Development Assistant, Schreyer Honors College

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Penn State's Schreyer Honors College is currently seeking a Development Assistant and Personal Administrative Coordinator to support the Director of Development and the Schreyer Development Team in advancing fundraising, alumni relations, and donor stewardship efforts. This position is integral to increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the Development Office by providing high-level administrative support, managing key outreach activities, and ensuring seamless coordination of development-related initiatives.

As a member of the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR), this role offers an opportunity to contribute to one of the most successful fundraising and alumni engagement operations in the country, playing a critical role in supporting Penn State's mission and the Schreyer Honors College's strategic goals.

Primary Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Assistant and Personal Administrative Coordinator will:

• Calendar & Administrative Support:
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for the Director of Development's calendar, scheduling internal and external meetings, donor visits, and travel logistics with efficiency and discretion.
  • Coordinate meeting materials, briefing documents, and follow-ups to ensure seamless workflow for the Director.
  • Serve as a liaison between the Schreyer Development Team and key stakeholders across the University, including DDAR, college leadership, donors, and external partners.
  • Maintain donor records, fundraising pipelines, and key prospect tracking within AWA/Salesforce.
  • Manage office correspondence, proposal tracking, and stewardship reports to ensure donors receive timely and personalized communication.
• Donor & Alumni Outreach:
  • Assist in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors and prospects by managing outreach efforts on behalf of the Director of Development.
  • Engage with key donors and alumni via personalized emails, calls, and targeted communications to increase engagement and build relationships.
  • Coordinate and oversee follow-ups from donor meetings, prospect cultivation plans, and stewardship touchpoints.
  • Work closely with Alumni Relations to manage high-impact alumni outreach strategies, focusing on major gift prospects and key stakeholders.
• Development Operations & Fundraising Support:
  • Manage pre-visit and post-visit preparations for the Director of Development, ensuring briefings, donor research, and prospect strategy alignment.
  • Assist with fundraising proposals, gift documentation, and major gift tracking, ensuring alignment with campaign priorities.
  • Support donor recognition and stewardship efforts, including event coordination, personalized acknowledgments, and impact reporting.
  • Serve as a key development operations liaison, ensuring accurate and up-to-date donor records, proposals, and engagement history.

Qualifications & Competencies

This position typically requires an associate's degree or higher plus 3 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. The ideal candidate will possess:

• Strong organizational and executive administrative skills, particularly in calendar management, scheduling, and priority setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage high-level donors, alumni, and University leaders.
• A self-motivated and proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and work in a fast-paced, high-expectation environment.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the ability to build relationships with diverse communities.
• Familiarity with fundraising software, donor databases, and CRM systems (such as AWA/Salesforce) is preferred.
• Experience in a development, alumni relations, or fundraising environment is a plus.

Additional Information

• This position is based at the University Park campus in State College, PA, and requires in-person work to support the Director of Development's schedule and outreach efforts.
• Some evening and weekend work may be required based on donor and alumni engagement activities.

Operation of a motor vehicle as part of the position's duties and a valid driver's license are required. Successful completion of a motor vehicle records check, in addition to standard background checks, is also required.

DDAR is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work arrangements should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

Penn State's Division of Development and Alumni Relations

If you believe in the power of higher education-and philanthropy-to shape the public good, you'll excel right here in Penn State's Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DDAR). Our organization includes more than 500 professionals engaging a community of more than 700,000 alumni who believe in the power of giving back. Across our interdisciplinary teams of fundraisers, alumni relations professionals, communicators, event planners, financial experts, and more, there is a place for you to make a difference in the lives of students and faculty while taking your own career to new heights. Learn more about us at raise.psu.edu and explore the success of our most recent campaign at greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

Building a Career and a Life at Penn State

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The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belongingthat supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages theeducational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of thecommunity thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and anessential element of the university's teaching, research, and servicemission.

Across twenty-four campuses and an online World Campus, our 100,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom-it's the positive impact made on communities across the globe. Penn State consistently ranks among the top academic and research universities in the world: psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/facts-and-rankings

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

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