Advancement Coordinator

Job Title: Advancement Coordinator

Application Closing Date: July 1, 2026

Terms/Schedule: Hourly; 12 month position

Messmer High School is a 9-12 grade Catholic high school that serves students and families on the northside of Milwaukee. Messmer High School currently enrolls over 500 students. 80% of our students attend college. African American students comprise 85% of the student body and over 80% of students qualify for free/reduced meals. Regardless of student background and external factors, MHS maintains high expectations for students. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Advancement Coordinator plays an important role in supporting Messmer’s philanthropic goals. This position provides essential administrative, logistical, and donor-relations support to the Advancement team. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented professional who excels at managing donor databases, record keeping, report generations, and coordinating fundraising events.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Gift Processing & Database Management

• Accurately process all philanthropic gifts, pledges, and matching gifts in the donor database (Salesforce).
• Generate timely and personalized donor acknowledgment letters, tax receipts, and tribute notifications.
• Maintain data integrity by regularly updating donor records, contact information, and communication preferences.
• Pull financial reports, donor lists, and mailing lists for appeals and stewardship campaigns.
• Actively track obituaries of alumni and friends for the purposes of providing appropriate written acknowledgement to surviving family members, as well to keep alumni and friend records accurate.

2. Event Coordination & Logistics

• Provide logistical support for fundraising events, donor cultivation gatherings, and committee meetings when necessary. 
• Manage event RSVP lists, check-in processes, and post-event follow-ups.

3. Administrative Support

• Attend meetings when appropriate with Advancement colleagues. 
• Attend key Messmer events including its annual gathering, graduation ceremony, and golf outing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

• Standard office environment. Sitting and standing for an 8 hour workday. 
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for major fundraising events.

We strive to attract and retain a highly skilled faculty and staff that can respond to the needs of our students and community. As a benefit-eligible Messmer employee, you will have access to a wide array of benefits, including:

• Life, health, dental, and vision insurance
• 403b matching program
• Flexible spending or health savings accounts
• Annual tuition reimbursement program

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications, Business, Non-Profit Management, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Experience: 1–3 years of experience in a non-profit fundraising, advancement, or administrative role.
• Technical Skills:

o   Proficiency with CRM/donor databases (Salesforce, Givesmart)

o   Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace.

• Core Competencies:
  • High level of discretion and integrity when handling confidential donor information.
  • Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple deadlines.
  • Collaborative, positive, and enjoys contributing to team success.