Senior Director of Advancement Services

West Chester University Foundation•West Chester, PA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The West Chester University Foundation is seeking a Senior Director of Advancement Services to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for advancement systems, data, reporting, and gift administration. This role is crucial for strengthening alumni engagement and increasing philanthropic support, especially as the Foundation prepares to support West Chester University’s largest comprehensive fundraising campaign. The Senior Director will ensure that systems, data, reporting, gift administration, and operational processes are scalable, accurate, and aligned to support the campaign's increased activity and complexity. The position involves setting the long-range vision and short-term operational strategy for the Advancement Services department and serving as a key member of the leadership team, partnering with various stakeholders to support fundraising priorities and organizational growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
7–10 years of progressive experience in advancement services, fundraising operations, or related nonprofit administration
Relevant certifications
Commitment to ongoing professional development
Proven experience managing advancement systems, including CRMs (preferably Raiser’s Edge)
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams)
System experience with data management software for import/export list management and integrations
Deep understanding of CASE guidelines and IRS Rules and Regulations governing charitable gifts
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement policies, procedures, and training, translating complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
Experience leading high-performance teams
Strong communication, organizational, analytical, and project management skills
Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, university administration faculty, alumni, and fundraising staff
Ability to align systems, processes, and data strategy with institutional fundraising goals
Experience developing dashboards, KPIs, and data insights for leadership decision-making

Nice To Haves

Use of personal devices (cell phone, personal computer, etc.) may be necessary on occasion to maintain business operations.

Responsibilities

Lead and guide the Advancement Services department, setting strategic priorities and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Develop and execute long-range plans for systems, processes, reporting, and analytics that support organizational fundraising goals.
Partner with senior leadership to assess operational needs, align resources, and ensure data and systems strategy supports institutional priorities.
Evaluate existing systems and emerging technologies to enhance data quality, accessibility, integration, reporting, and overall operational effectiveness.
Provide strategic oversight for the administration, optimization, and governance of the Foundation’s advancement systems.
Define and enforce policies, standards, and workflows to ensure data integrity, system effectiveness, and compliance with industry and institutional standards.
Drive initiatives that enhance operational efficiency, reporting, and analytics capabilities.
Collaborate with Finance, Development, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate gift processing and reporting.
Partner with Donor Relations to ensure accurate data and reporting that support stewardship communications and donor recognition.
Oversee the development and maintenance of documentation, reporting frameworks, and system protocols to support staff performance and organizational growth.
Lead the prospect management function through strategic oversight of data, reporting, and system support.
Collaborate with Development leadership to align prospect-related workflows and reporting tools with fundraising priorities.
Establish standards and frameworks that ensure accurate tracking and actionable insights for portfolio management and campaign planning.
Provide guidance to staff on effective use of prospect-related data to support donor engagement strategies.
Lead the development of advanced reporting, dashboards, and analytics to inform strategic fundraising decisions and operational planning.
Translate complex data into actionable insights that support performance tracking, opportunity identification, and continuous improvement.
Oversee technology platforms and integrations that support advancement operations, ensuring systems are efficient, scalable, and aligned with organizational goals.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, CASE, and other applicable industry standards for gift acceptance, processing, and reporting.
Advise leadership on trends, risks, and best practices to support policy development and strategic decision-making.
Oversee the design and delivery of training to ensure staff competency and adherence to standards.
Develop and recommend policies, protocols, and procedures that ensure accurate and efficient gift acceptance and data management and research to enable the Division to make data-based decisions related to its fundraising and engagement efforts.
Partner with Finance and other stakeholders to maintain effective data governance, reconciliation, and control processes.
Serve as a senior liaison across the Foundation, promoting effective communication, alignment, and collaboration between departments.
Support leadership in campaign planning and execution by providing strategic insights, historical data analysis, and operational guidance.
Facilitate cross-functional initiatives to enhance fundraising effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Other projects and responsibilities may be added at the Executive Director’s discretion.