Rank: Administrator IV
Search Number: S25-032
Job Posted: February 25, 2026

Southern Connecticut State University is a diverse and student-centered university dedicated to academic excellence, access, and service for the public good. Southern provides a supportive and welcoming environment for all members of its community through a campus wide commitment to social justice.  Founded as a teacher’s college in 1893, Southern has evolved over the past century into a comprehensive public university of more than 9,000 students, offering graduate and undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and professional disciplines. It is one of four universities in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System. The University is located in New Haven, a city rich with arts and culture, and less than 90 miles from New York City and 140 miles from Boston.

The Associate Director of Advancement Services serves as an operational leader within Institutional Advancement, responsible for the university’s gift processing infrastructure. Oversees the full lifecycle of charitable contributions, ensures compliance with federal, state, CASE, and audit standards, and develops systems, policies, and workflows.

Position Responsibilities:

In conjunction with the Director of Finance and Business Operations, assists in the development and management of policies.

Oversees the accurate and timely receipt, entry, and reconciliation of all types of philanthropic contributions, including checks, credit cards, cash, securities, in-kind donations, and electronic transfers. Ensure all gifts are properly categorized and recorded in accordance with institutional standards.

Ensures timely processing of gift transactions and ensure full compliance with university and Foundation policies, procedures, and audit requirements.

Creates and maintains gift funds, pledges, adjustments, and payroll deductions. Monitors pledge fulfillment and coordinates with relevant departments to ensure proper fund allocation and donor intent alignment.

Supervises the management of constituent information and gift records within the CRM system. Ensures data integrity through regular audits, updates, and hygiene protocols to maintain a reliable and comprehensive donor database.

Ensures timely and accurate acknowledgment of all gifts, including customized correspondence for major gifts and special contributions, in alignment with stewardship best practices.

Deposits all checks and reconciles bank accounts.

Ensures that donations are administered according to donor specifications and guidelines, and that reports and/or
acknowledgements to donors are made in a timely and accurate manner.

Responds to gift-related inquiries from donors, development officers, finance and administration, and campus partners, and prepares accurate reports as needed. Provides clear, professional communication and reporting to support donor relations andinternal collaboration.

Ensures compliance with IRS regulations, CASE guidelines, and gift acceptance policies. Ensures documentation and audit trails for gift-related transactions.

Directs the constituent information and gift records management operations, including maintaining information on the university's constituent database, electronic and hard copy filing and systems, as well as assisting in the development of a long-term storage and/or disposal of constituent records.

Prepares periodic reports to senior management.

Responsible for training staff on gift processing procedures, compliance standards, and CRM/reporting tools.

Works closely with Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, Donor Relations, IT, Athletics, and other campus units to ensure seamless integration of gift processing with broader advancement efforts.

Partners with the Director of Advancement Strategy to prepare and submit timely and accurate data for VSE (Voluntary Support of Education Survey) reporting.

Continuously reviews and evaluates current practices in gift processing, acknowledgment procedures, and database management practices to identify and recommend areas for improvement.

Provides support for special Institutional Advancement events as necessary.

Ensures timely and accurate responses to requests for information from university partners. Establishes priorities necessary to accommodate competing requests for services.

Serves as a representative of Institutional Advancement on committees as needed.

Performs other duties related to the above which do not alter the basic level of responsibility of the position.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree. Four (4) years of experience in nonprofit or higher education advancement services, gift processing, or database management. Expertise in CRM systems (e.g., Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge), reporting tools, data governance, and philanthropic data standards. Knowledge of IRS charitable regulations, CASE standards, gift acceptance policies, and audit requirements. Demonstrated proficiency in the use of computer-based tools such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Demonstrated ability to exercise initiative, independent judgment and simultaneously manage multiple projects and complex details with limited resources. Demonstrated ability in the area of employee supervision. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team with a diverse constituency to develop and sustain effective interpersonal relationships. Good communication arid organizational skills. Credentials and/or experience comparable to the above may also be considered. Strong analytical and decision-making skills with the ability to translate data into insights and policy recommendations.

Application:

For full consideration, please submit a letter of application, resume, and contact information for three professional references to Brett Santo, SantoB1@southernct.edu by March 26, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

Southern Connecticut State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University seeks to enhance the diversity of its faculty and staff. People of color, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply