Senior Advancement Assistant, Donor Relations

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Senior Advancement Assistant to support the central Donor Relations team with high-level administrative duties, budget oversight, and event coordination. The role requires discretion, confidentiality, and strong collaboration with donors, faculty, and staff.

The position offers hybrid work with on-campus and remote days, and relocation assistance is available within Advancement guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience is required.
• 3+ years of direct work experience in nonprofit or higher education is preferred.
• Experience with donor relations or administration is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Initiate, schedule and coordinate internal and external meetings for the central Donor Relations team.
• Plan and lead team meetings for central Donor Relations and support team retreats and staff events.
• Provide direct support to the Senior Director of Donor Relations including calendar planning, travel arrangements, and expense reports.
• Provide event support for Donor Relations events and Chancellor-related activities as needed.
• Supervise Donor Relations inventory and collaborate on supply management.

Skills

Admin coordination

Calendar management

Travel logistics

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Zoom

Teams

DocuSign

Asana

Job description

Job Summary

The Office of Advancement encourages applications for a Senior Advancement Assistant! This role operates as a key support member of the central Donor Relations team and uses autonomy, independence and subject matter expertise to provide administrative support for a high-performing and collaborative advancement team. This position will work under minimal direction on a broad array of administrative duties that are variable and sophisticated in nature and is tasked with exercising a high level of discretion and confidentiality, especially as it relates to assigned responsibilities with donors, faculty, staff and other constituents. This role applies skills and knowledge in multiple administrative functions, but many responsibilities reflect a distinct Advancement and constituent engagement component.

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.

Who We Are

CU Boulder Advancement is committed to a culture of joy, motivated by collaboration, passionate about excellence and driven by impact. These four values define the culture and drive engagement and fundraising success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone matters and all can thrive. This dedication is rooted in our core values and our mission to drive impactful fundraising and engagement. Our team actively engages in learning, reflection, and the transformation of systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate oppressive ideologies—including racism, sexism, ableism, and heterosexism. We recognize our responsibility to lead by example in building a supportive and inclusive culture for both internal colleagues and external partners. We hold ourselves accountable through individual and divisional goals that continuously assess our progress, growth, and outcomes-ensuring alignment with our mission and values every step of the way.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Administrative Support

• Initiate, schedule and coordinate internal and external meetings for the central Donor Relations team.
• Plan and lead team meetings for central Donor Relations. Support the logistics and planning of team retreats, team building activities, staff appreciation and recognition events.
• Provide direct support to the Senior Director of Donor Relations including, calendar planning and coordination, travel arrangements, and expense reports.
• Provide event support and preparation as necessary, including periodically staffing signature Donor Relations events, football games, and other Chancellor-related events.
• Supervise Donor Relations inventory, restocking of supply closet, and collaborating closely with inventory item checkout from other units.
• Prepare and distribute various administrative materials including financial and administrative reports and personal letters of invitation, thanks, explanation, information, and cultivation.

Office Management

• Serve as the department budget liaison. Proactively stay apprised of university financial guidelines and update Donor Relations team leadership as needed.
• Support monthly budget and expenditure tracking, including year-end budget projection process.
• Prepare and submit expense reports; complete financial reconciliations; prepare purchase requisitions for various office needs; maintain office supply inventory.
• Manage Donor Relations' project management tool. This includes but is not limited to, supporting users, optimizing tool operations, and consistently working to optimize tool to the best fit needs.
• Serve as a liaison between the Donor Relations team and various internal and external constituents. Research and gather information on various topics as necessary and expedite the flow of information to staff.
• Answer and direct phone calls; screen phone messages and distribute/follow-up as necessary.
• Receive, process and distribute unit mail/inter-office correspondence.
• Resolve IT/software related issues for the team.

Donor Stewardship and Engagement Support

• Receive and respond to donor/constituent inquiries.
• Support the logistics and administration of monthly Donor Stewardship Roundtable meetings.
• Support contact report submission for Donor Stewardship acknowledgments and Chancellor acknowledgments.
• Liaise with Donor Relations team to support tracking and submission of engagement data.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Hire/manage 2-4 student assistants.
• Assist with onboarding new employees and offboarding departing employees.
• Serve as a resource for newer development assistants in the unit and across the division.

Proactively engage with the division’s Administrative Team (A-Team) and attend scheduled meetings.

What You Should Know

• This position has the ability to work a hybrid schedule with some days on campus and some days remote.
• This position will occasionally be required to work evenings/weekends.

What We Can Offer

The salary range for this position is $62,400 - $72,000 annually. Relocation assistance is available within Advancement guidelines.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be supported. Be yourself. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, or a combination of education and experience may substitute.
• 3+ years of direct work experience.

What You Will Need

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in accomplishing tasks.
• Sense of curiosity and the desire to find solutions to complex problems.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to navigate and manage various databases.
• Solid understanding of financial concepts and budget management.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities; able to appropriately manage time and meet set timelines.
• Ability to champion the shared values of the Office of Advancement.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of tact, discretion, and collaboration in working with a diverse range of donors including employees, students, volunteers, alumni, donors, and campus colleagues.
• Ability to operate independently; has a self-learner/self-starter approach.
• Understanding of data compliance and integrity.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Experience in or understanding of a non-profit or higher education environment.
• Experience working in customer service and/or an operations-focused role.
• Experience with financial record keeping and reconciliation.
• Software Used: Microsoft Office products, donor tracking software (Salesforce), Zoom, Teams, LinkedIn, DocuSign, m-Fin, Marketplace, Concur, Asana.