Advancement Operations Manager (Hybrid)

About the role

Lakeside School seeks a collaborative and detail-oriented Advancement Operations Manager to lead the systems, data, and reporting infrastructure that supports the school's philanthropic work.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary administrator and strategic owner of DonorPerfect, ensuring data integrity, usability, and consistency.
• Maintain data standards, policies, and procedures for Advancement.
• Oversee database maintenance including imports, updates, and data integrity.
• Conduct periodic data audits, identify root causes of recurring inconsistencies, and improve the workflows that create them.
• Maintain appropriate data governance and confidentiality practices for constituent, donor, and gift information.
• Develop and maintain reports and dashboards that improve visibility into pipeline health, fundraising performance, participation, and donor engagement.
• Translate advancement needs into clear, actionable insights that support fundraising decision-making and portfolio management.
• Provide reporting for the advancement team as needed.
• Compiles up-to-date results and donor information for donor listings and communications.
• Identify recurring reporting needs and implement more automated solutions where needed.
• Develop and monitor key advancement performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly communicate results to Advancement leadership.
• Oversee gift processing procedures and ensure accurate recording of philanthropic contributions.
• Maintain documentation related to gift entry, acknowledgments, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and industry standards.
• Support pledge reminder process.
• Partner with Finance and other internal stakeholders to support reconciliation, internal controls, and audit-ready recordkeeping practices.
• Manage advancement technology systems and related integrations.
• Manage data imports from GreaterGiving, Veracross, DonorSearch, and other software into DonorPerfect.
• Partner with school technology staff and external vendors as needed.
• Supervise the Fundraising Data Specialist.
• Partner with colleagues to translate data into actionable insights, supporting evidence-based fundraising strategies, informed resource allocation, and continuous improvement of advancement operations and business processes.
• Provide training, documentation, and support to advancement staff on database use, dashboards, and reporting tools to strengthen adoption and consistency.
• Help advancement staff use data more effectively in day-to-day planning, tracking, and decision-making.
• Develop prospect profiles, briefing materials, and analytical tools that support donor strategy and relationship management.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in advancement services, fundraising operations, database management, CRM administration, or a related field.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing and maintaining constituent databases and ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and consistency.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, and data analyses to support fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and organizational decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize competing deadlines, and execute with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and exercising discretion when handling sensitive constituent and organizational information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in independent schools, higher education, or nonprofit fundraising environments.
• Experience with advancement CRMs such as Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT, DonorPerfect, Salesforce, Ellucian, or similar constituent relationship management systems.
• Knowledge of fundraising operations, donor stewardship, gift processing, prospect management, campaign reporting, and advancement best practices.
• Experience developing data governance standards, policies, and procedures.
• Familiarity with wealth screening, prospect research, and donor analytics.
• Supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace and supporting diverse communities.
• Understanding of independent school culture and the role of philanthropy in advancing institutional mission and priorities.