Connecting Odds
South Carolina State University

Director of Advancement Services & Operations

South Carolina State University
Administration – Orangeburg, SCPosted Discovered via the company's careers siteMatch locked
Full-TimeStaff

About the role

The

Director of Advancement Services & Operations

is responsible for overseeing the infrastructure and operational support for South Carolina State University's fundraising and donor engagement activities. This role provides leadership in

gift processing, data management, donor stewardship, prospect research, and reporting

to ensure the effectiveness and accountability of the university's Institutional Advancement efforts. The Director will develop and implement

best practices for donor recognition, data integrity, and financial reconciliation

while working closely with development officers, finance teams, and university leadership. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and experience in advancement services, stewardship, and fundraising operations .

Advancement Services & Data Management

  • Oversee

donor database management

, ensuring accurate and timely entry of gifts, pledges, and donor records.

  • Develop and enforce

data integrity policies and best practices

for donor and alumni records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with industry standards.

  • Lead efforts to

analyze fundraising trends

, campaign performance, and donor giving patterns to support fundraising strategies.

  • Ensure alignment between

advancement services and finance

in reconciliation of donations, financial reporting, and compliance with

IRS and CASE standards

.

  • Manage the

gift processing team

, ensuring efficient and accurate documentation and acknowledgment of donations.

  • Maintain and oversee

data security, donor confidentiality, and compliance with university policies

related to fundraising operations.

Stewardship & Donor Recognition

  • Develop and implement a

comprehensive donor stewardship program

to enhance donor engagement and retention.

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create

impactful donor communications and stewardship materials

.

  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives and meet deadlines.
  • High attention to detail, analytical thinking, and ability to problem-solve in a complex environment.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and

build strong relationships

with donors, university leadership, and advancement staff. Oversee the creation of

thank-you letters, impact reports, donor recognition programs, and special stewardship communications.

  • Advanced knowledge of

gift processing, data analytics, financial reconciliation, and fundraising compliance standards

.

  • Experience with

prospect research tools

(i.e., WealthEngine, iWave, or DonorSearch) and fundraising analytics.

  • Strong proficiency in

Microsoft Office Suite

(Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and

data visualization tools

.

  • Understanding of

CASE, AFP, and IRS regulations

regarding philanthropy and donor stewardship.

Communication & Organizational Skills

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create

impactful donor communications and stewardship materials

.

  • Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives and meet deadlines.
  • High attention to detail, analytical thinking, and ability to problem-solve in a complex environment.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and

build strong relationships

with donors, university leadership, and advancement staff.

  • Coordinate with development officers to provide

customized stewardship plans for major donors and endowed gift contributors

.

  • Manage naming opportunities, donor walls, and other forms of public recognition for key supporters.
  • Plan and execute

donor appreciation events

, including recognition ceremonies, gift impact luncheons, and scholarship donor-student receptions.

Prospect Research & Fundraising Analytics

  • Conduct

prospect research and wealth screening

to identify potential major gift donors, corporate partners, and foundation funders.

  • Provide

data-driven insights and reports

to support fundraising campaigns, major gift solicitations, and donor pipeline development.

  • Work closely with development officers and university leadership to create

fundraising performance dashboards and analytics reports

.

Leadership & Collaboration

  • Serve as a key member of the

Institutional Advancement leadership team

, contributing to strategy development and long-term planning.

  • Partner with the

Vice President for Institutional Advancement & External Affairs

to enhance fundraising operations and donor engagement.

  • Supervise and mentor advancement services and stewardship staff, ensuring high performance and professional development.
  • Work collaboratively with

university leadership, finance, alumni relations, and academic units

to strengthen fundraising efforts.

Minimum Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, nonprofit management, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working in

higher education fundraising

and advancement services.

  • Knowledge of

fund accounting, fundraising reporting, and reconciliation practices

.

  • Experience managing

naming opportunities, endowment stewardship, and donor recognition programs

.

Not included in the source posting: benefits.

Skills

excel

Who can apply

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