Senior Advancement Data Analyst

University of Pennsylvania

19h•$61,000 - $75,000

About The Position

The Senior Advancement Data Analyst serves as a key analytical resource within the Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) division, supporting the Senior and Assistant Vice Presidents in Advancement Services & Strategy and the Senior Director of Gift Management. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Prospect Development and Strategy, this position provides high-quality data analysis, validation, and reporting to inform leadership decisions, ensure the accuracy of fundraising and gift reporting, and maintain confidence in the integrity of advancement data. This role emphasizes rigorous data quality assurance, leadership reporting, and analytical interpretation, helping DAR leadership answer critical operational and strategic questions related to fundraising performance, campaign progress, and institutional advancement trends.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science and 2 to 3 years of experience in data analysis, business intelligence, or financial reporting, ideally in higher education or advancement or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Demonstrated expertise in Salesforce CRM or comparable enterprise database environments.
Proficiency with Excel, SQL, or similar data querying and analysis tools including dashboards and BI Tools like Tableau, Qlik, Power Bi or Posit.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data validation skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
Proven ability to synthesize and communicate complex data clearly to senior leadership.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to produce professional, concise reports for executive audiences.
Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines and familiarity with project management tools like Asana or JIRA.
Commitment to data accuracy, accountability, and the mission of higher education advancement.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in data analytics, business administration, information systems, or related field preferred.
Familiarity with fundraising data structures, campaign accounting, and gift documentation standards.
Experience preparing reports for University leadership, governing boards, and external auditors.
Understanding of advancement performance metrics and benchmarking methodologies.

Responsibilities

Prepare and interpret recurring and ad hoc fundraising reports and analyses for the Senior and Assistant Vice Presidents of Advancement Services & Strategy, the Senior Director of Gift Management, and other University leaders.
Synthesize complex data into concise and meaningful reports to support decision-making, planning, and strategy development.
Ensure all reports related to fundraising totals, gifts, and commitments are accurate, timely, and aligned with institutional reporting standards.
Conduct comprehensive quality checks on all fundraising and gift reporting, with a focus on accuracy, consistency, and adherence to policy.
Partner closely with Gift Management and DAR Analytics teams to identify discrepancies, verify data integrity, and document resolutions.
Develop and maintain audit protocols for the review of gift transactions and campaign reporting.
Analyze trends in fundraising activity, gift composition, and donor behavior to answer leadership questions and assess performance against goals.
Provide data-backed insights to inform leadership discussions, planning meetings, and presentations to University executives and Trustees.
Support scenario analysis, forecasting, and modeling to assist in strategy development and resource planning.
Prepare data for the submission of external surveys and benchmarking studies (e.g., CAE/VSE, U.S. News & World Report, and other peer surveys).
Collaborate with Advancement Services leadership to validate data used in institutional reports, publications, and Board materials.
Serve as a trusted analytical advisor to senior advancement leaders, ensuring that data is reliable, accessible, and actionable.
Contribute to the refinement of internal reporting processes and documentation to promote efficiency and consistency.
Participate in working groups and committees focused on continuous improvement of advancement data and reporting practices.

Benefits

Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.