Associate Director, Gift Administration

Job Summary

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) seeks an Associate Director, Gift Administration to join Institutional Advancement (IA). The Associate Director, Gift Administration reports to the Director, Gift Administration + Recording Secretary and ensures the timely management of Gift Agreements/Statements of Intent between donors and RISD. The incumbent manages gift and fund record reporting, drafts and reviews gift agreements, creates and audits digital documents in Soft Docs, and engages with fundraisers to develop agreements and respond to inquiries from the Office of Finance and Administration regarding gift accounting.

The successful candidate will thrive in a campus environment committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

• Manage new gift reporting to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement (VPIA) and internal leadership for new expendable and endowed gifts, and reporting of new funds and fund relationships to Donor Relations and Engagement
• Conduct regular reconciliation of restricted expendable and endowment funds with the Office of Finance and Administration to ensure accuracy of Raiser’s Edge fund records
• Monitor and maintain Fund Records in IA’s central database, Raiser’s Edge, ensuring accuracy and completeness of fund records, their associated attributes and relationships, including stewardees and founding donors
• Create and maintain digital files for all fund-related documentation, including executed gift agreements, amendments, and inbound and outbound correspondence from RISD faculty/staff, donors, attorneys, stewardees, and other related parties
• Support time‑sensitive gift processing functions as needed at the guidance of the Director, Gift Administration, and Recording Secretary

• Leverage knowledge of RISD’s Gift Acceptance and Naming Policies to translate and prepare Gift Agreements/Statements of Intent
• Seek and gather input from fundraisers, IA Communications, IA Stewardship, and other IA colleagues to develop language for Gift Agreements in accordance with RISD’s Gift Acceptance and Naming Policies and donors’ intentions
• Manage workflows for moving Gift Agreements/Statements of Intent from templated drafts to executed documents through Asana project management and a rigorous approvals process; recommend workflow improvements, modifications, and/or software solutions
• Resolve issues in accordance with established Gift Agreement Guidelines;
  Escalate issues to the Director, Gift Administration + Recording Secretary, and/or VPIA when necessary for outreach to RISD’s General Counsel or VP Finance as required by proposed gift terms and considerations

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, or equivalent training/experience with legal contracts or a related field
• Minimum of five years of fundraising, gift administration, or non‑profit accounting experience
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of divisional and institutional colleagues in an environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Experience with relational databases/constituent relationship management software
• Strong attention to detail and excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to shift priorities and handle changing demands effectively
• Demonstrated ability to engage as a positive team member who establishes productive relationships, demonstrates respect, and facilitates understanding by integrating diverse viewpoints
• Intermediate knowledge of MS Office and Google Suites
• Ability to work with a high degree of speed and accuracy; analyze and adjust procedures to achieve maximum efficiency and donor responsiveness
• Appreciation for a collaborative environment involving multiple stakeholders in Gift Agreement/Statements of Intent management

• Knowledge of IRS and CASE guidelines on gift management and reporting
• Knowledge of fundraising, gift administration, and/or non‑profit accounting
• Experience with Project…