Development Coordinator, Principal Gifts

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Development Coordinator is an integral member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) development team. This full-time, non-exempt position provides high-level strategic, operational, and administrative support to an Executive Director of Principal Gifts to advance the philanthropic mission of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The role supports prospect and relationship management, including preparing correspondence and briefings, tracking donor interactions and commitments, and coordinating with Research and other colleagues. It coordinates proposals, meetings, travel preparation, and post-travel follow-up; helps manage the fundraiser’s schedule and priorities; and maintains accurate donor and prospect information in the alumni and donor database. The coordinator also processes and routes complex gifts and pledges, supports acknowledgment and stewardship, and provides responsive service to donors, alumni, faculty, senior administrators, and development colleagues.

The position is hybrid. Work schedules and locations are set by the department based on operational needs. The role includes attendance at certain campus events, including spring reunions, and department retreats in Cambridge, Massachusetts; the department will make its best effort to provide up to two weeks’ notice. Additional evening hours may be necessary. Standard hours are 35 per week. The orientation and review period is three months. Harvard is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Requirements

• 1–2 years of work experience related to development, volunteer management, constituent engagement, or project management.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
• Strong writing skills and attention to detail.
• Availability to work additional evening hours if necessary.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to accurately proofread and edit correspondence.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work competently and efficiently in a multitasking environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, excellent phone manner, and professional personal presentation.
• Ability to work under pressure, understand and follow policies and procedures, and accommodate change.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

• Experience interacting with corporate executives and senior-level staff.
• Comfort speaking in group settings.

Responsibilities

• Oversee prospect activity support from preparation through follow-up, including drafting outreach, correspondence, briefing materials, reports, meeting notes, and action plans.
• Track donor interactions, gift conversations, solicitation strategies, stewardship opportunities, and follow-up commitments.
• Prepare talking points, donor strategies, relationship summaries, and recommended next steps.
• Partner with Research and other colleagues to assess University affiliations, giving history, external philanthropy, recent activity, and relevant institutional priorities.
• Ensure donor and prospect information is accurately and promptly recorded in the alumni and donor database.
• Coordinate proposals, donor briefings, planning meetings, correspondence, and other requests for the fundraiser.
• Prepare high-quality briefings for domestic and international travel and meetings with University leaders, including the President, Deans, Provost, and faculty.
• Coordinate meeting objectives, participants, logistics, materials, and follow-up responsibilities with internal stakeholders.
• Help the fundraiser assess priorities, anticipate needs, and determine next steps.
• Monitor the fundraiser’s schedule, deadlines, correspondence, and competing priorities; draft or coordinate responses as appropriate.
• Help ensure timely communication with internal and external constituents and communicate the fundraiser’s availability, priorities, and bandwidth when needed.
• Coordinate travel preparation, including donor research, briefing materials, meeting logistics, talking points, and follow-up plans.
• Serve as a point of contact for troubleshooting and time-sensitive issues during travel.
• Coordinate post-travel debriefs, thank-you notes, follow-up correspondence, database updates, expense reports, and additional stewardship or solicitation actions.
• Partner with the Development Assistant and other colleagues to complete post-travel responsibilities promptly.
• Develop proficiency in the alumni and donor database to research prospects, organize information, produce reports, and maintain accurate records.
• Process and route complex, high-level gifts and pledges through appropriate channels.
• Notify fundraisers when gifts or pledges are completed and coordinate accurate acknowledgment and stewardship with colleagues.
• Collaborate with the Development Assistant to ensure donor, prospect, meeting, gift, pledge, and follow-up information is entered accurately and promptly.
• Provide responsive, professional service to donors, alumni, faculty, senior administrators, and development colleagues, including support related to gift logistics, meetings, and events.
• Collaborate with Research, Donor Relations, Events, Gift Administration, Communications, and other colleagues to advance fundraising priorities.
• Serve as a resource regarding relevant policies, protocols, and procedures.
• Build effective working relationships across Alumni Affairs and Development and contribute to departmental and team goals.
• Participate in team and staff meetings, identify process improvements, and perform other job-related duties as assigned.
• Work at certain events and campus activities, such as spring reunions, and participate in department retreats on campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off, including parental leave.
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one.
• Retirement plans with university contributions.
• Wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Support for families and caregivers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition assistance and reimbursement.
• Commuter benefits, discounts, and campus perks.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed