You must apply through the UM Jobs website (umjobs.org/). In addition to your resume, please submit a cover letter, not to exceed one page. In the body of your letter, please describe how the position fits with and advances your career goals. Your resume and cover letter will be a writing sample for the initial screening process. Please submit your cover letter and resume together as a single electronic document (a PDF is best, but there are other acceptable formats), as the system will accommodate only one attachment.
This posting will be open until filled. We will begin application reviews and interviews in January 2025.
Salary and Work Location:
The salary range for this position is $68,000 - $73,000.
Salary is determined by direct relevant experience and demonstrated past performance results while ensuring equity on our team.
Our office is located at 309 Maynard Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This position has the option to work on-site or hybrid (both remote and on-site).
Who we are
LSA Advancement champions the liberal arts at the University of Michigan by creating access and opportunities for learning, engagement, and giving that will improve the world. We are an office of more than 80 professionals building a positive work environment that supports the excellence and transformative power of the college's liberal arts mission through values-based fundraising, marketing, and communications. To learn more about what we do, our culture (including our practice of positive organizational scholarship), and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit our Join Our Team Website.
Who you are
You are a strategic and detail-oriented professional with experience in development and higher education. You navigate complex legal and compliance issues with confidence and are skilled in drafting, proofreading, and editing high-quality content. You excel at managing and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and foster collaboration. You find joy and satisfaction in building relationships with donors, colleagues, and other stakeholders, creating lasting, positive connections. Financially savvy, you communicate financial information clearly and embrace new technology and software with ease. Your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident in all aspects of your work, and you thrive in fostering a positive work environment. If you're driven by the challenge of managing intricate processes and enjoy contributing to the success of team goals, we want you on our team.
What you'll do
As the Gift Agreement Manager you will act as an advocate on behalf of the donor, ensuring we honor their long-term wishes by verifying that what we document in agreements can be upheld. You will spearhead the comprehensive management of LSA's gift agreement processes, drafting 150-200 agreements per year while ensuring all legal and university compliance standards are met. You'll collaborate with a spectrum of stakeholders, including the Director of Development, the Office of General Counsel, and various teams across the college, to draft, review, and finalize gift agreements, internal memorandums, and acknowledgments. You will oversee the seamless flow of information and ensure timely tracking and reporting of gift funds in our CRM system. Enhancing our existing processes, you will manage the production and distribution of acknowledgment letters, integrate targeted strategies for donor communications, and lead the monthly pledge report process. Your role will also include providing cross-trained support for stewardship functions, leveraging web-based software to deliver impactful donor communications, and fostering a diverse and inclusive team culture.
You'll report directly to the Director of Stewardship.
A full job description can be found here.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience
- 5-7 years of experience in a related field
- Experience in development and an understanding of the higher education landscape
- Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret and apply legal, compliance, and University policies
- Understanding of the financial management of donor funds, such as endowed and expendable accounts, planned giving, and pledges
- Strong experience writing, proofreading, and editing to deliver quality content
- Administrative experience (such as performing mail merges, creating business letters, proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Suite)
- Experience utilizing customer databases, accounting and financial reporting tools, and other software
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency through actions, interactions, and communications with others
If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can rock the role, we'd love to learn more about you.
Individuals who are women, LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, people of color, disabled, or veterans are encouraged to apply.
Work Authorization:
Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment, and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.
As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selectio
