Professor - Liberal Arts jobs in Topeka, KS

Development Assistant:
Department: Lawrence Development
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

*This position will be filled at the Assistant, Administrator, or Senior level, commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Who we are and what we’re about::
KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment, you’ll witness firsthand the power of our donors’ generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs – and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging::
At KU Endowment, we recognize that we best achieve our mission of building a greater University of Kansas by embracing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are committed to cultivating a people-centered environment that is welcoming to the spectrum of differences among us in an atmosphere of respect and fairness. Accordingly, our staff, Board of Trustees, volunteers and donors will work together to create a more representative, equitable and inclusive KU Endowment.

What we are looking for::
This administrative support position assists the KU Endowment fundraising staff working in support of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University Honors and Hall Center for the Humanities. They also provide primary interim support to fellow development teams while their Assistant is absent for extended leave or during the process of hiring a new Assistant. Serves as a liaison to internal team, associate deans, and department chairs and directors. Regular tasks may include: answer fund usage questions from department chairs and directors, prepare and execute team and campus report requests, create pledge and new fund documentation, prepare correspondence, maintain campus and donor files, coordinate calendars, set meetings, handle travel arrangements, process expense reports, and assist with information requests internally and from campus partners. Handles sensitive and confidential information while adhering to KU Endowment’s guidelines for maintaining privacy.

The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowment’s stated core values – passion for KU, partnership with donors, perpetual support for KU, and a people-centered approach – and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities.

What’s a typical day look like?:

• Provides administrative support to multiple professional development staff. Prioritizes projects and deadlines; juggles multiple tasks; and asks for assistance from other administrative support staff, when necessary.

• Serves as a first point of contact to Chairs, faculty and staff in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Works closely with campus and internal partners to gather information on fund usage, fundraising priorities, and general departmental updates for the KU Endowment team. Assists KU Endowment staff, donors and KU departments with information requests.

• Coordinates calendars, arranges appointments, makes reservations, sets meetings, and handles travel arrangements. Processes travel expense reimbursements and documents business expenses.

• Drafts correspondence and gift acknowledgement letters. Prepares forms to help process donor gifts.

• Prepares or runs accounting and donor-related reports (giving history, fund transactions, donor information, and proposals). Searches databases, retrieves information, and prepares reports, sometimes involving researching, analyzing, and compiling non-standardized data or information of a complex nature.

• Takes phone calls from prospective donors and connects them with the appropriate member of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences team. Reaches out to current major gift prospects on behalf of Development Officers to secure correct information for the routing/charging of recurring gifts.

• Prepares, organizes, and maintains appropriate files for constituency area.

• Works with team to coordinate campus-initiated fundraising projects in consultation with the appropriate internal departments.

• Follows KU Endowment policies and procedures. Is a resource for team members with questions of proper policy and collaborates with Prospect Management & Research team.

• Assists with events and donor recognition programs for the University.

• Coordinates team retreats and on-campus educational opportunities for campus partners.

• Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.

• Performs other work as directed or required.

What’s required to be considered::

• Requires one to three years (three to six years, preferred) of administrative support experience with considerable skill in development support processes, including regular interaction with staff, faculty, and donors, drafting and processing correspondence, preparing large mailings, scheduling meetings, making travel arrangements, processing reimbursements, etc.

• Experience with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook), and with databases.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.

• Attention to detail and the ability to exercise good judgment in making decisions are required.

• Knowledge of basic math (including some statistics).

• Demonstrated ability to organize, plan, and set priorities with minimal supervision.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships inside and outside KU Endowment.

• Prefer familiarity with KU Endowment and the University of Kansas.

• Ability to adapt to new procedures and technology.

What separates the best from the rest?:

• Team work skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication

• Creative problem solving

Physical Requirements::

• Valid motor vehicle license

• Ability to:

• Speak

• Hear

• Sit

• See

• Operate office equipment

• Travel locally

• Travel nationally

• Lift up to 20 pounds

• Lift up to 40 pounds

We’ve got you covered::
KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including:

• 100% employer-paid pension plan

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program

• Section 125 flexible benefits

• Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave

• Volunteer and community engagement opportunities

• Paid Parental Leave