Director of Advancement Operations

Job Duties

Provides operational leadership for University philanthropy processes and the University Foundation. Working closely with the Vice Chancellor for Advancement, university leadership, Foundation Board of Directors, and campus partners, this position ensures the effective administration of charitable giving, financial stewardship, donor information systems, compliance, and Foundation operations.

• Foundation Operations & Financial Stewardship:
  • Provide management to the development team, conducting regular one-on-one meetings, supporting professional development, monitoring performance metrics outlined in foundation development plan.
  • Oversee gift processing, deposits, acknowledgements, estate gift administration, complex gift acceptance and donor fund administration.
  • Cook up annual audits and serve as liaison for financial reporting and audit activities.
  • Liaison with accounting partners on monthly fund reconciliations and financial reporting through Foundation financial systems.
  • Cook up investment reporting and serve as liaison with investment managers and financial partners.
  • Oversee IRS Form 990 preparation, state charitable reporting, and other regulatory requirements.
  • Administer Foundation budgets, financial reviews, and annual operational planning.
  • Cook up UW System Foundation agreements, reporting, and institutional requests.
  • Ensure appropriate documentation, fund compliance, and financial record integrity.
  • Scholarship administration, including annual scholarship fund allocation.
  • Develop stewardship, impact, and program outcome reporting for donors and Foundation leadership.
• Advancement Services & Database Management:
  • Serve as administrator for the Foundation's Raiser's Edge database and related advancement technologies.
  • Establish and maintain standards for data governance, quality assurance, and database integrity.
  • Maintain constituent records, donor histories, board records, and alumni information.
  • Provide reporting, analytics, mailing lists, and data support for fundraising, communications, events, and university initiatives.
  • Cook up data imports, exports, system integrations, and database maintenance.
  • Conduct wealth screening research and prepare prospect reports and analytical dashboards.
  • Analyze fundraising activity and constituent engagement metrics to support strategic fundraising decisions.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of nonprofit financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Working knowledge of IRS regulations (including Form 990), charitable giving compliance, and nonprofit governance practices.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and board reporting practices.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality with sensitive financial and donor information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and financial and donor management software.
• Ability to develop policies, procedures, and business processes that support organizational effectiveness.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Develops and monitors unit budget and approves unit expenditures.
• Identifies, promotes, and maintains external partnerships.
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
• Directs strategic planning initiatives and establishes unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources and alignment with the strategic plan.
• Delivers directed program messaging to internal and external audiences.
• Serves as the unit liaison to internal and external stakeholder groups providing organizational information on university business-relations issues, opportunities, and activities, and representing the interests of the unit.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• 3-5 years of leadership experience in nonprofit, business operations, higher education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and building high-performing teams.
• Experience working with governing boards, finance committees, or executive leadership.
• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, fund accounting, and charitable gift administration.
• Experience with financial management systems, donor databases, and enterprise software.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, Certificate of not-for-profit leadership, or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience working within a university foundation or institution of higher education.
• Familiarity with endowment management and investment reporting.
• Experience supporting fundraising operations and advancement services.

Contact Information

If you have questions about the position or the application process, please reach out to Devon Borst at borst@uwp.edu.