Philanthropy Specialist - Discovery Program

The Discovery Program utilizes an innovative approach leveraging data, donor engagement, direct marketing and fundraising workflows to engage and grow the pipeline of individual giving donors. This program, a component of Philanthropy's leadership giving strategy, works closely with several internal stakeholders including direct marketing, prospect development and gift officers throughout Philanthropy's Individual Giving team.

The primary purpose of the Philanthropy Specialist, Discovery Program is to support MD Anderson's mission and help achieve Philanthropy's fundraising and engagement goals by providing a premium philanthropic experience for donors. This position will manage the data output from the Discovery Program's engagement efforts, handle inbound donor inquiries with care, and execute a variety of programmatic duties that contribute to the smooth functioning of the Discovery Program, while passionately representing MD Anderson's core values to advance philanthropic support for institutional priority programs, research and patient programming.

This position reports to the Assistant Director, Leadership Giving - Discovery Program.

The ideal candidate for this position is highly detail-oriented and energized by working with data, bringing strong analytical skills to understand not only what a donor is asking, but why they are asking it. They listen closely to initial donor requests and look beyond the immediate, concrete need to grasp the broader intent or outcome a donor may be trying to achieve.

With the judgment to determine appropriate next steps, they excel at closing loops and ensuring every inquiry is resolved thoughtfully and thoroughly. Combined with exceptional customer service skills and a strong command of task and workflow management, this individual helps deliver a seamless donor-centered experience.

• Enter and update donor data in CRM (Salesforce) with a high degree of accuracy to ensure data integrity and support Discovery portfolio operations.
• Triage and respond to incoming email and phone inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and appropriate routing.
• Assist in maintaining and updating the program dashboard, ensuring data accuracy and visibility into team activity and donor movement.
• Support the distribution of donors to call by preparing call lists, allocating prospects to Discovery officers, and ensuring timely assignment with consideration to varying bandwidth.
• Manage the transition of donors entering the Discovery Program by confirming data accuracy, assigning them to appropriate officers, and ensuring seamless handoffs.
• Provide meeting preparation, documentation, and follow-up support for the Executive Director and/or Assistant Director to sustain efficient program operations.
• Learn and apply Discovery and other Philanthropy workflows to improve process efficiency and effectively support inbound donor communications.

• Partner with colleagues across the Discovery team to maintain consistent standards of donor engagement and workflow execution.
• Coordinate with various internal partners to resolve donor issues and support program needs.
• Share insights gained from learning donor feedback and workflows to enhance cross-team knowledge and operational efficiency.

• Support internal stakeholders by providing timely and accurate donor information, updates, and case resolutions.
• Serve as an informed and service-oriented point of contact for donors reaching out through various channels, ensuring questions are addressed and escalated appropriately.
• Develop a network of contacts throughout the division and institution to access additional information.
• Foster positive donor interactions through clear communication, professionalism, and follow-through on commitments.

• Required:
  
  Bachelor's Degree

• Required:
  
  One year clerical, office, administrative, organizational, or related support experience. OR
• Required:
  
  May substitute required Bachelor's degree with additional years of equivalent experience on a one to one basis.
• Preferred:
  Experience working in a…