Associate Director of UGA Foundation Gift Agreements

University of Georgia•Athens, GA

49d

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of UGA Foundation Gift Agreements, the Associate Director provides leadership and oversight for fund agreement operations, with particular emphasis on scholarship administration and matching fund initiatives, ensuring the sustained impact of donor resources to expand access and promote student success. Serving as a strategic partner and trusted resource to development officers, this position works collaboratively with the Division of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), UGA Foundation (UGAF) Financial Accounting, UGAF Gift Accounting, the Vice President for Instruction, and the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA). Responsibilities include reviewing and drafting fund agreements, monitoring pledge completion, confirming matching eligibility, reconciling funds, and ensuring timely spending allocations for student awards. The Associate Director will serve as a key liaison during matching initiatives, working collaboratively across units to guide donor preferences to align with institutional priorities. This position also supports the Gift Agreement team by providing drafting and review assistance, preparing reports and analytics, and advising development officers on fund agreement policies, procedures, and best practices. This position will regularly interact with senior administrators across the University, including colleagues in Development, Academic Affairs, and Legal Affairs. The incumbent is expected to demonstrate sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and a high degree of initiative. Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to manage complex financial and donor-related information with accuracy and confidentiality.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience
Strong interpersonal, collaborative, and project management skills
Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills
Demonstrated superior customer service skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Ability to organize, prioritize, and successfully meet deadlines
High standard of professionalism and adherence with confidentiality
Strong management skills and ability to work with a team
Ability to adapt to new technology
Be detail-oriented and have strong analytical skills
Be able to foster and maintain sound working relationships by interacting collaboratively with all internal and external constituencies

Nice To Haves

At least three years of progressively responsible experience in fund administration, development, finance, or a related field.
Development or fundraising experience is beneficial, particularly in financial aid or scholarships.
Financial or accounting experience is beneficial, particularly in fund management or reconciliation.
Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, or analyzing contracts or fund agreements, with strong attention to accuracy and compliance.

Responsibilities

Oversee the lifecycle of matching programs, analyze commitments to ensure match eligibility, compliance of gift agreement criteria, and appropriate pledge commitments.
Maintain complete and accurate financial and administrative records by tagging revenue with appropriate matching details, updating UGAF tracking methods, and reconciling matching programs to confirm funds are properly allocated and accounted for.
Coordinate closely with Financial Accounting and OSFA to determine scholarship spending allocations, provide data for recipient awarding (e.g., Georgia Commitment Scholarship reports), and monitor ongoing and historical matching activity to ensure donor commitments are fulfilled.
Manage exceptions and adjustments by drafting addendums for fund agreement changes, addressing unfulfilled donor matches, and facilitating the proper closure, transfer, or withdrawal of funds in collaboration with UGAF teams, Donor Relations, and OSFA.
Collaborate with DAR leadership to establish and maintain clear, consistent criteria for matching initiatives that align institutional priorities with fundraising strategies.
Serve as a resource for development officers, providing expert guidance on scholarship criteria, donor engagement strategies, and matching policies which applicable.
Collaborate across departments, including Financial Accounting, Development, and OSFA, to resolve issues related to spending allocations, award structures, and fund management.
Support donor and student outcomes by addressing missed pledge payments, managing special donor requests, and coordinating with leadership to sustain scholarships when matches are unfulfilled.
Provide gift agreement drafting and review support to ensure the timely processing and accuracy of all fund agreement requests.
Conduct regular, detailed reviews of fund agreement drafts, with particular attention to matching and scholarship funds, and deliver draft agreements to development officers for donor engagement and execution.
Collaborate closely with UGAF Legal to resolve complex or ambiguous language, ensuring all fund agreements align with institutional policy, donor intent, and legal standards.
Provide guidance to development officers and other colleagues related to fund agreement policies, procedures, and best practices.
Support reporting and analytics requests by providing data for matching initiatives and programs, ensuring accurate results for timely decision-making.
Assist with reconciliation and data integrity projects, identifying and resolving discrepancies to maintain accurate records across multiple financial and donor systems.
Monitor the completion of unsigned fund agreements.
Contribute to evolving departmental priorities to enhance services provided by the Gift Agreement Team.