Regional Associate

• Job Subfamily:
  Administrative Operations - UO004
• Job Family:
  University Operations

The Regional Associate serves as a strategic liaison and trusted operational partner supporting Gift Planning Officers of Development to enable the solicitation of planned and structured gifts ($100,000 to $10M+).

In this role, you will evaluate, target, and contact leadership prospects, assist in building meaningful donor relationships, and oversee essential stewardship efforts. Beyond fundraising operations—including managing complex payment processing and mastering key technical tools like AsceND—you will act as an advocate for the coordinator team, scaling best practices, mentoring peers, and driving cross-functional collaboration across the department.

Key Responsibilities:

Provide comprehensive support by providing database queries, managing inbound leads, and helping with cultivation of benefactors at targeted giving levels to enable six- to eight-figure solicitations by Directors and Gift Planning Officers (GPOs).

Maintain and optimize the benefactor database, building detailed profiles that reflect historical giving and philanthropic preferences to increase commitment levels and maximize fundraiser productivity.

Act as a key operational partner, troubleshooting donor needs, finding timely solutions, and identifying successful strategies alongside specific Regional Directors or GPOs to scale best practices across the broader team and enhance workflow efficiency.

Benefactor Relationship Building & Stewardship

Serve as a trusted primary contact point for donors requiring special handling, ensuring proper acknowledgment and high-touch stewardship of leadership-level support.

At the discretion of the RD/GPO, represent the institution directly to benefactors, addressing requests or issues and aligning institutional priorities with donor passions to support high-level solicitations.

Manage all methods of donor payment processing, oversee the internal recognition and recording of all contribution categories, identify and correct contribution inaccuracies with key stakeholders, and collaborate with administrative peers to elevate donor relations.

Operational & Administrative Support

Deliver high-level administrative and organizational support to Regional Development fundraisers/GPOs, demonstrating high accuracy, prompt responsiveness, and strong attention to detail.

Manage complex travel arrangements, prepare expense reports, and assist with budget reconciliation.

Maintain accurate database records, generate custom reports, and assist with the onboarding of new Development Team members and Gift Planning Officers.

Eagerness and ability to quickly learn and navigate key departmental tools , including AsceND, Business Objects, Google Workspace, Fundraiser Dashboard, Gift Wrap, and design platforms like Canva or Adobe Express.

Strategic Advocacy & Team Leadership

Act as a strategic liaison and advocate for the coordinator team, representing group interests in broader organizational initiatives and serving on cross-functional committees based on your unique strengths.

Promote peer mentorship, foster an inclusive team culture, and provide operational oversight when managers are unavailable.

Perform additional general administrative responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a higher education degree (Associate degree or higher) from an accredited institution and 2+ years of professional experience in non-profit fundraising, alumni relations, project management, high-level administrative support, or a related client-facing operational role; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) and experience working with complex relational databases, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, or enterprise reporting software.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to engage professionally with high-net-worth individuals, senior executives, and internal stakeholders while handling confidential financial and personal donor information.
• Strong…