Gift Specialist

THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOUNDATION INC•Mansfield, CT

3d•$22

About The Position

The University of Connecticut is a top-ranked national university and health-system with its flagship campus located in idyllic Storrs. Designated a Carnegie Research 1 institution, UConn is the state land- and sea-grant university focused on education, research, and service to the state of Connecticut and beyond. The University serves over 33,000 students across seven campuses, 8,550 first-in-family students, and boasts numerous national championships. UConn Health is a top-ranked health provider that delivers groundbreaking medical education, research, and hospital and clinical services to over one million patients each year. In addition, UConn has nearly 300 scientists who are in the top 2 percent of researchers investigating everything from cancer to AI. UConn continues its meteoric rise as a top public University with a record number of applications, continued investment in student success, health, and wellness, recruitment of top faculty, innovation in research, and top-tier athletic programs focused on the health and financial literacy of student-athletes. This includes the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which have brought home three consecutive NCAA National Championship trophies in the last three years. UConn is proud to have 26 national championships across all sports. Guided by the public launch of our most ambitious campaign in history, Because of UConn The Campaign for UConn Nation, we are moving boldly into the future. The $1.5B comprehensive campaign spans all schools, colleges, campuses and UConn Health and focuses on four pillars designed to make education more affordable and elevate UConn among its national peers. Students First: making transformative investments in financial aid, student health, career readiness, and life skills to improve time-to-degree and career outcomes. Academic & Innovation Excellence: driving investment in top faculty and graduate fellows and building the innovation ecosystem of the state and beyond. Health & Wellness of People & Planet: focusing on patient care, medical research, and development of life-changing technologies that improve healthcare outcomes. Husky Pride: investing in athletic excellence and supporting a thriving UConn Nation that includes more than 290,000 alumni worldwide. Because of UConn will have a profound impact on the University. It will double the number of named scholarships, fund scientific breakthroughs and advanced lifesaving therapies, and engage UConn Nation in the life and mission of the University like never before. We seek the top talent in the country to join The UConn Foundation and help us drive UConn into the future. Our mission is to connect people to the University of Connecticut, growing philanthropy, engaging a thriving alumni and donor community, and building a robust endowment to strategically advance UConn and UConn Health’s educational, research, and service missions. We are committed to a caring and supportive work culture, professional and leadership development, and flexibility for high achievers with a passion for higher education. We’re looking for dedicated professionals to drive success and excellence and exemplify our values of Purpose, Excellence, Culture, Communication and Integrity. The UConn Foundation is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We celebrate different perspectives and are committed to a welcoming environment that values your unique experiences and identity. As an organization, we strive for continued growth each and every day. POSITION SUMMARY The Gift Specialist supports the Foundation’s strategic business goals by processing constituent data received through various sources including pledges, pledge payments, all forms of gifts, and general biographical information within the Foundation’s CRM. The Gift Specialist is also responsible for proofing departmental work and creating various batches through our document workflow management platform (PaperSave). Additionally, this role serves as a cross-functional backup for key team responsibilities. All work must be completed in a timely manner with a focus on quality, attention to the Foundation’s fiduciary responsibility, and with a customer service focus in alignment with the Foundation’s core values.

Requirements

Champion for inclusive priorities both internally and externally.
High level of motivation and an ability to exercise independent judgment with regard to responsibilities and prioritization of workload.
Ability to interpret and enter data with a CRM (Blackbaud) and document imaging system (PaperSave).
Strong reconciliation, clerical aptitude, basic mathematics skills and knowledge of office procedures and electronic and paper record keeping systems.
Strong written and verbal communications skills, along with the ability to be effective and professional in handling situations with donors, Foundation Staff and University Staff.
Ability to handle multiple tasks, assess and order priorities, and track details in a fast-paced environment.
Integrity when dealing with confidential information.
Attention to and concern for others.
Ability to work to the demands of the position, which may exceed a 20-hour work week.
High School Diploma or equivalent required.
1+ years of data entry, processing and reporting experience.
Proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams).
Demonstrated ability to work in multiple system environments.

Responsibilities

Enter gifts, pledges and general constituent biographical information within the Foundation’s CRM with a focus on accuracy and timeliness, and attention to donor designation, CASE standards, and the Foundation’s Gift and Pledge policies and procedures.
Meet acceptable quality and processing volume metrics as established by leadership.
Proof batches with attention to detail, and policy and procedures.
Respond to donor inquiries received with a donor centric focus.
Perform special enhancement and clean-up projects, and complete work assigned through the weekly task rotation.
Complete assigned entry and proofing in a timely manner.
Provide operational coverage for critical team functions during staff absences.
Always model and articulate the Foundation’s organizational core values.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Collaborate with Foundation and University stakeholders to support the processing of gifts and pledges in alignment with the Foundation’s campaign and fundraising priorities.
Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as departmental meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.

Benefits

Benefits start from day one.
We offer medical, dental, and vision plans and will make an annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.
In addition, there are a few other perks to being a UConn Foundation employee:
We offer a generous contribution to your 403(b)-retirement plan to help you plan for retirement.
We place an emphasis on work/life balance.
In addition to a hybrid schedule, you will receive paid time off and additional sick time.
We invest in your professional development.
Aside from opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year, you will also be eligible for tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

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