DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, INSTITUTIONAL GIVING AND SPONSORED PROJECTS

The Office of Institutional Giving and Sponsored Projects seeks a dynamic, motivated professional to join our team as we advance the mission of one of the countries’ oldest and most distinctive colleges. Since its founding in 1859, Cooper Union has remained stalwart in its commitment to provide an equitable and affordable education that prepares creative leaders who will make substantive and enlightened contributions to society.  The college is renowned for rigorous and entrepreneurial education in engineering, art and architecture and noted for its signature conservatory-style education focused on innovation, excellence, and service for the greater good. The Institutional Development Specialist for Grants and Sponsored Projects will play an integral role in making that happen as a valued member of our close-knit team.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support the Director and Assistant Director of Institutional Giving and Sponsored Projects and collaborate closely with other areas of the development department and Cooper Union staff.

• Assist in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of corporate, foundation, and government fundraising prospects and donors
• Draft, edit, and finalize letters of inquiry, proposals, reports, and other correspondence including project updates, event invitations, personalized outreach, and acknowledgment letters
• Oversee up-to-date record-keeping, including monitoring and updating donor engagement in Slate, our donor database, and running queries and reports
• Manage Tax acknowledgement correspondence, ensuring prompt communication about and recognition of all grant awards and payments
• Manage an ongoing institutional deadline calendar for proposals, reports, information gathering, prospect cultivation and donor stewardship
• Manage ongoing prospect research for fundraising priorities, (e.g., campaign needs, academic schools, faculty activities, courses, programs, and projects)
• Develop and/or assist in the development of strategies for grant proposals 
• Collaborate with program leaders to identify long-term goals, build consensus on projects, and maintain documentation on meetings and outcomes.
• Manage and implement a schedule for ongoing prospect cultivation and donor stewardship (e.g., donor contacts, event invitations, correspondence, etc.)
• Collect, develop and maintain “boiler plate” language to be used in proposals, reports, correspondence, etc. for all key programs, institutional background, and fundraising priorities; share with the rest of the development department

• Collaborate with others on campus to gather information and data for proposals, reports, correspondence, and briefings, including staff, faculty and students (e.g., key programs, projects, academic divisions, and the offices of financial aid, business, student affairs, and others)
• Initiate, collect and assemble information, visual materials, and other documentation related to project outcomes for funder reports, proposals, award memos, etc. (e.g., budget and expense reports, program activities, student work, vitae, institutional documents, etc.)
• Collaborate with financial aid and development associates to notify scholars of their awards and collect, curate, and edit scholar information for annual donor reports
• Prepare profiles, briefing documents, and meeting agendas, being mindful of potential strategic connections and information as relevant.
• Provide administrative assistance to faculty and the business office for pre- and post-award activities related to grants
• Assist planning and implementation of donor site-visits and events
• Provide general administrative support, including but not limited to processing invoices, tracking team expenses, updating contacts and prospect information, and maintaining departmental meeting calendar
• Maintain project status document (or TBD software) for collaboration and prioritizing projects across campus
• Other tasks as requested

SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Track record of meeting deadlines and successfully managing concurrent projects
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and exposure to fundraising database software a plus
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Excellent attention to detail and proofreading skills
• Comfortable with numbers and familiarity with project budgets
• Comfortable using Microsoft or Adobe tools to prepare visual attachments
• Familiarity with CRM, or other database work
• Sound judgment and discretion
• Strong team player
• Curious, reliable and punctual
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work in a hybrid in-person/at home work setting

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's Degree; Minimum of three - five years of relevant experience

 This is a unionized position.

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Submit materials to: hr@cooper.edu