William Paterson University invites applications for the 12 month full-time position of Development and Donor Event Coordinator reports to the Senior Director of Development and Planned Giving in the Department of Development in the Division of Institutional Advancement.

This position is responsible for providing the administrative support to the currently three Major Gift Officers (MGO) within the various and varied aspects of the fundraising process including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects.  This position also provides the sole administrative and fundraising support to the Director of Special Events. 

The incumbent will work in a fast-paced, high volume operation with significant public interface. As such, they must assist the directors in a professional, accurate, and timely manner; engage donors in a professional and courteous manner, and perform professional support in accordance with the standards set forth by Institutional Advancement and the University.

The Development and Donor Event Coordinator (D&EC) will take a leadership role in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding the University’s donors and engaging targeted prospects and corporate event partners to foster meaningful philanthropic relationships.  The D&EC will work independently to provide comprehensive logistical and administrative support to MGOs and the Director of Special Events on matters of significant complexity in the areas of planned giving, major gifts, and event execution.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Performs administrative duties professionally, thoroughly and adheres to established deadlines.   Maintains professionalism in all interactions with internal and external constituents.
• Manages all support aspects of donor events including mailings, responses/logistics/expense/website management, and day of event responsibilities. Oversees support functions including Advancement events and college-based special events calendar.
• Attend meetings as minute-taker and serves on subcommittees as needed. Prepares drafts of original writings and tailors existing fundraising materials (i.e. including, fundraising appeal letters) for specific audiences and in various voices (i.e. MGOs, event director and volunteers); performs copy editing, content updates, and fact checking for other specialized fundraising materials. Represents MGOs and Director of Special Events at meetings and events or participates in standing and ad hoc meetings as assigned.
• Prepares letters of inquiry for targeted prospective donors; fundraising solicitation letters for leadership level donors; briefings and materials for meetings with current and potential funders, and content for planned giving website in collaboration with planned giving officer. 
• Researches and identifies prospective foundation and corporate funders and event prospects utilizing prospect research software and online resources? works with Deans, department chairs, faculty, and staff to compile relevant information and data for prospect meetings? manages the internal process to support the MGOs and events director. 
• Manages a portfolio of prospects and successfully achieves personal fundraising goals, with a focus on personal outreach and pipeline development in close collaboration with the MGOs and events director.  Goals to include targeted outreach and sponsorships.
• Monitors budget expenditures for the MGOs and donor events, processes requisitions, orders materials and supplies, and follows up with vendors and supervisors? Maintains records and files.
• Assists with event needs of the President and President’s office as directed by Director of Special Events including but not limited to: groundbreakings, grand-openings, political events, VIP dinners/luncheons/breakfasts, cultivation events, high profile departmental events.
• Interviews, hires and supervises donor event student workers; assigns work as directed?
• Reviews and makes appropriate recommendations for policy and procedural changes.
• Performs other duties as assigned that are appropriate for the position.

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university.
• Two (2) or more years of professional experience in fundraising.
• Familiarity with fundraising events that includes sponsorships and ticketed events.    
• Driver’s license valid in NJ for occasional work-related travel.
• Available to work a flexible work schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and familiarity with web editing and desktop publishing (i.e. Publisher and InDesign).
• Ability to understand and adhere to University and donor policies and procedures for compliance with grant budgets, reports, payments.
• Ability to analyze and interpret information presented from a variety of sources and ask informed questions to prepare clear, technically sound, accurate, and informative reports.

Additional, preferred qualifications:

• Experience in higher education
• Experience with Ellucian Banner, Dashboard, and 25 Live. 

Personal attributes and traits:

• Demonstrated ability to communication effectively in oral, and written formats within a complex environment with competing wants and needs.
• Capable of prioritizing work by level-setting staggered timelines, managing expectations, and committing to agreed-upon goals.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in decision making.
• Capacity to adapt to a changing work environment.
• Capacity to dissect a problem and think critically about pathways to effective solutions.

Interested candidates will be prompted to:

Complete an application
Submit a cover letter & CV

Submission of all documents listed above is required for consideration.

Review of applications will commence immediately.  General questions related to this application process, please contact talent@wpunj.edu

About William Paterson:

William Paterson University is the third most diverse public university in New Jersey. As a longstanding member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), we have been designated by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. William Paterson University is also proud to be designated as a NASA MSI (Minority Serving Institution). The University offers undergraduate and graduate academic programs that range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs; it enrolls over 9,000 students from across the country and from over 40 nations. The University is situated on a beautiful, 370-acre suburban campus in Wayne, New Jersey, just twenty miles west of New York City.