Overview

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is recruiting for a Development Program Specialist to support the UW Madison School of Education.This is a non-exempt position upholding donor and campus relations, stewardship, prospect data management, and office administration activities that advance team goals and objectives. This position requires effective communication and organizational skills. This position is a hybrid role and will require you to work in the office at least two days weekly. 

Who is WFAA?The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive. 

Essential Functions

Donor and Campus Relations

• Support the goals of the School of Education Development team by familiarizing oneself with the development process, strategy, and key partners involved in our operations.
• Provide directors of development with materials as requested in preparation for donor visits and appropriate follow-up in Sales Force (4WARD system), etc.
• Assist directors of development with donor visits to campus, including on-site logistics, greeting and hosting guests, and responding to miscellaneous needs as they arise.
• Assist directors of development with the preparation, signature routing, and final distribution of gift legal documentation (e.g. Memoranda of Agreement, Fund Operation Agreements, Gift Commitment Forms, etc.) in accordance with established WFAA business processes.
• As appropriate, coordinate with WFAA departments such as Business Intelligence and Research to compile data and other information that better informs strategic planning, donor recognition, and stewardship activities for the unit.
• In coordination with or independent of the WFAA events team, plan, implement, and manage events designed to identify and cultivate new prospects and build relationships with existing donors. Ensure appropriate event follow-up is complete.
• Serve as a liaison to campus partners, including SoE advancement team. Respond to inquiries and requests while continuing efforts to build mutually beneficial relationships, improve communication and collaborative teamwork, and increase campus understanding of the development process.
• Work in collaboration with the school’s Advancement team on projects including, but not limited to, alumni and donor communications, annual fund campaigns, stewardship, and information/data pulls.
• Prepare donor biographical information for the Dean’s Donor trips, and events.
• Work with lead Director of Development and Dean’s assistant to create trip itineraries for Dean travel.
• Serve as the liaison with school’s scholarship team, working closely with scholarship coordinator and develop an understanding of the scholarship program, application system and awarding cycle as well as donor stewardship tactics. Keep information in scholarship database current.
• Actively participate in meetings and other activities with campus partners that support unit development efforts.

 Stewardship

• Pull, customize, and distribute weekly donor gift reports to development team.
• Work with the Business Intelligence department as needed to refine and customize donor lists for special mailings, invitations, donor recognition, etc.
• Assist directors of development with other prospect and donor stewardship activities as required.

Constituent/Prospect/Fund Management

• Pull Salesforce reports and request Business Intelligence reports.
• Become knowledgeable in navigating WFAA systems including Salesforce database, scholarship database, and fund management systems.
• Become fluent in fund creation and administration processes.
• Maintain contact updates, donor biographic information, and other constituent record management duties.
• Maintain advisory board memberships, donor recognition society memberships, and other affiliated groups.

Office Administration

• Coordinate the direct mailing of solicitations, campaigns, announcements, and event invitations as needed.
• Work with the Business Intelligence department as needed to refine and customize donor lists for special mailings, invitations, donor recognition, etc.
• Manage the development team meetings and agenda’s weekly.
• Suggest areas for process improvement and assist in improvement implementation.
• Other special projects as determined by the Associate Vice President and Managing Director to support major gift development.
• Other general clerical duties as needed.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook. Knowledge of Salesforce preferred.
• 1 year(s) involvement in development, donor relations, stewardship, or related transferable experience.

Other Qualifications:

• Experience working in nonprofit or higher ed industry.
• Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Self-directed, team player who has a strong, results-oriented, work ethic.
• Ability to interact well with all internal and external constituents in fast paced environment.
• Ability to work independently, in addition to as a member of an effective development team.
• Exhibits high level aptitudes in managing multiple tasks, advanced office, and administrative management skills.
• Keen attention to detail. 

WFAA is committed to provide our employees with an environment that is inspiring, creative, and respectful. We offer competitive pay and an excellent benefits program, which includes a 10% 401k contribution after 1 year of service!

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (advanceuw.org) is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.