Development Coordinator (Advancement Professional I)

The University Relations and Development Division at San Diego State University is seeking a Development Coordinator to provide essential administrative support, project management, and event coordination for our development teams.  Amongst other job duties, you’ll assist with donor communications, prospect research, fundraising reports, and special events while keeping the day-to-day development operations organized and running smoothly.  This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working with people, managing details, and contributing to programs that support SDSU’s students, faculty, and academic priorities.   If you’re detail-oriented and eager to make an impact in higher education, we’d love to hear from you!

Development & Donor Support

• →Coordinate donor communications, acknowledgments, outreach, and stewardship activities.
• →Maintain donor and prospect tracking systems to support fundraising and engagement efforts.
• →Prepare briefing materials, agendas, and reports for donor meetings and development activities.
• →Support college advisory boards through meeting coordination, communications, invoicing, and dues tracking.

Administrative & Project Coordination

• →Provide administrative support to development staff, including scheduling, calendar management, travel arrangements, and correspondence.
• →Prepare and distribute presentations, proposals, reports, invitations, and other development materials.
• →Maintain organized records, shared resources, and documentation to support fundraising operations.
• →Collaborate with development and marketing colleagues on donor communications and promotional materials.

Prospect Research & Data Management

• →Conduct preliminary donor and prospect research and prepare profiles and contact lists.
• →Maintain accurate donor and prospect information in Ellucian and related advancement databases.
• →Prepare gift reports, fund balance reports, and fundraising activity summaries.
• →Coordinate donor record updates with Advancement Services and other university partners.

Events & Financial Support

• →Assist with planning and coordinating donor engagement events, including vendors, logistics, and event materials.
• →Prepare purchasing documents, travel claims, reimbursements, and expense reports.
• →Support financial tracking, reconciliations, and other administrative processes related to development activities.

We're looking for an organized, detail-oriented professional who enjoys supporting a team, building relationships, and coordinating multiple projects and priorities.

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position.
• Position is designated non-exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs. (Flexibility to travel, attend events, and work outside regular hours, including weekends, both on and off campus.)
• This position is eligible for telecommuting up to 3 days per week, following a training period during which on-site presence is required.

University Relations and Development (URAD) shares the university’s vision and mission underscored in the SDSU strategic plan. Units of URAD work together to create enduring relationships with alumni, parents, donors, students and the community to generate private support for SDSU students, faculty and a diverse number of programs.

URAD handles a range of services encompassing stewardship, events, gift administration, communications and more.  The departments of Development, SDSU Alumni, Planned and Annual Giving, Special Events and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Financial Management, Data Management, Prospect Research and Management and Operations are making a tangible difference in the lives of more than 40,000 students.

Our fundraising success can be credited to the university’s goal of building a world-class university campus, research center, and multi-use stadium in Mission Valley to serve higher education, the public good, and the community’s goals and aspirations.

SDSU has been recognized several times for its exceptional development program by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). With the support of loyal donors and in collaboration with SDSU’s visionary faculty and staff, the university cultivates lifelong relationships with more than 500,000 alumni, friends, and community members—advancing SDSU’s mission for generations to come.

For more information regarding the University Relations and Development department, click here.

Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Relevant education and/or experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

• Ability and availability to travel and attend events or perform duties outside normal working hours, including evenings and weekends, both on and off campus.
• Experience using Ellucian or a similar financial and biographical database.
• Experience conducting basic prospect research and data analysis.
• Experience coordinating meetings, special events, and related logistics.
• Experience supporting marketing and communications activities.
• Experience using mail merge functions to generate emails, letters, cards, invoices, and other correspondence.
• Preferred Qualifications
  • Progressively responsible experience in administrative support, marketing, communications, or a related area.
  • Experience working in a higher education or public-sector environment.
  • Experience working in a fundraising or development environment.
  • Experience processing travel and mileage reimbursements, accounts payable transactions, and procurement-related requests.

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

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Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.