Job Information
Boston University DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE, SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT, Development & Alumni Relations in BOSTON, Massachusetts
Our Mission
We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it’s not just about a job, but a career and a community.
Now, our School-based development team is looking for a Development Associate who helps advance the annual fund, prospect pipeline, and alumni engagement programming for multiple schools and colleges.
School Development at Boston University
Boston University’s 17 Schools and Colleges require a specialized and hands-on approach to advancement. Staffed by local teams that report to central Development and Alumni Relations while advancing the priorities of the individual school or college Dean, these individuals serve as the main points of contact for the work being done to advance a wide-range of fundraising and alumni relations initiatives. These staff are highly collaborative on gifts and programmatic support, coordinating closely with leadership giving, alumni relations, planned giving and faculty.
Development Associate
Reporting to the Senior Director for Development, the Development Associate must work cooperatively with a wide variety of colleagues and external constituents, including University and College/School leadership, faculty, staff, and alumni, to help devise and execute strategies and work toward overall development goals. They will be an eager, creative, critical thinker. The individual must be able to handle confidential information responsibly and be willing to learn, adapt, and innovate. The Development Associate also manages these schools’ gift acknowledgement process.
Responsibilities:
Annual Fund, Alumni Engagement and Stewardship Support:
Assist with the development and implementation of a strategy to enhance the school-based annual fund and alumni engagement efforts, including specific activities that increase donor participation, alumni engagement and stewardship.
Serve as the point person for Annual Giving initiatives: including but not limited to Giving Tuesday and Giving Day; partner with central Annual Giving; Develop and execute school-specific communication strategies in partnership with College of Arts & Sciences Communications Team.
Oversee gift acknowledgment for assigned schools/colleges and assist with stewardship activities through partnering with Stewardship & Donor Relations (SDR), Gifts & Records, and DAR IT teams.
Serve as the main power user of the alumni database. Assist with the development, compilation and maintenance of various reports and briefings that help to identify new annual fund leadership gift, major gift and principal gift prospects.
Oversee high-level donor stewardship, with emphasis on creating and customizing acknowledgements and other letters sent by the Dean. Manage the gift acknowledgment processes for assigned schools/colleges.
Assist with stewardship activities through partnering with Stewardship & Donor Relations (SDR), Gifts & Records, and DAR IT teams. Partner with the SDR to actively develop and recommend ideas and activities to better steward college/school supporters.
Work with DevCom to produce materials that support the schools’ strategic priorities; serve as central communications contact for assigned schools/colleges.
Assist with the development and implementation of a strategy to enhance the school-based annual fund and alumni engagement efforts, including specific activities that increase donor participation, alumni engagement and stewardship.
Serve as the point person for Annual Giving initiatives: including but not limited to Giving Tuesday and Giving Day; partner with central Annual Giving; Develop and execute school-specific communication strategies in partnership with College of Arts & Sciences Communications Team.
Oversee gift acknowledgment for assigned schools/colleges and assist with stewardship activities through partnering with Stewardship & Donor Relations (SDR), Gifts & Records, and DAR IT teams.
Serve as the main power user of the alumni database. Assist with the development, compilation and maintenance of various reports and briefings that help to identify new annual fund leadership gift, major gift and principal gift prospects.
Oversee high-level donor stewardship, with emphasis on creating and customizing acknowledgements and other letters sent by the Dean. Manage the gift acknowledgment processes for assigned schools/colleges.
Assist with stewardship activities through partnering with Stewardship & Donor Relations (SDR), Gifts & Records, and DAR IT teams. Partner with the SDR to actively develop and recommend ideas and activities to better steward college/school supporters.
Work with DevCom to produce materials that support the schools’ strategic priorities; serve as central communications contact for assigned schools/colleges.
Event Management
Represent assigned schools/colleges at University donor-focused events and serve as a contributor to planning, supporting and staffing when appropriate including Alumni Weekend, Family Weekend and other marquee events for assigned schools/colleges.
Plan and execute school fundraising and alumni relations event details including coordinating mailings, catering, technology, name tags, signage, printing, etc.; coordinate logistics with other University departments and external vendors (as needed); manage RSVPs; assist in composing and sending pre- and post-event correspondence.
Support Dean’s Advisory Board (DAB) meeting logistics (as needed); staff DAB meetings and provide administrative support (as needed). Serve as development contact with school alumni boards and/or advisory councils: attend meetings and provide development reports as needed; maintain list of members and current background briefs.
Administrative Support
Assist with the day-to-day operations for the Assistant Dean at assigned schools/colleges: Duties will include maintaining calendars and scheduling meetings, managing and tracking the department’s budget; screening and directing phone calls for the office; photocopying, filing, and faxing; ordering and organizing supplies; coordinating travel schedules and details as well as post-travel expense reports. Support school-based officers in daily office activities, including running reports and gift acknowledgements for assigned schools.
Required Skills
A cover letter is required for consideration.
Bachelor’s degree
Three to five years of relative work experience, preferably in a research institution
Some event coordination experience.
Ability to collaborate and multitask, knowledge of constituent database applications.
Must be able to handle confidential material responsibly and interact professionally with a wide spectrum of individuals.
Must have advanced oral/written communications experience
But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:
Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect , because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
Diversity, equity, inclusion , and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
Continuous growth and improvement , both as individuals and as a team.
Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.
If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.
To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/ .
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.
JH
Required Experience