Development Associate; U - College of Engineering

Responsibilities

• As a key member of the DRCO team, assist in the development of high-level proposals, presentations, site visits, board meetings and other special events to meet key fundraising objectives.
• Develop and design materials in collaboration with fundraisers and stewardship colleagues, including proposals, agendas, briefings, background information, slide deck presentations and tailored correspondence for major donors and prospects.
• Support stewardship efforts through coordinating thank-you notes, donor follow-ups, event invitations and assisted in tailored in-house donor mailings.
• Assist in preparation for donor meetings, including preparing briefing materials and ensuring all logistics are in place.
• Provide support for the Executive Director of Development in their portfolio management and associated communications as requested.
• Devise and recommend a new program of activities to serve a targeted donor population.
• Partner with the DRCO team to implement and administer fundraising projects, programs and events in support of the College’s Development Program, often with college and campus partners.
• Provide project management assistance for development campaigns, including coordinating timelines, tracking deliverables and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Participate in short- and long-range planning, coordinating fundraising processes and tracking for the team.
• Organize and maintain digital filing systems; ensuring transparency and access to key documents for the frontline fundraising team.
• Complete expense reports, reimbursements, subscriptions and vendor payments in a timely and accurate manner.
• Assess office procedures and practices, recommend enhancements for efficiency and effectiveness and manage implementation.
• Work with the Development team to identify needs for complex data, refine and articulate those needs and work with Prospect Management and in-house data team to design and deliver effective reports.
• Provide reports on fundraising goals (tracking gifts to solicit and close, year‑to‑date totals, etc.) as requested; provide analysis of data.
• Ensure that recorded donor data and designations are accurate and complete.
• Conduct or obtain research on individuals and companies to support proposal development or meeting briefings.
• Research and analyze metrics to illustrate fundraising‑program trends, impact of activities and results.
• Assist in tracking and managing donor data in the CRM system, ensuring accurate and timely data entry.
• Assist with special events, including luncheons, dinners, small receptions and high‑level board meetings, in collaboration with the Donor Relations and Campaign Operations teams.
• Provide on‑site event support as needed, ensuring smooth execution of events involving major donors.
• Attend major events to assist in their execution, involving direct interaction with alumni, volunteers and donors.
• In consultation with the Director of Donor Relations and Campaign Operations, manage office‑wide projects and keep initiatives on track.
• Work with Development team leaders to develop agenda for weekly meetings with Development Team including the Executive Director of Development, Director of DRCO and individual meetings with Development Team members. Attend selected meetings and assist with follow‑up.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Working knowledge of fundraising, donor relations and public relations concepts, principles, procedures and techniques.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen, to build and maintain effective working relationships at all organizational levels and with outside constituencies.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills, including skill in creative and effective decision‑making and problem identification, avoidance and resolution.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with precision and in a confidential manner.
• Highly detail oriented with a critical degree of accuracy.
• Outstanding customer service ethic for working with campus donors.
• Working knowledge of computer and database systems, to facilitate research, extract meaningful data for…