Donor Services Specialist Benefits of working at VCU All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU's robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU's benefits here.
Job Code Specialist LG 1
Recruitment Pool All Applicants
Posting Number req6575
Unit Development MBU
Department Development & Alumni Relations
Department Website Link support.vcu.edu Location VCU
Address 111 N. 4th Street, Richmond, VA 23219 USA
Duties & Responsibilities Reporting to the Director of Donor Services, the Donor Services Specialist plays a pivotal role in supporting the mission of Development & Alumni Relations by implementing best practices to guide teams on gift acceptance, compliance, and donor intent. The ideal candidate is a curious problem solver, is process-driven, has a keen eye for the minute details and consistently conducts themselves with a high level of integrity. This is an exciting opportunity to join the growing Office of Development and Alumni Relations as we embark on preparing for VCU's next comprehensive campaign.
This is a pooled posting for the following opportunities:
- Donor Services Specialist for Gift Agreements
- Donor Services Specialist for Gift Acceptance
- Donor Services Specialist for Gift Assurance
Interested applicants are required to submit a cover letter identifying the role or roles in which they are interested. A diversity statement is preferred, but not required.
Incumbents hired for Gift Agreements will:
- Lead gift agreement efforts by:
- Managing the gift agreement inbox/intake process to meet service level expectations
- Serving in a consultative role with unit fundraisers and working with a sense of urgency to expedite the gift agreement process
- Negotiating language with campus partners in drafting gift agreements, ranging from templated to highly complex agreements in order to:
- Enhance knowledge and understanding of related policies and procedures
- Ensure donor intent meets university needs and requirements
- Ensure legal and administrative compliance with IRS, state, federal, and university policies and regulations.
- Collaborating with university counsel for unprecedented or unique situations
- Partnering with the Gift Acceptance Specialist to build gift acceptance documentation for committee(s) review and approval of proposed gifts, including due diligence/risk mitigation, impact to VCU and VCUHS, and anticipating questions or concerns that may be raised by the reviewing committee(s)
- Managing communication, in written and oral form, of detailed program information, guidelines and standards to various audiences
- Organizing and tracking gift agreements in process
- Collaborating with and advising strategic partners across the university
- Crafting addenda as needed to capture updated donor intent or release of restrictions to ensure funds are spendable
- Partner with Prospect Development and participate in pipeline reviews to provide proactive guidance to fundraising staff
Incumbents hired for Gift Acceptance will:
- Lead gift acceptance efforts to:
- Serve in a consultative role with partners across the organization to foster understanding and compliance with gift acceptance policies
- Educate and assist partners to structure gifts and sponsorships that maximize philanthropic impact
- Review proposed gifts that may require gift exceptions
- Partner with the Gift Agreement Specialist to build documentation for committee(s) review and approval of proposed gifts (e.g., due diligence)
- Educate and assist partners in producing compliant event and sponsorship documentation
- Manage the gift-in-kind process through review and initial approval for in-kind donations across campuses
- Direct the recognition through naming process and proposals in coordination with facilities management, fundraisers across DAR, and university boards
- Begin to build a database of existing and potential naming opportunities across VCU for the purposes of developing a donor recognition program
- Lead fund management efforts to:
- Create and update funds in internal databases with a focus on donor intent and compliance with VCU policies and procedures
- Ensure that requests for new funds meet established policies and procedures, including minimum endowment and naming requirements
- Work closely with the affiliated foundations to ensure that funds are communicated promptly upon establishment
Incumbents hired for Gift Assurance will:
- Build and execute a comprehensive gift assurance program to ensure that gifts from donors, both endowed and current, are spent according to the donors' intentions and in the university's best interests by:
- Partnering with leaders across the university, health system and foundations to develop strategies that advance constituent fundraising and engagement goals and ensure our donors can be stewarded effectively and informed on the use of their gifts
- Coordinating with relevant stakeholders across the university and health system to ensure the timely and proper use of endowed and current funds
- Developing best practices and policies for the spending of current use funds in partnership with fiscal administrators
- Training faculty and staff in the use of funds, including reviewing gift agreements for donor intent
- Coordinating with various stakeholders to execute reporting requirements
- Developing and facilitating implementation of policies and procedures to minimize risk in the use of gift funds through periodic audits of funds
- Managing the pledge review process (2x/year) for the Donor Services team
- Coordinating the development of addenda to gift agreements as needed to clearly document updated fund purposes as VCU's needs change and funds can no longer be awarded as originally intended
Incumbents hired for ALL positions will:
- Develop, maintain and enhance resources and training for stakeholders around respective donor services functions
- Provide a high level of proactive customer service internally to DAR and externally to all constituents and stakeholders, including email and phone communication
- Participate in cross-training with other team members to ensure business continuity
- Perform other duties as assigned to contribute to the mission of the organization and priorities of the Philanthropic Services team
Qualifications Minimum Hiring Standards:
- Bachelor's degree in communications, legal studies, business or a closely related field or an equivalent combination of closely related experience and education
- Prior experience in legal writing, compliance, advancement services, or donor relations
- Proven ability to translate complex information and outline needs and requirements
- Ability to think through complex situations and solve problems with integrity, while meeting required deadlines
- Proven ability to work independently and collaborate with the team and external partners
- Excellent customer service and interpersonal communication skills
- Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
- Strong understanding of technology solutions such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat and Google Suite, DocuSign
- Expertise in writing, including the use of English grammar, punctuation, spelling and syntax
- Understanding of CASE, IRS, state, federal, and university policies and regulations or a willingness to learn and apply knowledge within the first 60 days of employment
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU
Preferred Hiring Standards:
- Two years of experience in fundraising operations, or fundraising operations certificate
- Experience working in a fundraising database (Blackbaud CRM or similar)
- Experience working with data sets, reports and/or financial information
- Proficient in project management and process tracking
- Extensive understanding of fundraising or donor relations
FLSA University Employee
Job FTE 1
Exemption Status Exempt
Restricted Position No
E-Class UF - University Employee FT
Job Category University Employee
ORP Eligible No
Salary Range Commensurate with experience up to $65,000
Compensation Type Salaried
Target Hire Date 1/10/2025
Contact Information for Candidates Izzy Kane
irkane@vcu.edu
Documents Needed to Apply Interested applicants are required to submit a cover letter identifying the role or roles in which they are interested. A diversity statement is preferred, but not required.
