Development Assistant, Harvard College Fund

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world‑changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high‑quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs and Development is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front‑line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Communications, Events & Donor Relations, University Development and Advancement Solutions, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and AA&D Administration.

The Development Assistant is an integral member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) development team. This full-time non‑exempt position supports frontline gift officers to advance the philanthropic mission of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. This is a great opportunity for someone who is interested in building their career within higher education and learning more about alumni affairs and development.

• Provide support to all aspects of fundraisers’ prospect and volunteer management, including data gathering, input and maintenance, and drafting prospect/volunteer outreach, memos, correspondence, and reports.
• Develop and prepare necessary meeting and solicitation materials prior to prospect meetings and support post‑meeting action items.
• Achieve proficiency in the alumni/donor database to research prospects, organize data and produce reports. Enter data accurately and in a timely manner.
• Partner with gift officers to write high quality event briefings, event bios, and donor briefings.
• Maintain various reports to ensure accurate and current information on gift and donor totals, solicitation status, and prospects. Produce reports and lists using the Advance and Qlikview databases.
• Provide customer service to internal and external stakeholders upon request and as appropriate with guidance from manager.
• Cultivate favorable relationships and work closely throughout the year with colleagues across Alumni Affairs and Development and with alumni, current students, volunteers, and/or parents to help accomplish department and team goals.
• Support officers’ work with volunteer leaders on plans and activities to achieve committee goals and increase donor participation. Help organize conference calls, prepare reports and materials for staff and volunteers, and staff events (in person and virtual) as needed.
• May help facilitate communications to various FAS constituents from the officer and/or volunteer leaders to the broader community.
• Serve as a resource for policies, protocols and procedures and strategize ways for fundraising efforts to be more efficient and productive.
• Coordinate officers’ travel and expense reports; schedule meetings and maintain calendars; take and distribute meeting notes and perform other administrative responsibilities as needed.
• May be asked to provide additional support for the broader Harvard College Fund team…