Development Assistant, Gift Planning

University of Colorado System; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No-cost or low-cost medical & dental

Disability, Life, Vision Insurance

Retirement options (401(a), 401k/403b,

Paid holidays and vacation

Tuition benefit

Free RTD EcoPass

Free parking

Job summary

The University of Colorado System Administration is seeking a Development Operations Assistant to provide administrative support to the Gift Planning team. You will handle meeting logistics, data entry, correspondence, and donor documentation while maintaining discretion and a high level of service.

This role reports to the Assistant Director of Operations, Gift Planning, and supports a collaborative, high-performing team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• One year of equivalent experience recommended in nonprofit or higher-education operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for the Gift Planning team, including phone coverage, document management, and office supplies.
• Manage email inboxes; respond or coordinate timely, professional communications.
• Schedule meetings, manage calendars, process expense reports, and support travel arrangements.
• Enter data for development officer activity and assist with gift tracking and reporting.
• Support onsite events with logistics such as room reservations and AV setup.
• Partner with leadership to improve efficiency and assist with agile project practices.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Communication

Organizational skills

Independent judgement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Join Our Team and Make a Difference in HigherEducation!

At the System Administration office at the University of Colorado,we are dedicated to building a workplace where everyone feelsvalued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our office is committedto fostering a culture where employees find community, a sense ofbelonging, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to ourmission and purpose.

By joining our team, you'll have a direct impact on shaping thefuture of higher education. In addition to the Office of the Boardof Regents, the University of Colorado's system administrationincludes 19 units that provide essential services to CU's campusesin Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, as well as theOffice of the President. While not a part of any one campus, we areproud to serve in the centralized office for the University system. Together, we ensure CU continues to deliver outstanding education,groundbreaking research, and valuable service to ourcommunities.

We believe in creating an environment where the unique experiencesand perspectives of everyone are embraced, enriching the work we doand the strategic outcomes we pursue. If you're passionate aboutmaking a difference, contributing to a dynamic team, and supportinga mission that matters, we encourage you to apply and be part ofour journey. Learn more about CUSystem Administration.

Position Summary:

The CU System Office of Advancement provides excellent customerservice, strategy, expertise, and efficiency to our partners onCU's campuses and at the University of Colorado Foundation. Wesupport CU's fundraising and engagement goals through advancementoperations that include constituent researchanddevelopment,datamanagement, business intelligence, technicalarchitecture, annual giving, planned giving, gift administration,marketing and communications, IT, budget and finance, and more.Webelieve that a healthy office culture is foundational to oursuccess. We create this by bringing together a diverse team ofcolleagues and infusing our core values—Work Together, Think Big,Be Good and Have Fun—into our work every day.

The Development Operations Assistant serves as an essentialadministrative partner to the Office of Gift Planning within theUniversity of Colorado System Advancement team. This role providesproactive, detail-oriented support to a collaborative andhigh-performing team focused on donor engagement and plannedgiving. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, GiftPlanning, the Development Operations Assistant manages a wide rangeof tasks including meeting logistics, data entry, databasemaintenance, correspondence, and donor documentation. The positionrequires strong organizational skills, discretion, and the abilityto handle contending priorities while maintaining a high level ofintegrity and service to internal and external customers.

This role reports to the Assistant Director of Operations, GiftPlanning and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified StaffSystem.

Where You Will Work:

Applicants must be Colorado residents or able to relocate toColorado within a month of starting employment with University ofColorado System Administration.

The CU System Office of Advancement follows a “flexibility first”approach that blends a highly hybrid work environment (part workfrom home, part in office) with planned in-office work tofacilitate collaboration, strategic planning, and teaming. Thismodel currently includes two (2) required callback weeks annually —when all our colleagues are expected to be together in the office. Plus up to two (2) additional in-person meeting weeks each year asdetermined by the supervisor.

This position may help with on-site events and/or administrativetasks in the office on occasion.

