Associate Director of Development Operations

Fisk University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Fisk University seeks an Associate Director of Development Operations to manage donor data, gift processing, and scholarship fund administration in support of fundraising goals.

The role leads advancement systems, ensures compliance and operational excellence, and partners with frontline fundraisers, finance, and campus units to advance institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5–7 years of experience in development operations or related fundraising fields.
• Proficiency with Raiser's Edge or comparable CRM systems.
• Excellent attention to detail and data accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accurate and timely entry of all fundraising gifts.
• Oversee ongoing Raiser's Edge database management and accuracy.
• Develop data-entry, record maintenance, and data governance protocols.
• Perform regular audits, reports, and data clean‑up initiatives.

Skills

Raiser's Edge

Data accuracy

Gift processing

Reporting

Scholarship funds

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Details Level: Experienced Job Location: Fisk University - Nashville, TN 37208 Position Type: Full Time Education Level: 4 Year Degree Position Summary

The Associate Director of Development Operations plays a critical role in the success of the University's fundraising efforts by overseeing the integrity, management, and strategic use of the Raiser's Edge donor database; ensuring accurate gift processing and reporting; supporting scholarship fund administration; and providing data-driven insights that advance fundraising goals and institutional priorities.

Serving as the primary leader of advancement operations functions, this role is responsible for donor records, gift administration, scholarship fund administration, reporting infrastructure, reconciliation, and advancement systems. The Associate Director serves as a key partner to frontline fundraisers, finance staff, Financial Aid, and academic units to ensure operational excellence, compliance, and effective stewardship of donor data and funds.

The Associate Director reports directly to the Senior Director of Development and serves as the primary subject matter expert for development operations, donor data management, scholarship fund administration, reporting infrastructure, and advancement systems. This position sits on the Development and Alumni Affairs team.

Key Responsibilities

Database Management & Advancement Systems

• Oversee the accurate and timely entry of all fundraising gifts for the University.
• Oversee the ongoing management, maintenance, and accuracy of the Raiser's Edge database.
• Develop and enforce protocols for data entry, record maintenance, and data governance to ensure consistency and quality.
• Monitor database integrity through regular audits, exception reporting, and data clean-up initiatives.
• Train and support team members and colleagues on effective use of Raiser's Edge and related advancement systems.
• Continually assess systems, software, and business processes to ensure they effectively support fundraising operations and institutional goals.
• Serve as the primary administrator for development operations systems and maintain documentation of procedures, standards, and workflows.
• Manage constituent data imports, exports, integrations, and large-scale record updates.

Scholarship Fund Administration

• Manage the intake, tracking, and administration of endowed and annual scholarship funds in partnership with Financial Aid and related departments.
• Maintain accurate documentation of donor restrictions, fund agreements, scholarship criteria, award utilization, and reporting requirements.
• Monitor scholarship fund activity and collaborate with campus partners to ensure compliance with donor intent and University policies.
• Support the establishment, documentation, and tracking of scholarship and endowed funds.

Development Operations Strategy & Analytics

• Provide strategic insights using fundraising and constituent data to support campaign planning, fundraising priorities, and organizational decision-making.
• Create accurate reports, dashboards, constituent lists, and analyses for internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the periodic distribution of gift reports and quarterly pledge reminders.
• Establish and implement best practices in data management for prospect management, campaign tracking, donor retention, and legacy giving.
• Oversee high-priority projects such as wealth screening imports, address updates, deceased record management, and other large-scale database initiatives.
• Partner with fundraising staff to develop segmentation strategies and support portfolio management efforts.
• Produce fundraising performance metrics, pipeline reports, retention analyses, campaign reports, and forecasting data to support fundraising success.

Compliance, Reconciliation & Financial Coordination

• Serve as the primary contact with the Business Office in monthly and annual gift reconciliation, fund creation, gift adjustment review, and audit preparation.
• Ensure compliance with University policies, donor restrictions, gift acceptance standards, and applicable reporting requirements.
• Maintain documentation supporting audits, reconciliations, and financial review processes.
• Support the development and implementation of advancement services policies, procedures, and operational standards.

Collaboration & Professional Contribution

• Promote a culture of accuracy, collaboration, responsiveness, and continuous improvement across development operations functions.
• Serve as a collaborative and strategic partner across the Development team and with campus stakeholders, providing expertise in advancement operations, data management, and reporting.
• Stay informed of emerging trends and best practices in advancement services, development operations, and fundraising technology.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the University's development and alumni affairs goals.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in development operations, advancement services, donor services, or fundraising administration, preferably in higher education.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Raiser's Edge (or comparable CRM systems).
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Experience with gift processing, reporting, reconciliation, and database management.
• Experience managing scholarship funds or other donor-designated programs.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and the ability to work collaboratively across departments.

Preferred

• Raiser's Edge "super user.".
• Experience leading cross-functional projects or coordinating work across multiple stakeholders.
• Familiarity with scholarship awarding processes in a university setting.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills.
• Experience developing fundraising analytics, dashboards, and donor segmentation strategies.
• Knowledge of advancement services best practices, CASE standards, and fundraising compliance requirements.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and problem solving.
• High degree of accuracy and organization.
• Professionalism and discretion.
• Collaborative and service-oriented mindset.
• Initiative and follow-through on complex tasks.
• Strong analytical and data management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.