As a key member of the development support team, the Development Specialist provides administrative support to development officers within Cancer, Childrenâ™s Health and Neurosciences development. This position involves coordinating departmental activities and projects â“including planning, research, information management, event support, and digital communication. The role also includes conducting fund analysis and offering recommendations to leadership on donor engagement strategies.
Key responsibilities include managing calendars, scheduling meetings, supporting stewardship activities, and preparing meeting notes. Additionally, the role involves collaborating with team members across units and representing the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) to the donor community. The Development Specialist will also assist in organizing complex meetings and special events in partnership with other teams across the Foundation and the University.
Starting salary: $50,000- 60,000 based on experience.
Responsibilities:
Administrative Support- 35%
Provide administrative support for Development Officers across multiple teams (Cancer & Childrenâ™s Health, Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), Aging).
Manage calendars, schedule meetings with donors, prospects, faculty, and volunteers, and coordinate travel and budget/purchasing.
Prepare meeting materials (e.g., PowerPoint slides), provide technical support, and produce meeting minutes and correspondence.
Facilitate reports, queries, and mailings related to meetings, events, and engagement opportunities. Generate mailing lists/mail merges for mass mailings.
Support grant applications, community partner events, and fundraising initiatives.
Lead administrative efforts for signature fundraising events (e.g., Cancer and Couture for Kids).
Maintain and organize departmental files, including expense reports and metrics related to major gift development and ROI on donor events.
Support student workers/interns.
Program Coordination- 50%
Manage communications with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, faculty, and UMF leadership, ensuring timely and confidential follow-up.
Coordinate development-related activities, including proposal/gift agreement completion and events like Couture for Kids and signature cancer center fundraisers.
Manage the cancer development teamâ™s social media accounts.
Lead day-to-day communications with event committees and task forces, including managing donor inquiries and event logistics.
Oversee and support fundraising initiatives such as annual giving campaigns, community partner events, and memorial gifts for cancer and neuro teams.
Track and manage fundraising data, including financial reports, donor stewardship plans, and donor database entries.
Support MIDB and other priority projects, including managing VIP donor tours and the MIDB Advisory Council activities and communications.
Contribute to the management and execution of projects for MIDB, Aging, and key neuro priorities, while supporting the MIDB Advisory Council by developing tools, tracking engagement, and managing all aspects of council meetings and activities.
Provide administrative backup for leadership roles and assist with the execution of various projects and special events.
Reporting and Information Management- 15%
Support tracking fundraising information, fund balances, and metrics, generating regular reports on giving and development officer productivity. Collaborate with faculty, financial administrators, and UMF Finance to resolve issues and support donor stewardship plans with development officers.
Support departmental activities, budgets, and data reporting, utilizing the Donor Management System (DMS) to request and manage ad hoc queries and support unit functions.
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an equitable and inclusive working and learning environment (exhibit 100% of the time)
Continuous learning in diversity, equity and inclusion for oneself and team via training, podcasts, articles, etc.
Seek to explore and understand cultural differences and create a culture of belonging.
Develop and employ anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work.
Advocate for employees of all ethnicities, genders, ages and backgrounds
Cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with employees, colleagues, stakeholders, etc.
Required Qualifications:
High School Diploma/GED and five years of related project coordination or administrative experience. Coursework in a related field may substitute for some of the years of experience.
Computer skills with demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), including word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation creation and email.
Verbal and written communications skills sufficient to composing and editing correspondence, including spelling, grammar, clarity, punctuation for correspondence and records.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
Proficiency in computing functions such as downloads and merge/purge operations from two databases, querying and data analysis to generate ad hoc reports to meet specifications, and creation of complex presentations including advanced formatting and integration of multimedia
Ability to prioritize and multi-task with attention to detail and work in high-pressure situations and a rapidly changing environment.
Knowledge of business or administrative terminology and procedures.
Ability and willingness to work limited evening and weekend hours to staff events as necessary.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with a tracking/gift accounting software such as Raiser Edge, DMS, Salesforce or other development.
Knowledge of University procedures and systems.
Experience in project management.
Skill and experience in organizing, managing and maintaining office records and procedures.
The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.