Boston University Advancement is at a pivotal moment, guided by new leadership and a clear strategic framework for growth and impact. Our work is organized around three core priorities: securing $500 million in philanthropic annually; deepening relationships with a strategically defined segment of alumni and donors; and strengthening the organizational foundation while launching focused priority areas across the University.

Advancement is evolving into a highly collaborative, matrixed model that integrates new University leadership, regional engagement, and the distinctive strengths of BUs schools and colleges. With more than 250 advancement professionals, the organization is building the capacity, partnerships, and culture required to deliver sustained philanthropic momentum and institutional impact.

The Development Associate (DA) provides support for the Major Gifts (MG) team, which includes Regional Major Gift Officers and their efforts to secure significant resources in support of university priorities. Reporting to the Manager of Major Gifts Administration, the DA will be assigned to support a fundraising team of at least two major gift officers and will play a vital role in managing administrative duties (e.g. coordinating travel, expense reports, and database administration), assisting in event development and execution, and help develop and implement prospect strategies as appropriate. This person must be comfortable performing data queries, cleaning and reconciling records, be proficient at utilizing Excel, and possess analytical skills to turn database results into usable prospect lists and summary reports. The DA must work cooperatively with a wide variety of colleagues and external constituents, including University leadership, faculty, staff, and alumni, to help execute strategies and work toward overall development goals.

Position Responsibilities:

Database Management & Prospect Analytics: 40%

Assist in building a roster for MGO outreach. Specific tasks include coordinating with Prospect Management Teams to identify new and existing prospects for MGO portfolios in an organized way to track progress towards successful qualification and timely movement through the moves management process. Successfully master and manage BBEC (constituent database) to run reports, lists, track activity, and assist fundraisers in prospect management tracking through Fundraising Performance Management CRM. Supply MG team with Weekly/Monthly reports based on giving, prospecting, and outreach. Execute at least two large prospecting reports per fiscal year for the MG team. Knowledge of LinkedIn and similar prospecting tools is a plus.

Regional Coordination and Administrative Support: 30%

Establish and maintain office, filing and computer/database systems for prospect files and donor giving figures, contact reports, and database tracking updates for two or more Major Gift officers. Run reports from donor database to generate prospect lists. Perform general office support duties, including scheduling meetings, maintaining appointments and calendars, arranging travel, ordering supplies, tracking expenses, screening and directing phone calls and processing university paperwork. Attend office meetings with and/or in place of MGOs. Compose and distribute meeting notes for the MG team. Provide basic data integrity checks to ensure accurate prospect/donor records.

High Level Development Events planning support: 30%

Assist with all phases of planning, execution and follow-up of certain high level development events. May attend events within the United States. Communication includes direct contact with high-level donors, preparing and disseminating event materials, working with faculty speakers, working with outside vendors and managing logistics. Tasks include booking space, catering, tracking registrations, running nametags, preparing collaterals (invites, speaker gifts, etc.), tracking event timelines, communicating with colleagues regarding events. Includes post event follow up and tracking next steps and outreach.

Required Skills

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Candidates must have three to five years' experience, a bachelor's degree is required.
• Advanced written communications, analytical skills, collaboration, and project management skills are required.
• Strong computer, organizational and interpersonal skills are required, as well as the ability to manage mange tasks and prioritize the workload.
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to manage online calendars.
• Ideal candidate will have proven skills with a CRM or other constituent database, such as Blackbaud eCRM system, the constituency relationship management software used in Advancement.
• The selected candidate must be able to handle confidential material responsibly and interact professionally with a wide spectrum of individuals.
• Must be dependable and willing to work past normal working hours when required, such as for events or prior to alumni meetings.

But that's not all were looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member contribution 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.

To apply and learn more about Advancement at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the Advancement Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/advancement-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 reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.

Required Experience

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Candidates must have three to five years' experience, a bachelor's degree is required.
• Advanced written communications, analytical skills, collaboration, and project management skills are required.
• Strong computer, organizational and interpersonal skills are required, as well as the ability to manage mange tasks and prioritize the workload.
• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to manage online calendars.
• Ideal candidate will have proven skills with a CRM or other constituent database, such as Blackbaud eCRM system, the constituency relationship management software used in Advancement.
• The selected candidate must be able to handle confidential material responsibly and interact professionally with a wide spectrum of individuals.
• Must be dependable and willing to work past normal working hours when required, such as for events or prior to alumni meetings.

But that's not all were looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every member contribution 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.

To apply and learn more about Advancement at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the Advancement Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/advancement-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 reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.