Director, Gift Operations and Compliance

PBS • Arlington, VA

6d • $125,000 - $135,000

About The Position

The Director of Gift Operations leads the strategy, management, and continuous improvement of gift processing, donor data management, gift compliance, stewardship support, and fundraising operations. This role ensures the integrity of donor and financial data, oversees gift administration processes, supports fundraising effectiveness, and provides leadership for operational systems that enable philanthropic growth. The Director serves as a key partner to the Foundation team, Finance, Marketing, and Executive Leadership, ensuring that gifts are processed accurately, donors receive exceptional service, and fundraising teams have reliable data for decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Finance, Information Systems, or related field.
• 7–10 years of progressive experience in fundraising operations, advancement services, gift administration, or nonprofit finance.
• 3–5 years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience with fundraising CRMs.
• Strong knowledge of gift processing, donor database management, and fundraising best practices.
• Experience with financial reconciliation and audit support.
• Advanced reporting and analytical skills.
• Experience leading CRM conversions or fundraising technology projects.
• Knowledge of planned giving, donor-advised funds, and complex gift administration.

Nice To Haves

• Strategic leadership
• Fundraising operations expertise
• Data governance and analytics
• Financial acumen
• Process improvement
• Project management
• Staff development
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration and relationship management
• Problem-solving and decision-making

Responsibilities

• Oversee all gift processing and administration activities, including cash, checks, credit cards, securities, donor-advised funds, planned gifts, matching gifts, and online contributions.
• Ensure timely and accurate recording, acknowledgment, and receipting of donor gifts.
• Ensure timely sharing of relevant information.
• Develop and maintain gift acceptance, processing, and compliance policies.
• Monitor service-level agreements and processing performance metrics.
• Ensure adherence to IRS regulations, accounting standards, and organizational policies.
• Oversees the timely preparation and submission of annual compliance reports for the various state charitable solicitation and charitable gift annuity registrations/renewals.
• Oversees the documentation for restricted and complex gifts in collaboration with Accounting, Finance, and Foundation staff.
• Collaborate closely with the Accounting and Finance departments to reconcile gifts monthly, ensuring alignment between the development database and the general ledger.
• Review gift and grant agreements to ensure proper accounting treatment following GAAP, nonprofit sector standards, and internal standards. Apply proper accounting treatment to gifts following GAAP and nonprofit sector standards, including revenue recognition, restrictions, pledges, and in-kind valuation.
• Assist Finance in working with the various program departments to ensure spending complies with the gift and grant agreements as applicable; provide reporting documentation for grants as needed.
• Work with Accounting and Finance to support annual audits, providing documentation such as gift reports, pledge schedules, and donor backup.
• Lead fundraising operations strategy and process improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with Foundation leadership to optimize fundraising workflows.
• Manage campaign coding, gift allocation structures, and fundraising reporting requirements.
• Support annual campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, grants, and special fundraising initiatives.
• Develop operational plans that support revenue growth objectives.
• Maintain data integrity within the donor database and related fundraising systems.
• Oversee constituent record management, data imports, exports, and integrations.
• Ensure accurate tracking of pledge agreements and payments.
• Partner with technology teams on CRM enhancements and system implementations.
• Develop dashboards and performance reports for fundraising leadership and executive management.
• Analyze fundraising trends, donor retention, pipeline development, and campaign performance.
• Provide forecasting and revenue analysis to support strategic planning.
• Ensure data accuracy for board reports, audits, and regulatory filings.
• Supervise gift processing, constituent records and gift administration/compliance staff.
• Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and professional development plans.
• Foster a culture of customer service, accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Lead cross-functional projects and operational initiatives.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, hearing, life, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
• identity protection program
• employee assistance program
• financial and retirement savings benefits including the PBS Retirement Plan 403(b)
• paid time off (17 days per year)
• paid sick time benefits (12 days per year)
• paid parental leave (60 days / 12 weeks )
• paid holidays (12 days per year)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director