Senior Donor Relations & Programs Specialist

University of Wisconsin Foundation; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% 401k contribution

Job summary

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) is recruiting for a Development Program Specialist / Senior Development Program Specialist to support the College of Engineering in collaboration with the Senior Development Program Manager. This is a hybrid on-site role in Madison, WI, requiring two on-site days weekly.

The position emphasizes donor relations, stewardship, data management in CRM, and operational support, with opportunities to contribute to impactful university fundraising

Qualifications

• 1+ years of relevant professional work experience in higher education, non-profit, or fundraising environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to judge the relative importance of issues and act independently to achieve results.
• Self-motivation, a proactive nature, persistence, flexibility, and dependability.
• Ability to work effectively with a team in an entrepreneurial environment and interact well with internal and external constituents.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure; prioritize and manage multiple tasks with discretion and diplomacy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with database reporting and CRM software preferred (CRM).
• Creativity and resourcefulness; ability to design visuals with Canva and align materials with brand.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary liaison to campus partners, building relationships, improving communication and collaboration.
• Act as a development operations liaison with the College of Engineering Office of the Dean to ensure strong partnership between WFAA and the Dean’s office.
• Prepare donor visit materials and follow-up in CRM and related systems.
• Coordinate donor visits on campus, including logistics and hosting.
• Manage stewardship programs, impact reporting, and related materials using Canva.
• Oversee fund administration, gift reports, and donor stewardship activities.

Job description

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) is recruiting for a Development Program Specialist / Senior Development Program Specialist to support the College of Engineering in collaboration with the Senior Development Program Manager. This is a hybrid on-site role in Madison, WI, requiring two on-site days weekly.

The position emphasizes donor relations, stewardship, data management in CRM, and operational support, with opportunities to contribute to impactful university fundraising