Foundation - Development Operations Specialist

Job Summary:

The Erlanger Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Erlanger Health System, engages donors, cultivates strategic partnerships, and advances institutional priorities through comprehensive fundraising initiatives. As the Foundation continues its evolution into a high-performing, data-informed, donor-centered organization, the Development Operations Specialist serves as a key operational leader responsible for the strategic administration and optimization of development systems and processes.

Reporting to the Marketing, Communications and Foundation Operations Manager, this position exercises independent judgment and discretion in the oversight, administration, and continuous improvement of the Foundation's donor database systems, reporting infrastructure, stewardship operations, and compliance protocols. The Development Operations Specialist ensures alignment between operational practices and organizational objectives, regulatory standards, and donor intent.

This role requires consistent exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance, including donor data governance, gift processing protocols, reporting standards, stewardship implementation, and system optimization.

The position evaluates and refines operational policies, develops procedures to enhance efficiency and compliance, and serves as a subject matter expert on development systems and analytics. The Specialist provides consultative guidance to development staff and leadership regarding donor data interpretation, reporting strategy, gift documentation standards, and regulatory considerations.

Education:

Required:

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Nonprofit Management, or a related field

Preferred:

Experience:

Required:

• 3-5 years of experience in non-profit development operations, fundraising services, or nonprofit program coordination
• Demonstrated experience with CRM systems, event fundraising platforms, nonprofit procedures and operations
• Strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and cross-team communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience with healthcare or higher education fundraising environments
• Proficiency in Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, GoFundmePro or similar platforms
• Certification in fundraising operations, data management or CFRE designation

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration

Required:

N/A

Preferred:

N/A

Department Position Summary:

Reporting to the Marketing, Communications and Foundation Operations Manager, this position exercises independent judgment and discretion in the oversight, administration, and continuous improvement of the Foundation's donor database systems, reporting infrastructure, stewardship operations, and compliance protocols. The Development Operations Specialist ensures alignment between operational practices and organizational objectives, regulatory standards, and donor intent.

This role requires consistent exercise of discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance, including donor data governance, gift processing protocols, reporting standards, stewardship implementation, and system optimization.

The position evaluates and refines operational policies, develops procedures to enhance efficiency and compliance, and serves as a subject matter expert on development systems and analytics. The Specialist provides consultative guidance to development staff and leadership regarding donor data interpretation, reporting strategy, gift documentation standards, and regulatory considerations.

Key Responsibilities

Foundation Systems Administration and Data Governance

• Serve as the strategic administrator of the Foundation's CRM and fundraising platforms (e.g., Raiser's Edge, SalesForce, Classy Live, GoFundMe Pro), exercising independent judgment in system configuration, governance, and optimization.
• Establish, implement, and enforce data governance standards, policies, and internal controls to ensure data integrity, confidentiality, regulatory compliance, and accurate fund tracking.
• Lead system integrations, platform enhancements, and automation initiatives to improve operational efficiency and scalability.
• Develop and maintain documentation, policies, and procedural guidelines governing gift processing, donor record management, segmentation, and reporting standards.

Reporting, Analytics & Strategic Decision Support

• Design, analyze, and interpret complex donor, campaign, and financial reports to inform executive leadership, board reporting, and frontline fundraising strategy.
• Develop dashboards, forecasting tools, impact reports, and performance analytics that guide goal setting, annual planning, and campaign execution.
• Evaluate donor behavior trends, engagement metrics, and fundraising performance data; provide strategic recommendations based on findings.

Financial Stewardship & Fund Oversight

• Oversee gift administration processes and fund reporting to ensure accurate recording, allocation, and tracking of restricted and unrestricted gifts.
• Interpret donor intent documentation, endowment agreements, and fund restrictions to ensure adherence and mitigate compliance risk.
• Collaborate with finance leadership to support reconciliation processes, audit preparation, and financial transparency.

Compliance, Risk Management & Audit Readiness

• Interpret and apply applicable regulatory requirements, donor disclosure standards, and nonprofit compliance guidelines.
• Identify operational risks and recommend corrective actions or policy adjustments to executive leadership as appropriate.

Stewardship Operations & Donor Experience

• Translate frontline fundraising strategies into operationally executable stewardship workflows, ensuring timely acknowledgment, recognition, and donor communications.
• Provide oversight of donor engagement logistics, including event platform administration and related vendor coordination, to ensure operational excellence and a seamless donor experience.

Organizational Leadership & Operational Strategy

• Develop and implement operational policies and procedures aligned with institutional priorities and regulatory standards.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives related to development infrastructure, systems enhancement, and process redesign.
• Provide consultative guidance to leadership on operational risk, system capabilities, and infrastructure investments impacting fundraising performance.

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