Development Coordinator at Erikson Institute – Chicago, Illinois

POSITION SUMMARY

This is a nonprofit development position at an accredited higher education institution. Reporting to the Associate Director of Development Operations, the Development Coordinator has a critical operational role on Erikson's Development team. This position requires demonstrated hands-on experience with donor database systems — particularly Raiser's Edge — and the ability to manage complex data workflows, gift processing, and reporting with high accuracy and independence. The Development Coordinator supports donor stewardship and fundraising activities by ensuring accurate gift tracking, timely acknowledgments, high-integrity data management, and efficient internal workflows.

PRINCIPAL DUTIESCore Function 1: Gift Management & Stewardship

• Process and record charitable gifts in accordance with organizational policies; ensure timely, accurate, and personalized donor acknowledgments with minimal turnaround time.
• Maintain accurate and complete donor and gift records in Raiser's Edge, including stewardship deliverables, funder touchpoints, and biographical data, with strong attention to data integrity.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Development Operations and the Business team to track solicitations, revenue projections, and commitments; support monthly gift reconciliation and audit readiness.
• Ensure compliance with gift acceptance policies and applicable charitable giving regulations.
• Support donor prospect research and preparation of donor briefings, profiles, and pipeline tracking to inform fundraising strategy.

Core Function 2: Development Operations & Administration

• Build, maintain, and run queries and reports in Raiser's Edge to support Development meetings, leadership review, and strategic decision-making — including donor lists, mailing files, appeal segmentations, and Annual Fund performance reporting.
• Coordinate the drafting, review, and approval of donor acknowledgment letters to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with Erikson's brand and stewardship practices.
• Provide coordination and administrative support for the Executive Director of Development, including calendar management, meeting scheduling, and correspondence.
• Maintain process documentation for gift entry, data hygiene, and reporting workflows to ensure continuity and scalability.
• Provide operational support for Development events as assigned.

Core Function 3: Data Management, Analysis & Reporting

• Serve as a primary steward of data integrity within Raiser's Edge: identify discrepancies, resolve data quality issues, and enforce consistent data entry standards across the Development team.
• Prepare donor lists, mailing files, and appeal segmentations to support Annual Fund and other fundraising initiatives.
• Compile and summarize Annual Fund performance data for internal reporting and strategy discussions.
• Partner with the Associate Director of Development Operations and the Business team to support monthly reconciliation of gift records to ensure accurate revenue reporting and audit readiness.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve data workflows, reporting processes, and operational efficiency.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of professional experience in development, advancement, fundraising operations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated, hands-on proficiency with Raiser's Edge or a comparable nonprofit CRM (e.g., Salesforce NPSP, Blackbaud CRM, DonorPerfect), including gift entry, query building, and report generation. Raiser's Edge experience is strongly preferred.
• Exceptional organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail, particularly around data accuracy and gift record integrity.
• Strong written communication skills for donor correspondence and internal documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data formatting).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under deadline pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to handle confidential donor information with discretion and professionalism.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Raiser's Edge NXT experience, including familiarity with web-based views and NXT reporting tools.
• Familiarity with nonprofit gift acceptance policies and IRS charitable giving regulations.
• Experience supporting a development team in a higher education or similarly complex institutional environment.
• Familiarity with Chicago's higher education or nonprofit landscape.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Hybrid work setting with regular on-site presence expected.
• Standard business hours with occasional flexibility required during peak giving seasons and special events.
• Office environment with standard computer work.

Erikson is open to individual candidates from all backgrounds and experiences. Candidates should apply whether or not they feel that they meet all the requirements or qualifications for the position. We are looking forward to having exciting conversations with engaging candidates and will welcome your application.

About Erikson Institute

We are the premier early childhood development organization committed to ensuring that all children have equitable opportunities to realize their potential.

Erikson Institute’s graduate school uniquely prepares child development, education, and social work leaders to improve the lives of young children and their families. Our impact and influence are further amplified through our innovative academic programs, applied research, direct services in the community, advocacy, policy and leadership.

Erikson Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, family responsibilities, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local laws. In addition, Erikson Institute provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws (including during the application or hiring process).

To learn more, please visit our web site at www.erikson.edu