Associate, Development & External Relations

About ARI, CRI, and ARI PAC

Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization advocating for artificial intelligence policy in the public interest. 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.

ARI has an affiliated organization, the Center for Responsible Innovation (CRI), a 501(c)(3), focused on promoting responsible innovation through conducting AI policy research and providing nonpartisan educational programming.

Americans for Responsible Innovation Ltd. Political Action Committee (ARI PAC) is a Separate Segregated Fund within Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI). As ARI PAC is a connected PAC, only ARI members may contribute to ARI PAC. ARI PAC is bipartisan and expects to support candidates across the aisle.

About the Role

Reporting to the Development & External Relations Lead, the Associate, Development & External Relations will support ARI’s development work across ARI, CRI, and ARI PAC by managing fundraising data and records, supporting compliance, conducting research, drafting materials, and coordinating events. The Lead sets fundraising strategy and owns donor relationships; the Associate keeps the operations behind that work accurate, organized, and on schedule. 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 Associate will be to support the execution of the fundraising strategy set by the Development & External Relations Lead across ARI, our 501(c)(4) advocacy organization; CRI, our 501(c)(3) research and education affiliate; and ARI PAC, with expected responsibilities including:

Database Management, Compliance Support & Reporting (60%)

• Maintain ARI’s fundraising databases (currently Airtable), handling day-to-day data entry and keeping records accurate and complete across ARI, CRI, and ARI PAC.
• Work with the Government Affairs PAC Assistant to keep PAC contribution records in Democracy Engine aligned with ARI’s fundraising database.
• Prepare fundraising reports and dashboards for the Development & External Relations Lead to deliver to leadership.
• Support FEC and IRS compliance across ARI, CRI, and ARI PAC by maintaining required donor documentation, flagging potential issues, and helping prepare records and filings for the Lead’s review.
• Track upcoming government affairs events, fundraising targets, and deadlines.
• Track external trends in philanthropy and policy and summarize potential opportunities for the Lead’s consideration.

Donor Relations & External Affairs (30%)

• Draft donor communications, including updates, acknowledgments, and proposals, for review by the Development & External Relations Lead.
• Coordinate logistics for ARI-hosted fundraisers and events in the Bay Area, including invitations, RSVPs, vendors, and follow-up.
• Attend external events alongside the Lead, supporting logistics, note-taking, and follow-up.

Prospect Research & Stewardship Support (10%)

• Proactively identify and research prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, and aligned philanthropic networks, and prepare prospect profiles for the Lead.
• Maintain the donor pipeline in Airtable and track follow-ups and stewardship touchpoints so the Lead’s donor relationships stay on schedule.
• Prepare donor memos, briefing materials, and correspondence to strengthen relationships with current and potential supporters.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of professional experience.
• Strong data and CRM management skills and close attention to detail, with proficiency in Google Workspace and LLMs and comfort learning new systems quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the integrity, discretion, and interpersonal awareness to work effectively with donors, stakeholders, and partners.
• Familiarity with AI and AI policy issues, and alignment with ARI’s mission and vision.
• Proactive and resourceful, with sound judgment and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment; motivated to grow in the field of philanthropy.
• Familiarity with PAC, FEC, or IRS compliance for 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) fundraising is a plus.

Compensation, Benefits, and Location

This is a full-time position based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a hybrid role with access to a co-working space with the Development & External Relations Lead. Occasional travel is expected to the ARI main office in Washington, DC.

The salary range for this role is $90,000 to $110,000, depending on level and experience.

ARI offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: 85% of premiums are covered for employees, partners, and dependents.
• Paid Time Off: Discretionary PTO and ~20 office holidays, including all federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan: 6% employer match.
• Professional Development Stipend: Up to $2,500 annually to be used towards building new knowledge and skills.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Dependent Care FSA, Medical FSA, Transit FSA, and Parking FSA.
• 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.
• 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 for all new full-time employees for home office set-up expenses.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application Materials

1. Resume.
2. Cover letter, which includes an answer to why you are interested in joining ARI as part of the Development Department.

Application Process

We plan to use the following steps for this hiring process. We are aiming for the person in this role to start as soon as possible.

1. Application Review: Our team will review submitted applications and decide whom to advance to the next step of the process.
2. Initial Conversation: A 1:1 call with our recruiter.
3. Hiring Exercise: A roughly 3-hour hiring exercise. Candidates who submit an exercise will be compensated for their time.
4. Panel & Manager Interview: Virtual panel interview with the team you’d be working with and a 1:1 interview with the Development & External Relations Lead, whom you’d be reporting to.
5. Reference Checks: We’ll ask for references from the top candidate(s) to help us confirm and/or make a final decision.

Americans for Responsible Innovation is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, sex (including pregnancy), gender, age, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or protected veteran status.

Referral Bonus

Know a great fit for any of the roles we’re hiring for? We value your network and will reward you for successful referrals to help us attract and hire the very best talent to advance our mission.

If you refer a candidate who receives and accepts our offer, you’ll receive a referral bonus of $1,500.

To qualify:

• The candidate must list your name as the referral source in the application.
• The candidate must receive and accept the offer.
• The candidate must start and remain employed with us for at least 30 days.

To participate in this program, you must be a legal resident of the United States. If the referral is successfully hired by ARI, an ARI representative will contact you to obtain the required documents (e.g., W-9) to receive the referral bonus. The bonus will be paid within 60 days after the candidate has completed the required 30-day tenure period and the required documents have been submitted.