Development Associate, Strategic Program Development, Principal Gifts

Development Associate, Strategic Program Development, Principal Gifts, Advancement

Category:
Charles River Campus -->
Professional

Job Location:

BOSTON, MA, United States

Tracking Code:

Posted Date: 12/14/2025

Salary Grade:
Grade 47, $58,000.00-$62,000.00

Position Type:
Full-Time/Regular

Our Mission:
We in Boston University Advancement harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU's global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built and are continuing to build an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs.

Where it’s not just a job, but a career and a community.

Strategic Program Development, Principal Gifts supports the Senior Vice President of Advancement and the Vice President of Principal, International, and Foundation Advancement in determining strategy for the university’s top donors making gifts of 5M+. This support includes close collaboration and partnership with the office of the president, provost, deans and other senior fundraisers and university officers around prospect strategy and moves management.

This department also oversees events, communications and day-to-day operations involving these top donors.

The Development Associate, Strategic Program Development provides administrative and programmatic support for two or more Principal Gift Officers and assists the Strategic Program Development team in the preparation of materials involving the President’s Advancement-related activity. With an enhanced emphasis on Principal Gifts as a priority focus area for Boston University, the Development Associate plays an integral role in supporting the team’s initiatives with exceptional technical and logistical support.

This work includes but is not limited to: managing the data entry of principal gift fundraising plans and outreach; generating donor reports; circulating travel itineraries; ordering supplies; organizing mailings; reconciling expenses; and providing general administrative support for BU’s William Fairfield Warren Society which recognizes donors of $1M+.

The Development Associate is also responsible for facilitating weekly brainstorming sessions for the principal gift officers with the Director, Strategic Program Development to discuss individual prospect strategies. In addition, the Development Associate works closely with the Assistant Director, Strategic Program Development to coordinate the President’s Advancement-related travel, including assistance with booking reservations, tracking appointments, and compiling briefing material for the President and other senior University leaders.

This work requires impeccable attention to detail and the ability to meet strict deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Principal Gifts Operations:
  Manage entry of fundraiser activity in donor database, ensuring records are kept up to date, including oversight for donor contact reports, biographical information, plans and proposals.
• Provide administrative support for two or more principal gift officers, including assistance with scheduling, travel, expense tracking, mailings, and events.
• Coordinate and facilitate weekly principal gift officer prospect strategy sessions.
• Attend confidential prospect review meetings as needed and record/distribute meeting minutes.
• Presidential Advancement Support:
  Collaborate with the Assistant Director, Strategic Program Development to prepare confidential briefing materials for presidential prospect visits, events, and travel.
• Coordinate logistics including itineraries, event timelines, talking points, donor research profiles, transportation, lodging, and dining arrangements.
• Maintain accurate records of presidential travel and donor engagement activities.
• Document next steps and action items in the database and assist in monitoring progress of engagement strategies for presidential prospects.
• Assist with mailings and other special projects involving the President's office as needed.
• Principal Gifts…