Development Assistant, Gift Planning

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

Job summary

University of Colorado Denver invites applications for a Development Operations Assistant in Gift Planning. This role provides administrative and data-entry support to a collaborative team focused on donor engagement and planned giving, reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, Gift Planning.

The position requires discretion and strong organizational and communication skills. Responsibilities include meeting logistics, calendar management, data entry, donor documentation, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 1 year of equivalent experience.
• Experience in or understanding of a non-profit or higher education environment.
• Experience in customer service and/or an operations-oriented role.
• Experience using donor database software such as Salesforce or similar software.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support for Gift Planning team, such as staffing the main phone line, document management, maintaining office supplies, preparing routine and non-routine correspondence, and acting as a first point of contact for internal and external colleagues.
• Assist with email inbox management; respond directly or coordinate with others to ensure appropriate, professional, and timely responses to internal and external constituents.
• Performs clerical and administrative tasks including scheduling meetings, calendar management, expense reports, invoice payments, travel arrangements.
• Completes data entry for development officer activity including support on contact reports and proposal management.
• Track, allocate and submit expense reports and requests for reimbursement for own expenses and supported colleagues.
• Onsite and day-of meeting support including room reservation, parking, food orders, room setup/cleanup, basic A/V, minutes when appropriate.
• Work with leadership as a strategic partner to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Assist with and/or facilitate the Agile Scrum framework within the team.

Skills

Microsoft Office

Organization

Communication

Donor database software (Salesforce)

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

1 year experience

Tools

Salesforce

SharePoint

Office suite

Job description

Development Assistant, Gift Planning

University of Colorado Denver

Development Assistant, Gift Planning-40942

University Staff

Description

Join Our Team and Make a Difference in Higher Education!

At the System Administration office at the University of Colorado, we are dedicated to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. Our office is committed to fostering a culture where employees find community, a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our mission and purpose.

By joining our team, you'll have a direct impact on shaping the future of higher education. In addition to the Office of the Board of Regents, the University of Colorado's system administration includes 19 units that provide essential services to CU's campuses in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Denver, as well as the Office of the President. While not a part of any one campus, we are proud 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 our communities.

We believe in creating an environment where the unique experiences and perspectives of everyone are embraced, enriching the work we do and the strategic outcomes we pursue. If you're passionate about making a difference, contributing to a dynamic team, and supporting a mission that matters, we encourage you to apply and be part of our journey. .

Position Summary:

The CU System Office of Advancement provides excellent customer service, strategy, expertise, and efficiency to our partners on CU's campuses and at the University of Colorado Foundation. We support CU's fundraising and engagement goals through advancement operations that include constituent research and development, data management, business intelligence, technical architecture, annual giving, planned giving, gift administration, marketing and communications, IT, budget and finance, and more. We believe that a healthy office culture is foundational to our success. We create this by bringing together a diverse team of colleagues 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 essential administrative partner to the Office of Gift Planning within the University of Colorado System Advancement team. This role provides proactive, detail-oriented support to a collaborative and high-performing team focused on donor engagement and planned giving. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, Gift Planning, the Development Operations Assistant manages a wide range of tasks including meeting logistics, data entry, database maintenance, correspondence, and donor documentation. The position requires strong organizational skills, discretion, and the ability to handle contending priorities while maintaining a high level of integrity and service to internal and external customers.

This role reports to the Assistant Director of Operations, Gift Planning and is exempt from the State of Colorado Classified Staff System.

Where You Will Work:

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

The CU System Office of Advancement follows a "flexibility first" approach that blends a highly hybrid work environment (part work from home, part in office) with planned in-office work to facilitate collaboration, strategic planning, and teaming. This model 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 as determined by the supervisor.

