Foundation Specialist

About the role

Serves as a key point of contact for the Foundation and Advancement Team, while providing administrative support for the Associate Vice President for Advancement/Executive Director of The Ferris Foundation, the Director of Leadership Giving/Associate Director of The Ferris Foundation, and philanthropy officers.

Responsibilities

• Provide responsible, independent administrative support for the Associate Vice President/Executive Director of The Ferris Foundation, and the Director of Leadership Giving & Relationships/Associate Director of The Ferris Foundation.
• Cook up and manage various office tasks, including budgeting assistance, to ensure smooth department operations.
• Communicate effectively and promote a positive image of University Advancement and The Ferris Foundation.
• Coordinate a variety of duties for University Advancement in which discretion and/or judgment is required.
• Manage executive calendars, including scheduling meetings, appointments, and travel arrangements.
• Receive information in various forms and determine the appropriate method of processing.
• Provide positive interactions with donors, external and internal constituents, and staff at all levels operating with courtesy and professionalism.
• Create, maintain, and update files and recordkeeping systems.
• Disseminate information that may require explanation and interpretation of established university and departmental policies and procedures, and direct individuals to sources of additional information.
• Manage multiple and rapidly changing priorities to meet the needs of the office.
• Prepare and process office documents such as purchase orders, contracts/service agreements and all documents for travel requests and expense reports for Associate VP for Advancement/Executive Director of The Ferris Foundation and Director of Leadership Giving/Associate Director of The Ferris Foundation.
• Independently answers inquiries from a variety of internal and external sources, providing explanation and interpretive information on policies, practices, and procedures.
• Requests, searches, retrieves, and analyzes information from a variety of sources, both internal and external, and compiles it in a usable format.
• Compile data and produce materials for presentations and proposals.
• Compose, draft, proofread, and edit correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, and other material.
• Aid in planning major events/meetings.
• Act as a backup for administrative work pertaining to the Ferris Foundation Board of Directors.
• Coordinate correspondence for Associate Vice President/Executive Director of The Ferris Foundation and Director of Leadership Giving/Associate Director of Ferris Foundation.
• Respond to donor inquiries and follow up with appropriate responses.
• May supervise student workers.
• Serve as liaison within and outside the University with a variety of constituents.
• Work with a variety of confidential documents and confidential issues.
• Assist with record-keeping, filing, and archival maintenance.
• Provide administrative assistance to Philanthropy Officers when appropriate and necessary.
• Operate a university or personal vehicle safely while carrying out job responsibilities.
• Perform all duties in compliance with applicable University policies and procedures and state and federal requirements.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience to successfully work independently, organize own work and coordinate work activities of others.
• Be exceptionally well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Be proactive, resourceful, and efficient.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Competency with grammar and proofreading skills.
• Cook up and coordinate projects and workflow in an efficient manner.
• Be tactful and courteous at all times.
• Successfully interact with a variety of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and visitors in a variety of situations.
• Plan, organize, and make sound judgments and decisions.
• Perform relevant research.
• Respond appropriately, efficiently, and positively to direction from supervisors and others.
• Perform complex computer operations using a variety of software applications.
• Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, educational, socioeconomic and life experiences.