About the Opportunity
Job Summary
The Senior Director of Fund Management is a senior leadership role responsible for the oversight and integration of gift processing, donor record management, fund management, and donor due diligence within Advancement Resources. Ensures the integrity, compliance, and strategic alignment of advancement operations to support institutional fundraising goals.
The Senior Director leads multiple functional teams and establishes policies, procedures, and controls to ensure adherence to IRS regulations, CASE standards, donor intent, and university policies. Oversees donor due diligence and gift acceptance practices, assessing reputational, financial, and legal risk associated with philanthropic contributions. The Senior Director partners closely with Advancement leadership, Finance, Legal, and Technology teams to ensure compliant, efficient, and scalable operations across the advancement enterprise.
Minimum Qualification
Knowledge and skills required for this position are typically acquired through the completion of a Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (Business, Nonprofit Management, Finance, or related field) with 10+ years of progressive experience in advancement services, gift administration, fund management, or related field
- Demonstrated leadership experience managing multiple functional teams
- Deep knowledge of fundraising operations, gift processing, and donor database management (Salesforce/CRM preferred)
- Strong understanding of IRS regulations, CASE guidelines, and nonprofit accounting principles
- Experience with gift acceptance policies, donor due diligence, and compliance frameworks in higher education or nonprofit environments
- Proven ability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives and institutional risk considerations
- Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Strong communication skills with the ability to advise senior leadership
Key Accountabilities & responsibilities :
1. Leadership & Oversight of Gift Administration, Records & Fund Management
Provide strategic oversight of gift processing, donor record management, and fund administration. Ensure accurate fund setup and management in alignment with donor intent and institutional policies. Allocate resources and set priorities across teams to support efficient and compliant operations.
2. Gift Processing & Compliance Management
Ensure all gift transactions are processed accurately and in compliance with IRS regulations, CASE standards, and university policies. Oversee complex gift handling and maintain policies and procedures that support audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
3. Donor Due Diligence & Gift Acceptance Oversight
Lead donor due diligence and gift acceptance processes to assess reputational, financial, and legal risk. Establish protocols for evaluating complex or high-risk gifts and partner with leadership, Legal, and Prospect Development on decision-making.
4. Data Integrity & Donor Record Management
Oversee the accuracy and integrity of constituent records within the CRM. Implement constituent data governance standards, ensure proper record creation and maintenance, and support constituent data needs across advancement functions.
5. Financial Integration, Reporting & Audit Readiness
Oversee reconciliation between Advancement and Finance systems, ensuring accurate financial reporting. Monitor gift feeds, resolve discrepancies, and support audit processes and reporting requirements.
6. Operational Integration & Process Improvement
Lead efforts to standardize and improve advancement operations, including process optimization, system enhancements, and integration across campuses or units.
Position Type
AdvancementAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
114SExpected Hiring Range:
$130,945.00 - $189,868.75With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Finance, or a related field
- Master's degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Finance, or a related field
- 10+ years of progressive experience in advancement services, gift administration, fund management, or a related field
- Leadership experience managing multiple functional teams
- Knowledge of fundraising operations, gift processing, and donor database management
- Experience with Salesforce or CRM systems
- Strong understanding of IRS regulations, CASE guidelines, and nonprofit accounting principles
- Experience with gift acceptance policies, donor due diligence, and compliance frameworks in higher education or nonprofit environments
- Ability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives and institutional risk considerations
- Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Strong communication skills and ability to advise senior leadership
Northeastern University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northeastern University and has not been reviewed or approved by Northeastern University.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is described as extensive, including 22–26 vacation days, 12 sick days, 13 holidays, and paid parental leave for birth/adoption. Additional paid leave is also outlined, including up to 26 weeks of paid medical leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible employees.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with an employer contribution described as 10% when an employee contributes 5%, alongside immediate vesting once eligible. This is presented as unusually generous relative to typical employer retirement offerings.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are emphasized through tuition assistance for employees and dependents and access to backup childcare and family-care resources. Tuition remission/discount structures are highlighted as a major value driver, especially for employees with children and for long-tenured staff.
Northeastern University Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively
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