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

Please note, leadership may adjust in-office work requirements with a minimum of three months' notice before any change can be implemented.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Provide administrative support for members of the Gift Planning team, such as staffing the main phone line, document management, maintaining office supplies, preparing routine and non-routine correspondence, and acting as a first point of contact for internal and external colleagues.
• Assist with email inbox management; respond directly or coordinate with others to ensure appropriate, professional, and timely responses to internal and external constituents.
• Performs clerical and administrative tasks in a timely manner including, but not limited to, scheduling meetings and appointments for the gift planning team, calendar management, expense reports, invoice payments, travel arrangements
• Completes data entry for development officer activity including support on contact reports and proposal management
• Track, allocate and submit expense reports and requests for reimbursement in a timely manner for own incurred expenses as well as all supported colleagues.
• Onsite and day-of meeting support. Secure and complete all logistical needs for in-person meetings led by gift planning including but not limited to: room reservation, parking reservations, food orders, room setup/cleanup, helping to set up basic A/V, material preparation and printing, taking of minutes when appropriate.
• Works with Assistant Director of Operations and Executive Director as a strategic partner to help them be as efficient as possible, always acting in a proactive manner
• Assist with and/or facilitate the Agile Scrum framework, ensuring the team follows agile project management practices and principles.
• Support the Assistant Director of Operations with the inputting and exporting of information from the fundraising database to support the Gift Planning Team.
• Processes donor gifts, pledges and estate documentation including routing and tracking forms and supporting appropriate acknowledgments. Coordinates information with the CU Foundation and across the CU System, as needed.
• Mail gift agreements, donor gifts, communications materials and other items at the request of the supported staff.
• Support Assistant Director of Operations and Gift Planning Specialist and Discovery Officer with help related to marketing, estate administration, gifts-in-kind and stewardship as needed.
• Update donor database and SharePoint site to ensure that most current and relevant information is available.
• Research and resolve issues or discrepancies regarding gifts and gift funds.
• Support efforts to update and manage historic gift records.
• Assist with marketing efforts within the department: website updates, running reports, submitting reports to database, helping to run the lead referral process.
• Assist with stewardship efforts within the department: crafting acknowledgements and sending gifts, running reports, handling data, and supporting events.
• Assist with training, webinars, in-person events or similar activities. May be asked to work after hours and/or weekends for donor 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 of the selected candidate's education, training and experience as it relates to the position, as well as the position's scope and complexity, internal pay equity and external market value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Benefits:

• No-cost or low-cost medical & dental plan options, some inclusive of IVF assistance.
• Disability, Life, Vision Insurance options.
• Multiple retirement planning options including a mandatory 401(a) plan where CU contributes 10% of your gross pay, a 401k or 403b plan and a 457 deferred compensation plan.
• Pre-tax savings plans, such as Health care and Dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Embrace a healthy work-life balance with ample sick and vacation leave, along with at least 12 paid holidays. This includes a dedicated week off for winter break.
• 6 weeks of parental leave to adjust to the joys of parenthood.
• A tuition benefit program for you and/or your dependents.
• Free RTD EcoPass and free onsite parking at our 1800 Grant Street Office.
• Many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage (https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=9790649&targetURL=https%3A%2F%2Fadvantage.cu.edu%2F) .

Additional taxable fringe benefits may be available.

For more information on benefits programs, please review our .

Access our Total Compensation to see what your total rewards could be at CU. (This position is a University Staff position)

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Please include all relevant experience in your resume to be accurately assessed against these qualifications. You must meet all minimum requirements at the time of application to be considered for this role.

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

Preferred Qualifications:

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

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

To be successful in this position a candidate will need the following:

• Knowledge of programming support standard processes.
• Excellent written and communication skills, interpersonal skills, and strong personal initiative.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to apply independent judgement for limited matters that fall outside of process or defined scope.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight or management for day-to-day work.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to be flexible and willingness to adapt in a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to run and modify reports from multiple software applications.
• Ability to work independently to manage concurrent tasks and responsibilities, and to take care of changing priorities, while maintaining personal efficiency.
• Skilled in and ability to use Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Ability to learn about gift planning and fundraising, and their associated processes.

When to Apply:

For full consideration completed applications must be submitted by Tuesday, September 8, 2026 . Reference checking is a standard step in our hiring process. You may be asked to provide contact information, including email addresses and phone numbers, for up to five references as part of the search process for this position.

Sponsorship Statement:

We are unable to sponsor applicants for work visas for this position.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all final applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial and/or motor vehicle history. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that a verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

ADA Statement:

We are committed to an inclusive and barrier-free search process. We provide accommodations for applicants requesting accommodation through the search process such as alternative formats of this posting. Individuals with disabilities in need of accommodations throughout the search process should contact the ADA Coordinator at: .

The University of Colorado does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation, or political philosophy. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.