Advancement Associate

Summary

Description

Colorado Academy (CA) is seeking a full-time Advancement Associate to join the school’s fundraising team. This role presents an exciting opportunity for a collaborative professional to support the Advancement team in advancing fundraising initiatives and deepening donor relationships. This position encompasses a variety of responsibilities that support all facets of the Advancement Department’s efforts, including annual giving, alumni relations, special events, and capital campaigns. This role will have a particular focus on Advancement systems coordination, prospect management, and data analysis, interpretation and reporting.     

This role plays an integral part in securing resources to drive CA’s mission in three focus areas:

• Prospect Management, Donor Intelligence and Reporting (50%): conduct prospect research to support cultivation. Collaborate with front-line fundraisers to support a strong donor moves management approach to relationship building with reporting and data analysis that informs impact opportunities.
• Advancement Systems Coordination (30%): maintain fundraising tools including Raiser’s Edge NXT, GiveCampus, Double the Donation, and other fundraising-oriented systems. Ensure smooth systems integration by staying appraised of best practices and latest updates for all platforms.
• Donor Relations and Stewardship (20%): execute personalized stewardship through direct outreach and support donor recognition programs.

The Advancement Associate requires an understanding of fundraising moves management, analytical skills, and strategic thinking to drive growth and strengthen donor relationships. Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the role ensures accurate donor analysis, meaningful stewardship, and prospect management that deepens donor engagement with CA.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Prospect Management, Donor Intelligence and Reporting

• Conduct proactive and reactive prospect research and prepare prospect profiles, qualification notes, and research briefs for leadership and fundraisers.
• Maintain and track the prospect pipeline for both annual and campaign donors.
• Provide data analysis, including activity reports and queries, to inform donor strategies, segmentation, and upgrading opportunities.
• Create dashboards, reports, and data summaries to support annual fund and campaign decision-making.
• Prepare monthly revenue report and portfolio activity reports for leadership, Trustees, and Development Committee.
• Collaborate with the Advancement team to develop data-driven insights, analyze constituent data, and produce recommendations to enhance fundraising initiatives and inform donor strategies.
• Partner with the Director of The CA Fund to track and evaluate Annual Fund analytics based on industry standards.
• Update portfolios for Advancement team, Head of School, and Board of Trustees.      

Advancement Systems Coordination

• Implement and maintain fundraising tools including Raiser’s Edge NXT, GiveCampus, Almabase, Double the Donation, and other fundraising-oriented systems.
• Ensure systems integration by staying appraised of best practices and latest updates for all platforms.
• Build reporting through integrated fundraising tools and supports the evaluation of fundraising initiatives.
• Partner with Advancement Operations Manager to streamline and standardize best practices in data management and to maintain documentation on all fundraising systems, processes, and procedures.
• Provide back up to Advancement Operations Manager on gift processing, acknowledgements, and reconciliation of gifts.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Execute stewardship touchpoints for managed relationships in partnership with the assigned staff and / or volunteer relationship manager. Activities include making and coordinating thank-you calls and crafting and sending impact updates and personalized donor communications.
• Maintain Raiser’s Edge records for all meaningful donor interactions and engagement; enter individual contact reports, ensure donor and prospect interactions are efficiently documented within the database, and gifts and proposals are entered accurately. Assist with donor meeting follow-up activities.
• Partner with Associate Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship to maintain the Office of Advancement Stewardship Plan, make weekly gratitude calls, and support the team’s overall cultivation and stewardship activities and donor recognition programs. 
• Conduct annual analysis of donor recognition, tracking key performance indicators on engagement activities to help inform success of program and future improvements.     

Collaboration

• Provide training and support to staff on data-related tools and practices, staying up to date on industry trends and best practices.
• Support special projects and events including occasional weekend and evening work.
• Assist with mailings, event logistics, and other administrative tasks as needed.
• Partner with a diverse range of stakeholders, volunteers, and colleagues to support CA’s mission and strategic goals.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of three to five (3-5) years of advancement / development operations, donor relations, or prospect research experience.      
• Strong CRM experience with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge (or a similar fundraising CRM).
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills; high proficiency with Microsoft Office’s Excel and Word; Google Drive, Docs, and Sheets; and more.
• Keen attention to detail and the ability to be extremely accurate and consistent with data/record keeping.
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and a successful track record of working effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of constituencies and being willing to accept direction and feedback when appropriate.
• Deep interest in building trust and authentic relationships with CA’s community.

All staff at CA are expected to carry out the CA Mission, "Creating Curious, Kind, Courageous, and Adventurous Learners and Leaders," to support the vision of CA, and to contribute to the life of the school. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required for the position. Colorado Academy reserves the right to modify or revise this job description at any time.

The pay for this position is $32.00 – $34.00 per hour. Although this is a good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation at the time of posting, Colorado Academy reserves the right to pay more or less than the posted range. Any wage differential that may exist for the position does not relate to sex, gender, or gender identity, but relates solely to a seniority system, a merit system, or relevant education, training and/or experience. Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance benefit programs are available, as is a 403(b) retirement plan. Eligibility for all benefit programs is defined by the applicable plan document. 

Applicants are invited to visit the Colorado Academy website (www.coloradoacademy.org) to learn more about the program and the school.

Colorado Academy prohibits discrimination and unlawful harassment in any of its programs, procedures, or practices on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, ancestry, race, religion or creed, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, military service, marital status, genetic information, or other protected classifications defined by federal or Colorado laws. The policy applies in all aspects of employment with CA.

Colorado Academy is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace. Employees are expected to engage in professional conduct that reflects cultural awareness, respect for differing identities, and openness to diverse perspectives. Employment decisions including hiring, evaluation, promotion, and compensation are based on qualifications, performance, and institutional needs.