Gift & Endowment Administration Director

WWU College of Business & Economics; Bellingham (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Washington University in Bellingham seeks a seasoned Director of Gift and Endowment Administration to lead gift processing, receipting, and donor-endowment stewardship across campus.

You will partner with Finance, Donor Relations, and academic units to ensure donor intent is accurately recorded, compliant with laws and CASE standards, and aligned with institutional priorities. The role emphasizes risk management, policy development, and a donor-centered culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Minimum of five years in gift administration, endowment management, or advancement services.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to translate complex concepts.
• Experience supervising staff and leading operational functions.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the university mission.

Responsibilities

• Gift Administration Leadership: oversee gift processing, receipting, document mgmt, and data integrity.
• Donor Agreement & Endowment Management: develop and manage donor agreements and endowments.
• Compliance, Policy & Cross-Campus Coordination: lead donor policy, risk assessment, and cross-unit collaboration.
• Strategic Leadership & Other Duties: advise leadership on complex gifts, compliance, and endowment strategy.

Skills

Analytical skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Written & verbal communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or related field

Advanced degree or JD (preferred)

Tools

Givzey

OnBase

CRM systems (Ellucian Advance, Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce)

Job description

Western Washington University in Bellingham seeks a seasoned Director of Gift and Endowment Administration to lead gift processing, receipting, and donor-endowment stewardship across campus.

You will partner with Finance, Donor Relations, and academic units to ensure donor intent is accurately recorded, compliant with laws and CASE standards, and aligned with institutional priorities. The role emphasizes risk management, policy development, and a donor-centered culture.