Data & Raiser's Edge Specialist

Overview

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is a multidenominational, evangelical graduate school committed to equipping Christian leaders to think theologically, engage globally, and live biblically. With nearly 1,400 students across campuses in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, and online, Gordon-Conwell’s student body represents more than eighty-five denominations and fifty countries.

The seminary offers master’s and doctoral programs—delivered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese—that combine academic excellence, spiritual formation, and a deep commitment to Scripture. Its 12,000 alumni serve Christ through ministry in the church, the academy, and the workplace. Gordon-Conwell is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

Position Summary

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is seeking a Data & Raiser’s Edge Specialist to strengthen the systems, data, reporting, and operational processes that support the Seminary’s Advancement efforts. This position will serve as the primary internal resource for Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and effective use of donor and prospect information.

Key Responsibilities

1. Advancement Services & Team Management

• Supervise and provide direction to the Advancement Services Coordinator, who is responsible for gift processing and related Advancement services.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and supervise Advancement student workers as appropriate.
• Establish clear workflows, priorities, and expectations for Advancement Services activities.
• Ensure that gift processing, data entry, reporting, acknowledgments, and other Advancement support functions are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Review work processes regularly and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service to the Advancement team.
• Provide training and ongoing support to Advancement staff and student workers regarding database procedures, data standards, and appropriate use of Raiser’s Edge.
• Serve as a resource and problem-solver for day-to-day Advancement Services questions and issues.

1. Raiser’s Edge Management & Data Integrity

• Serve as the primary administrator and internal resource for Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and consistent donor, prospect, gift, pledge, and contact records.
• Establish and maintain standards for data entry, documentation, coding, and record maintenance.
• Regularly review the database for duplicate records, incomplete information, inconsistencies, and other data-quality issues.
• Develop and maintain processes that ensure timely and accurate recording of donor activity.
• Identify opportunities to improve Raiser’s Edge workflows, functionality, and reporting capabilities.
• Ensure appropriate confidentiality and security of donor information.
• Coordinate with Blackbaud and other vendors or technical resources when needed to resolve system issues or improve functionality.

1. Gift Processing & Reconciliation

• Oversee the gift processing function and provide direction to the Advancement Services Coordinator.
• Ensure timely and accurate recording of gifts, pledges, recurring gifts, tribute gifts, soft credits, and other transactions.
• Establish appropriate procedures for gift entry, coding, documentation, acknowledgment, and reconciliation.
• Work closely with Finance to reconcile Advancement records with financial records.
• Identify and resolve gift-processing discrepancies or delays.
• Ensure appropriate documentation and audit trails are maintained.
• Monitor gift-processing workflows to ensure that donors receive timely and accurate acknowledgment.

1. Reporting & Analytics

• Develop and maintain reliable reports for Advancement staff, Seminary leadership, and the Board of Trustees.
• Produce regular reports on fundraising activity, donor engagement, giving trends, and portfolio performance.
• Develop dashboards and other tools that provide a clear picture of Advancement performance.
• Track key fundraising indicators, including donor retention, acquisition, LYBUNT/SYBUNT, giving trends, major gift activity, and pipeline health.
• Provide accurate data for annual giving, major gifts, campaigns, stewardship, and other fundraising initiatives.
• Support revenue forecasting and goal setting through accurate and timely data analysis.
• Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities within the donor database and communicate them to Advancement leadership.
• Translate complex data into clear and useful information for non-technical staff and leadership.

1. Prospect Research & Donor Information

• Support the Advancement team with prospect research and donor intelligence.
• Maintain accurate prospect information, including giving history, relationships, philanthropic interests, and capacity information.
• Conduct research and wealth screening as needed using available research tools.
• Prepare research profiles and briefing materials for donor visits, solicitations, campaign activity, and leadership meetings.
• Identify potential upgrade and major gift opportunities based on donor data and giving patterns.
• Ensure relevant prospect and donor information is appropriately recorded in Raiser’s Edge.

1. Portfolio & Pipeline Management

• Maintain accurate records of donor and prospect portfolios.
• Track movement of prospects and donors through the fundraising pipeline.
• Monitor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activity.
• