their needs.
• Research common Salesforce setups for youth sports nonprofits and typical development operations challenges to speak knowledgeably.
• Check if Row New York has any recent press or annual reports that mention fundraising goals or campaigns, so you can align your support.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through your experience managing Salesforce for a nonprofit, including data hygiene, reporting, and troubleshooting.
• How do you ensure accuracy in gift processing and reconciliation when working remotely with limited hours?
• Describe a time you improved a development process or workflow. What was the outcome?
• How do you prioritize tasks when supporting multiple team members (e.g., CEO, development team) in a part-time role?
• What experience do you have with moves management and tracking donor activity in Salesforce?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without demonstrating specific Salesforce experience—generic 'CRM' mentions won't suffice; they need proven Salesforce skills.
• Ignoring the part-time, interim nature of the role; candidates who seem overqualified or seeking full-time work may be seen as flight risks.
• Failing to show independent remote work success; since you'll be working with minimal supervision, any hint of needing constant direction is a red flag.