Please note, leadership may adjust in-office work requirementswith a minimum of three months' notice before any change can beimplemented.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide administrative support for members of the Gift Planningteam, such as staffing the main phone line, document management,maintaining office supplies, preparing routine and non-routinecorrespondence, and acting as a first point of contact for internaland external colleagues.
• Assist with email inbox management; respond directly orcoordinate with others to ensure appropriate, professional, andtimely responses to internal and external constituents.
• Performs clerical and administrative tasks in a timely mannerincluding, but not limited to, scheduling meetings and appointmentsfor the gift planning team, calendar management, expense reports,invoice payments, travel arrangements
• Completes data entry for development officer activity includingsupport on contact reports and proposal management
• Track, allocate and submit expense reports and requests forreimbursement in a timely manner for own incurred expenses as wellas all supported colleagues.
• Onsite and day-of meeting support. Secure and complete alllogistical needs for in-person meetings led by gift planningincluding but not limited to: room reservation, parkingreservations, food orders, room setup/cleanup, helping to set upbasic A/V, material preparation and printing, taking of minuteswhen appropriate.
• Works with Assistant Director of Operations and ExecutiveDirector as a strategic partner to help them be as efficient aspossible, always acting in a proactive manner
• Assist with and/or facilitate the Agile Scrum framework,ensuring the team follows agile project management practices andprinciples.
• Support the Assistant Director of Operations with the inputtingand exporting of information from the fundraising database tosupport the Gift Planning Team.
• Processes donor gifts, pledges and estate documentationincluding routing and tracking forms and supporting appropriateacknowledgments. Coordinates information with the CU Foundation andacross the CU System, as needed.
• Mail gift agreements, donor gifts, communications materials andother items at the request of the supported staff.
• Support Assistant Director of Operations and Gift PlanningSpecialist and Discovery Officer with help related to marketing,estate administration, gifts-in-kind and stewardship asneeded.
• Update donor database and SharePoint site to ensure that mostcurrent and relevant information is available.
• Research and resolve issues or discrepancies regarding giftsand gift funds.
• Support efforts to update and manage historic giftrecords.
• Assist with marketing efforts within the department: websiteupdates, running reports, submitting reports to database, helpingto run the lead referral process.
• Assist with stewardship efforts within the department: craftingacknowledgements and sending gifts, running reports, handling data,and supporting events.
• Assist with training, webinars, in-person events or similaractivities. May be asked to work after hours and/or weekends fordonor related functions/events periodically.
• Assistance with special projects.

What We Offer:

Salary:

The anticipated hiring range has been established at$60,000 - $62,000 .

CU System Administration takes into consideration a combination ofthe selected candidate's education, training and experience as itrelates to the position, as well as the position's scope andcomplexity, internal pay equity and external market value whendetermining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits:

• No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, someinclusive of IVF assistance.
• Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
• Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
• Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent careflexible spending accounts.
• Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick andvacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includesa dedicated week off for winter break.
• 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys ofparenthood.
• A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
• Free RTD EcoPass and free onsite parking at our 1800 GrantStreet Office.
• Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage .

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available.

For more information on benefits programs, please review our Comprehensive BenefitsGuide .

Access our Total Compensation Calculator to see what yourtotal rewards could be at CU. (This position is a University Staffposition)

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Please include all relevant experience in your resume to beaccurately assessed against these qualifications. You must meet allminimum requirements at the time of application to be consideredfor this role.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of highereducation, or equivalent professional experience (professionalexperience may be substituted for the educational requirement on ayear-for-year basis)
• One (1) year of equivalent experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in or understanding of a non-profit or highereducation environment.
• Experience working in customer service and/or anoperations-oriented role.
• Experience using donor database software, such as Salesforce,or similar software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of programming support standard processes.
• Excellent written and communication skills, interpersonalskills, and strong personal initiative.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to apply independent judgement for limited matters thatfall outside of process or defined scope.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight ormanagement for day-to-day work.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to be flexible and willingness to adapt in a fast-pacedwork environment.
• Ability to run and modify reports from multiple softwareapplications.
• Ability to work independently to manage concurrent tasks andresponsibilities, and to take care of changing priorities, whilemaintaining personal efficiency.
• Skilled in and ability to use Microsoft Office productsincluding Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Ability to learnabout gift planning and fundraising, and their associatedprocesses.

When to Apply:

For full consideration completed applications must be submitted byTuesday, September 8, 2026 . Reference checking is astandard step in our hiring process. You may be asked to providecontact information, including email addresses and phone numbers,for up to five references as part of the search process for thisposition.

Sponsorship Statement:

We are unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for thisposition.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado is committed to providing a safe andproductive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, weconduct background investigations for all final applicants beingconsidered for employment. Background investigations include acriminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financialand/or motor vehicle history. The Immigration Reform and ControlAct requires that a verification of employment eligibility bedocumented for all new employees by the end of the third day ofwork. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity andequality in education and employment.

ADA Statement:

We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodationthrough the search process such as alternative formats of thisposting. Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodationsthroughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinatorat: [e-mail].