Development Administrator

Reports to: Administrative Support Manager

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

The anticipated salary for this position starts at $42,300+ for the Development Assistant role and ranges up to $56,400+ for the Sr. Development Administrator role. The final pay will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications, experience, education, and years within the job or industry, with a strong emphasis on maintaining internal equity. 

Who we are and what we’re about:

KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment, you’ll witness firsthand the power of our donors’ generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs – and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.

What we are looking for:

The development administrative support will support multiple KU Endowment fundraising staff members and/or constituents in the development department. The admin support will serve as a liaison to the Dean(s) office, department chairs, and program directors in their supported constituencies. Regular tasks may include answering fund usage questions from department chairs and directors, preparing, and executing development team and campus informational requests, creating new pledges and new fund agreement documentation, preparing donor correspondence, maintaining campus and donor files, coordinating calendars, setting meetings, handling travel arrangements, and processing expense and reimbursement reports. Follows KU Endowment policies and procedures and handles sensitive and confidential information while adhering to KU Endowment’s guidelines for maintaining privacy.  

The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowment’s stated core values – collaboration, curiosity, empowerment, and excellence – and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities. 

Hybrid Work Environment: 

Following the initial training period, this position offers a hybrid work schedule, with the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. However, the role requires multiple days per week on-site at our Lawrence, KS office to ensure effective collaboration, team engagement, and alignment with organizational goals. 

What’s a typical day look like:
 

• Support the daily operations of assigned development officers, including scheduling, meeting coordination, travel arrangements, and processing expense reimbursements.
• Collaborate with university partners, including deans and departmental staff, to address inquiries, support fundraising initiatives, and respond to questions regarding fund usage and donor intent. 
• Serve as a primary point of contact for department chairs and program directors, ensuring timely and accurate responses to information requests. Maintain thorough and accurate documentation of donor interactions, pledges, and communications, ensuring adherence to KU Endowment policies and confidentiality standards. 
• Prepare and organize donor-related materials, including new fund establishment, pledge commitment, deferred gifts forms. 
• Draft fund administrative agreements and guide through the necessary approval and submission processes ensuring timely coordination and follow-up with the Stewardship Department as needed. 
• Research departmental information and prepare briefing materials to assist development officers and campus leadership in donor meetings. 
• Draft correspondence, including donor acknowledgments and thank-you letters, and generate reports on giving history, fund activity, and donor engagement. 
• Answer phone inquiries from prospective donors and direct them to the appropriate development staff member. 
• Organize and maintain physical and digital files related to the constituencies served. 
• Provide backup administrative support for other areas during staff absences or transitions. 
• Assist with the planning and execution of donor recognition events and other development-related programs. 
• Consistently follow organizational policies and guidelines related to data privacy and handling of confidential information. 
• Demonstrate reliability through consistent attendance and the ability to manage responsibilities independently. 
• Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

What’s required to be considered:
 

• A minimum Highschool Diploma or GED equivalent and 3-5 years of administrative support experience with considerable skills in; development support processes, experience in interaction with staff, faculty, and donors, drafting and processing correspondence, preparing mass mailing lists, scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements, processing reimbursements, etc.    
• A Development Administrator requires four to five years of administrative support experience. 
• A Sr. Development Administrator requires six plus years of administrative support experience. 

What separates the best from the rest? 
 

• Ability to establish and maintain professional and effective working relationships inside and outside KU Endowment.
• Ability to adapt to new procedures and technology.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook), and with databases.  
• Requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.  
• Must be proficient in English, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and basic math and statistics.  
• Attention to detail and the ability to exercise good judgment in making decisions is required.  
• Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, and set priorities with minimal supervision.  
• Familiarity with KU Endowment and the University of Kansas is preferred. 
• Capacity to adapt quickly to major and minor changes in projects and outcomes. 
• Ability to work as part of a team to establish and maintain professional effective working relationships with board members, university partners, volunteers, and KU Endowment staff.  

Physical Requirements:
 

• A valid driver’s license. 
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training, donor meetings, networking, events and/or work-related activities.
• Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards.
• This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers, keyboards and a mouse, laptops, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. 
• This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• The person in this position frequently communicates with donors, colleagues, students, and general public. Must be able to communicate with others effectively.
• Physical effort/lifting, light-up to 25 pounds.

KU Endowment is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job as regulated by ADA. If you require accommodation for any part of the application process or during employment, please contact humanresources@kuendowment.org to discuss your needs.

We’ve got you covered:
 

KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including: 

• 100% employer-paid pension plan
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program
• Section 125 flexible benefits 
• Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave
• Volunteer and community engagement opportunities
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Legal & ID Theft protection
• Critical Illness
• Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance 
• KU education assistance 
• Free parking

Sounds good, right? What’s next?

Please include your resume and cover letter when applying for this position on our website at https://www.kuendowment.org/careers.

Questions regarding this vacancy may be addressed to:

Human Resources

KU Endowment

PO Box 928

Lawrence, KS 66044-0928

Email: humanresources@kuendowment.org

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Because of the sensitive nature of KU Endowment business and the importance of our reputation with donors, KU Endowment conducts a comprehensive review of applicants. By submitting your application, you authorize us to conduct reference checks and a review of available public information. Employment is contingent upon background and reference checks that KU Endowment finds acceptable.