Job Description

The American Philosophical Society (APS) seeks a highly organized, proactive, and service-oriented Development Coordinator to provide critical operational and administrative support to the Development team. This role is ideal for a detail-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys managing complex projects, and takes pride in helping fundraising efforts run smoothly and effectively. The Development Coordinator is responsible for providing a wide range of high-level, administrative support to the Director of Development, and the Development team of the APS.

This role will serve as a key partner across development operations, donor stewardship, Friends/Members/Alumni events, scheduling, database management, and executive support. The successful candidate will bring exceptional organizational skills, sound judgment, discretion, and a collaborative spirit, along with a commitment to excellent donor and constituent service.

Essential Functions

• Provide administrative and operational support to the Development team and Director of Development.
• Manage calendars, scheduling, meeting logistics, travel coordination, and expense reporting.
• Prepare donor correspondence, acknowledgments, briefing materials, reports, and presentation decks.
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records in the Salesforce/database; lead gift processing, assist with reporting, and data integrity.
• Coordinate fundraising events, donor meetings, and stewardship activities with cross departmental event colleagues.
• Track timelines, deadlines, and follow-up for fundraising initiatives and campaigns.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship efforts through research, communications, and logistics.
• Assist with committee materials, meeting preparation, and follow-up.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure smooth execution of development activities and institutional priorities.
• Handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience preferred.
• 3–5 years of administrative or development support experience, preferably in a nonprofit, cultural, or educational organization.

Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with office systems and donor databases.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, anticipate program needs, work independently, and meet deadlines with accuracy and professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative, can-do approach.
• High level of professionalism, resourceful, polished and deeply reliable.
• Strong customer-service skills. Comfort and ability to relate to APS Members (average age 75), Friends, grantees, staff, and volunteers with grace and poise.

Background Qualifications and Training Requirements (licenses, programs, or certificates):

• Proficiency in office systems and software
• Demonstrated working knowledge of fundraising databases
• Knowledge of development process and scope of work

Other Information

• Special Information (Travel required, physical requirements, on-call schedules, etc.)
• Flexibility to support occasional evening and weekend events, as needed
• Willingness to travel occasionally, if required
• Position is primarily onsite and includes shared office space
• Other duties as assigned

This is a full-time position with benefits. The society offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, short-term and long-term disability, 403b with employer match, and a generous policy of paid days off.

Salary: Minimum $60,000+This represents the salary minimum. The Society is committed to hiring the most qualified candidate and is seeking candidates with exceptional experience and accomplishments. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's experience, skills, and qualifications.

Institutional requirements: Background check required after a conditional offer is made.

Environmental/Physical Capabilities

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This position operates in a professional office environment within the organization.The role frequently interacts with Members and grant and fellowship recipients, requiring extended periods of standing, often for multiple hours at a time during meetings and events. The role may also involve occasional walking, light lifting (up to 25 pounds), and repetitive motions such as typing or using office equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

About APS

Today, the American Philosophical Society is a dynamic and multifaceted research institution with a mission of “promoting useful knowledge.” (It should be noted that “Philosophy” in the eighteenth century meant inquiry, and the Society today embraces its motto of nullo discrimine (“without distinction”) by supporting the advancement of knowledge in all fields of knowledge through several program areas.) The Society is led by dynamic, new leadership that honors its venerable history while finding ways to increase its impact in the modern world:

• Research: The Society plays an important role in providing independent research support to the brightest young minds —particularly important in a time when research dollars are scarcer. Its international grants and fellowship program funds over 300 scholars a year and supports research projects on all seven continents and in virtually all disciplines.
• Unique Collections and Resources With over 14 million pages of manuscripts, including the papers of Benjamin Franklin, the journals of Lewis and Clark, and seven Nobel Laureates, its Library is home to one of the most distinguished research collections in the United States. The Library houses four research centers and supports a museum next to Independence Hall that regularly receives 100,000 visitors from around the country.
• The APS Press, the oldest continuously operating imprint in North America, produces a series of thought-provoking books and journals every year.
• Convening Conversations At the heart of the Society sits its many convenings of thought leaders who share cutting edge research in all fields of knowledge, a tradition that dates to the Society’s founding.
• A Home to Pathbreakers: As a learned society, the APS is guided and governed by its elected membership, which includes approximately 1,000 individuals who were elected because of their significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge. It is considered the most distinguished learned society in the United States. Seventeen presidents, dozens of Pulitzer Prize winners, Academy Award winners, Supreme Court justices, governors, and nearly 100 Nobel Laureates have been elected to Membership.

Collectively, the Society’s work and culture embody “the life of the mind.

The Society is based on Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, PA. To learn more, please visit: www.amphilsoc.org

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume or CV and a cover letter detailing your interest in and qualifications fo rthe postion to Interfolio. References will be requested for finalists.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The American Philosophical Society is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment on any basis including race, creed, color, age, sex, gender, religion or national origin. The APS values diversity and inclusion and encourages diverse applicants to apply. Successful applicants will be asked to show proof that they can legally work in the U.S.