Job Description

The Regional Associate serves as a strategic liaison and trusted operational partner supporting Gift Planning Officers of Development to enable the solicitation of planned and structured gifts ($100,000 to $10M+).

In this role, you will evaluate, target, and contact leadership prospects, assist in building meaningful donor relationships, and oversee essential stewardship efforts. Beyond fundraising operations—which includes managing complex payment processing and mastering key technical tools like AsceND—you will act as an advocate for the coordinator team, scaling best practices, mentoring peers, and driving cross-functional collaboration across the department.

Key Responsibilities:

Portfolio Management & Prospect Support

• Provide comprehensive support by providing database queries, managing inbound leads, and helping with cultivation of benefactors at targeted giving levels to enable six- to eight-figure solicitations by Directors and Gift Planning Officers (GPOs).

• Maintain and optimize the benefactor database, building detailed profiles that reflect historical giving and philanthropic preferences to increase commitment levels and maximize fundraiser productivity.

• Act as a key operational partner, troubleshooting donor needs, finding timely solutions, and identifying successful strategies alongside specific Regional Directors or GPOs to scale best practices across the broader team and enhance workflow efficiency.

Benefactor Relationship Building & Stewardship

• Serve as a trusted primary contact point for donors requiring special handling, ensuring proper acknowledgment and high-touch stewardship of leadership-level support.

• At the discretion of the RD/GPO, represent the institution directly to benefactors, addressing requests or issues and aligning institutional priorities with donor passions to support high-level solicitations.

• Manage all methods of donor payment processing, oversee the internal recognition and recording of all contribution categories, identify and correct contribution inaccuracies with key stakeholders, and collaborate with administrative peers to elevate donor relations.

Operational & Administrative Support

• Deliver high-level administrative and organizational support to Regional Development fundraisers/GPOs, demonstrating high accuracy, prompt responsiveness, and strong attention to detail.

• Manage complex travel arrangements, prepare expense reports, and assist with budget reconciliation.

• Maintain accurate database records, generate custom reports, and assist with the onboarding of new Development Team members and Gift Planning Officers.

• Eagerness and ability to quickly learn and navigate key departmental tools , including AsceND, Business Objects, Google Workspace, Fundraiser Dashboard, GiftWrap, and design platforms like Canva or Adobe Express.

Strategic Advocacy & Team Leadership

• Act as a strategic liaison and advocate for the coordinator team, representing group interests in broader organizational initiatives and serving on cross-functional committees based on your unique strengths.

• Promote peer mentorship, foster an inclusive team culture, and provide operational oversight when managers are unavailable.

• Perform additional general administrative responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a higher education degree (Associate degree or higher) from an accredited institution and 2+ years of professional experience in non-profit fundraising, alumni relations, project management, high-level administrative support, or a related client-facing operational role; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) and experience working with complex relational databases, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, or enterprise reporting software.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to engage professionally with high-net-worth individuals, senior executives, and internal stakeholders while handling confidential financial and personal donor information.
• Strong quantitative and administrative skills, including experience tracking gift transactions, processing complex expense reports, and reconciling budgets with meticulous attention to detail.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, handle complex travel arrangements, and troubleshoot operational bottlenecks in a fast-paced environment.
• ​​​​​​​Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
  
  Preferred Qualifications
  
  ​​​​​​​
• Bachelor’s degree.
• 3+ years working within higher education or a complex non-profit fundraising infrastructure.
• Direct experience using AsceND, Business Objects, GiftWrap, or similar advancement CRMs (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud / Raiser's Edge) to build prospect profiles and generate strategic analytics.
• Familiarity with design and layout tools like Canva or Adobe Express to format donor proposals, briefing materials, and stewardship communications.
• Demonstrated experience in peer mentorship, leading cross-functional committees, or building workflow systems and best practices that elevate team efficiency.

Additional Information

RESUME AND COVER LETTER REQUIRED to be considered for this position. Please add in the attachments section of the application.

Application Deadline to Apply: August 5, 2026

Salary: Up to $29.81 an hour, commensurate with experience

This position is located in South Bend, Indiana.

The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.