Executive Assistant for Development
University of Vermont Foundation · Burlington, VT ·
- Employment
- Full time
- Category
- Operations
- Experience
- 3+ years
Job Title: Executive Assistant
Reports to: Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Expected Salary Range: $65,000 - 75,000, plus, the UVM Foundation’s progressive benefits package, which includes: a comprehensive health plan; dental, vision, and life insurance; a robust paid time off package; a 403(b) plan with immediate vesting and contributions; and tuition remission.
EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 2026, or a negotiated date agreed upon by both parties
FTE: Full-Time
LOCATION: Burlington, Vermont
JOB-TYPE/HOURS: On-site. This position also has essential functions that will require occasional work outside of standard business days and hours.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Executive Assistant provides executive-level administrative support to the Vice President & Chief Development Officer (VP & CDO) to ensure key development priorities and initiatives run successfully and are based on data-informed fundraising strategies. This staff member helps organize and manage both external and behind-the-scenes activities that lead to fundraising success —from preparing materials and coordinating meetings (often working directly with prospects and donors), to tracking engagement with donors and producing data-driven reports. This work includes supporting Foundation Development Team AVPs – including anticipating the needs of their work - as they engage philanthropic partners and achieve fundraising results that benefit the University of Vermont.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
50% Executive support for the Vice President and Chief Development Officer (CDO)
- Manage calendar; coordinate travel logistics; coordinate and manage meeting preparation tasks for all VP & CDO engagements;
- Draft, review, and edit correspondence, and other cultivation, solicitation and stewardship documentation;
- Serve as liaison to the Foundation President & CEO and University President’s support staff for major and principal gift cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship;
- Coordinate VP & CDO’s participation in travel and strategy meetings with the Foundation CEO and University President;
- Utilize the Customer Relationship Management database (CRM) to support VP & CDO fundraising activity. This includes: generating reports; entering and updating proposals; and entering contact reports.
- Leverage CRM to provide critical information to the VP & CDO, to ensure the Development Team’s business plan is based on data-informed fundraising strategies. This could include: portfolio analysis, donor engagement tracking, pipeline movement, and stewardship compliance.
- Build and maintain relationships with key staff across the Foundation, University, and Medical Center to support smooth and effective executive operations.
- Support VP & CDO’s role as liaison with the Foundation Development Committee and assist Development Team in their work to recommend and recruit new Foundation Board & Foundation Leadership Council (FLC) members.
40% Development Program
- Manage administrative functions of the major and principal gifts program.
- Prepare major and principal giving reports for the Development Team.
- Support AVP of Donor Relations and Stewardship and team on event logistics and individualized stewardship plans for principal gift donors.
- Support Development Team’s work to schedule UVM President’s travel and logistics, including preparation and submission of travel itineraries and briefings.
- Serve as liaison to campus leadership support staff to ensure appropriate involvement of University leaders—including the President, Provost, Deans, Trustees, Directors, and faculty—in major and principal gift fundraising.
- Support Development Team’s work with Foundation Board and FLC members to cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects and donors.
- Support strategic development projects and initiatives, including campaign planning and readiness, and development and implementation of a feasibility study.
10% Executive Support for Development Team AVPs
- Provide administrative and programmatic support to Development Team AVPs as needed.
MINIMUM SKILLS & ABILITIES
A qualified candidate for this role will be:
- Highly organized and attentive to detail, able to manage multiple priorities for senior leaders with accuracy and efficiency.
- Analytical and forward‑thinking, able to interpret information, anticipate needs, and support data‑informed decision‑making.
- An effective communicator, able to draft, edit, and convey information clearly and professionally in both written and verbal forms.
- Collaborative and team‑oriented, able to build productive relationships and contribute positively to shared goals.
- Strategic and proactive, able to exercise sound judgment, prioritize tasks, and take initiative in a dynamic environment.
- Discreet and professionally grounded, able to maintain confidentiality and interact effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion; able to apply these principles meaningfully in daily work and strategic processes.
- Technologically proficient, with strong capabilities in word processing, editing, and proofreading, as well as working with spreadsheets and database management.
- Professional in presence and demeanor, able to represent the Foundation effectively in all forms of interaction.
PREFERRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
In addition, the ideal candidate for this role will be:
- Ability to achieve a high level of expertise in the use of the CRM, applying these skills to provide high level analytical and data-driven support of the Development Team’s annual business plans.
- Ability to work effectively within complex or matrixed organizational structures, able to coordinate across departments and adapt to varied stakeholder needs.
- Effective in supporting volunteer leadership, able to communicate clearly, prepare materials, and facilitate their engagement.
- Knowledgeable about development and fundraising practices, with an understanding of how major and principal gift programs operate and how administrative support contributes to fundraising success.
- Skilled at managing information flow, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timeliness in materials, reports, and communications that support high‑level development work.
MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Associate’s degree and 3–5 years of experience providing executive‑level assistance or administrative coordination; or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the responsibilities of the role.
- Experience supporting senior leaders in a professional setting, with responsibility for managing complex schedules, communications, and workflows.
PREFERRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree and 5 or more years of experience in higher education, nonprofit advancement, or another complex organizational environment.
- Experience supporting major or principal gift fundraising, including work within comprehensive campaigns or large‑scale development initiatives.
- Experience working directly with volunteer leadership—such as board members, committee members, or advisory councils—in support of cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship activities.
- Experience using development databases or CRM systems (e.g., Advance, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar platforms).
- Demonstrated success coordinating across multiple departments or stakeholder groups in a multifaceted organization.
Open until Filled.