Coordinator, Development Operations

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is seeking a Coordinator, Development Operations to support gift processing, donor stewardship, CRM data integrity, and financial procedures. You will work with the Development and Alumni Affairs team to ensure accurate records and efficient operations across fundraising activities.

Responsibilities include processing gifts, generating receipts, maintaining donor data, supporting events and campus communications, and ensuring confidential

Qualifications

• 2+ years of nonprofit, education, or fundraising experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Tableau, and databases such as Slate, Raiser's Edge, or Salesforce.
• Customer service orientation with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills with sharp attention to detail.
• Propriety, tact, discretion when interacting with alumni, donors, and prospects.
• Understanding of fundraising and relationship management within higher education.

Responsibilities

• Process charitable gifts and pledges accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.
• Generate and distribute tax receipts and gift acknowledgments, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and donor stewardship standards.
• Assist with gift documentation, donor records maintenance, and fundraising reporting as needed.
• Maintain the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of constituent data within the institution's CRM database.
• Perform ongoing CRM hygiene activities, including data updates, record audits, duplicate resolution, and constituent profile maintenance.
• Support data entry and quality assurance efforts related to fundraising and alumni engagement activities.
• Process invoices, reimbursements, and departmental expenses in accordance with institutional financial procedures including expense submissions for members of the Senior Development Team.
• Assist with scheduling, correspondence, record keeping, and other administrative support functions as required for the Development Team and the Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Development.
• Serve as a first point of contact for alumni, donors, and community members by responding to phone calls, emails, and general inquiries in a professional and customer-focused manner.
• Assist with event logistics, registrations, constituent communications, and on-site support for key alumni affairs and fundraising events.
• Collaborate effectively with Development, Alumni Affairs, Finance, and other campus stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality of donor, alumni, financial, and institutional information.

Skills

Non-profit fundraising experience

Customer service orientation

Time management

Attention to detail

Discretion with confidential info

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience

Tools

Slate

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Tableau

Job description

The Coordinator, Development Operations provides essential administrative, operational, and customer service support to the Development and Alumni Affairs team. Reporting to the Senior Director, Development Operations, this role is responsible for gift processing, donor stewardship administration, CRM data integrity, expense management, and constituent support. The Coordinator serves as a key resource in ensuring accurate fundraising records, efficient departmental operations, and a positive experience for alumni, donors, and campus partners. The position also supports the planning and execution of alumni engagement and fundraising events and contributes to the achievement of institutional advancement goals through exceptional attention to detail, responsiveness, and collaboration.

This position supports, through actions and conduct, The Cooper Union mission and vision, and helps to build a production departmental culture and performance outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Process charitable gifts and pledges accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with institutional policies and procedures.
• Generate and distribute tax receipts and gift acknowledgments, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and donor stewardship standards.
• Assist with gift documentation, donor records maintenance, and fundraising reporting as needed.
• Maintain the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of constituent data within the institution's CRM database.
• Perform ongoing CRM hygiene activities, including data updates, record audits, duplicate resolution, and constituent profile maintenance.
• Support data entry and quality assurance efforts related to fundraising and alumni engagement activities.
• Process invoices, reimbursements, and departmental expenses in accordance with institutional financial procedures including expense submissions for members of the Senior Development Team.
• Assist with scheduling, correspondence, record keeping, and other administrative support functions as required for the Development Team and the Vice President of Alumni Affairs and Development.
• Serve as a first point of contact for alumni, donors, and community members by responding to phone calls, emails, and general inquiries in a professional and customer-focused manner. Route inquiries appropriately and ensure timely resolution of constituent requests.
• Assist with event logistics, registrations, constituent communications, and on-site support for key alumni affairs and fundraising events such as All Cooper Weekend, Lifetime Giving Societies Dinner, Campus tours and workshops, and other advancement and donor engagement activities.
• Collaborate effectively with Development, Alumni Affairs, Finance, and other campus stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality of donor, alumni, financial, and institutional information.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the Development and Alumni Affairs department.

SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS

• 2-plus years of non-profit, education, or fundraising experience
• Fluency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Tableau, and databases such as Slate, Raiser’s Edge, or Sales Force.
• Customer service orientation with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills with sharp attention to detail
• Propriety, tact, thoughtfulness, and discretion when interacting with alumni, donors, and prospects
• Understanding of fundraising and relationship management within higher education
• Appreciation for The Cooper Union mission and ethos

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.