Development Coordinator

Harvard University; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid time off including parental leave

Medical, dental, and vision health insurance

Retirement plans with university contributions

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Harvard University is seeking a Development Coordinator for Principal and Major Gifts, providing essential administrative support to fundraisers. Responsibilities include managing calendars, organizing travel, and preparing materials for donor engagement.

Qualified candidates will possess at least 2 years of relevant experience, demonstrate exceptional organizational skills, and have a strong command of MS Office. This full-time role involves working in a dynamic environment, supporting Harvard’s fundraising efforts in a team-oriented setting.

Qualifications

• 2 or more years of administrative and customer service support experience.
• Prior experience with complex calendar, expense, and travel itinerary management.
• Must submit a cover letter with the application.

Responsibilities

• Provide general office support including responding to phone and email inquiries.
• Pull, review, and update fundraiser’s detailed prospect list.
• Coordinate travel arrangements including international travel.
• Create briefings for HKS leadership and faculty visits.

Skills

Organizational skills

MS Office

Written communication skills

Verbal communication skills

Customer service support

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Advance

QlikView

MS Word

Excel

Job description

Job Description

The Development Coordinator, Principal and Major Gifts (PMG) works in partnership with and provides administrative support to two Principal Major Gift fundraisers who are charged with raising funds and planning and executing prospect strategy, cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation for Harvard Kennedy School (HKS).

Working independently and as part of a team in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment, the Development Coordinator is responsible for day‑to‑day administrative support, such as updating prospect activity and tracking progress, calendaring, making travel arrangements, drafting and proofreading prospect briefings and materials, report generation, database maintenance, and assisting with projects related to assigned HKS research centers and regional‑based fundraising portfolios.

The Development Coordinator may also coordinate selected department‑wide resources, workflows and strategies, in addition to providing customer service to Alumni Relations and Resource Development staff members, the HKS Dean’s Office, HKS faculty, staff, and research centers, donors, and alumni.

Job‑Specific Responsibilities

• Provide general office support including responding to phone and email inquiries, maintaining calendars, filing, and managing updates in the development database.
• Pull, review, and update the fundraiser’s detailed prospect list and monthly activity reports showing progress toward conversion, visit and solicitation targets.
• Calendaring for donor and faculty meetings.
• Coordinate travel arrangements, including international travel for supervisors and others, drafting detailed itineraries.
• Update weekly next steps on prospects in each fundraiser’s portfolio.
• Prepare contract reports from donor visits and enter information into the database.
• Create briefings for HKS leadership and faculty visits with the fundraiser’s prospects.
• Create and revise curated prospect lists with staging and next steps for fundraisers working with Centers and on Dean’s priorities.
• Liaise within ARRD and across the School on donor‑related items such as stewardship issues and event preparation.
• Prepare materials for fundraiser’s standing meetings with Centers.
• Provide first‑look research and vetting for new prospects to determine capacity and philanthropic potential.
• Research prospects and program information; perform routine data pulls, reporting, and data analysis using Advance, QlikView, MS Word, and/or Excel.
• Take on critical project work as needed, including fundraising project planning, staffing development committee meetings or events, and drafting reports and presentations.

The above covers the most significant responsibilities of this position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, including coverage for the PMG group as needed.

Working Conditions

Primary work takes place in an office environment. Some tasks may require being on campus or at other off‑site locations for a period of time. The role involves sitting or standing for extended periods and may involve repetitive motion.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 2 or more years of administrative and customer service support experience.
• Prior experience with complex calendar, expense, and travel itinerary management.
• Must submit a cover letter with the application.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Excellent organizational skills; detail oriented, efficient, and capable of managing assignments from multiple sources while meeting project deadlines.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office and ability to quickly learn new software.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage highly confidential information.
• Highly organized, collaborative, focused, adaptable, reliable, self‑motivated, and able to work effectively with people from different backgrounds.
• Strong interest in higher education and working knowledge of national and global policy issues.
• Ability to interface with senior University leaders and high‑capacity donors with collegiality and discretion.
• Resourceful and confident critical thinker who can anticipate work and adapt proactively and decisively in a busy office with competing demands.
• Efficient manager of time and schedules.
• Work experience in a development office preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends.

Additional Information

Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week.

Visa Sponsorship: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Pre‑Employment Screening: Identity.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Well‑being and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks.

EEO/Non‑Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non‑discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non‑discrimination policy. These policies help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.