Advancement Operations Associate

DEPARTMENT: Advancement

SUPERVISOR: Grants Manager

Gesher Human Services is a bridge to hope and opportunity for people at work, at home, and in the community. Gesher’s workforce development, behavioral health, and inclusion programming serves all Metro Detroiters while meeting the needs of the Jewish community.

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

The Advancement Operations Associate supports the Advancement Department through donor database administration, gift processing, reporting, record maintenance, donor correspondence, document preparation, and operational support for fundraising activities. This role ensures that donor and gift data are entered accurately, maintained consistently, and organized in ways that support reporting, stewardship, campaigns, revenue analysis, and other department needs. The ideal candidate is organized, curious, dependable, and interested in growing their skills while supporting the mission of the agency.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Business, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, Political Science, Human Services, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Two or more years of professional experience in fundraising operations, development, donor database administration, administrative data, or a similarly detail-oriented office environment preferred. Relevant nonprofit internship experience may be considered in lieu of some full-time experience.
• Experience using a donor CRM or similar database system required. DonorPerfect experience preferred.
• Comfort working with data and attention to how information is organized within and across systems required. Candidate should understand that accurate, consistent information is essential to reliable reporting, complete donor records, and the overall integrity of the department’s work.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required, including Excel skills such as sorting, filtering, comparing data, using basic formulas, and creating pivot tables, as well as Word skills such as formatting professional documents, editing donor correspondence, and using mail merge functions.
• Strong organizational and time management skills required, including the ability to manage multiple tasks, track open items, follow up consistently, and prioritize effectively during busy periods.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills required, including the ability to draft clear emails, prepare donor correspondence, ask clarifying questions, and communicate deadlines.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills required, including the ability to research answers independently, use available tools and resources, and exercise sound judgment about when to continue troubleshooting and when to escalate.
• Strong attention to detail, sound judgment, professionalism, and commitment to accuracy and confidentiality required.
• Strong interpersonal skills required, including the ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with Board of Trustees, staff, donors, and the public at large.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively required.
• Prior experience in a nonprofit fundraising department is a plus.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain accurate donor and gift records in the department’s CRM, ensuring data is complete, organized, and entered in a way that supports future reporting, stewardship, and other department needs.
• Process gifts and related transactions accurately, timely, and in accordance with department procedures.
• Prepare acknowledgment letters, donor correspondence, and related mailings that are clear, professional, and appropriately formatted.
• Create reports, lists, queries, and exports, ensuring request details are followed and clarifying questions are asked when needed.
• Review and verify data and report outputs, identifying discrepancies and supporting overall data quality.
• Track tasks, deadlines, and follow-up items in a consistent manner so work is prioritized and completed on time.
• Follow up with staff, donors, and other stakeholders to obtain missing information, confirm details, and move work through resolution.
• Research routine questions independently, use available tools and resources effectively, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Support fundraising projects, events, and other Advancement Department activities in collaboration with team members across the department.
• Participate in ongoing learning to strengthen job-related skills and improve efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environmental conditions:

• Moderate noise (i.e., business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined area.
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.

Physical requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard, reach, stoop, kneel to install computer equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Light to moderate lifting in required.

Accommodation(s):

As appropriate and fiscally reasonable.

NON-EXEMPT

This position is non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay in accordance with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

The above job description is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be all inclusive or limiting as to specific duties. The Agency reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the Agency desires and in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying the position. The described job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability.

This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise and any employment relationship remains “at-will.”

Gesher is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran or disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.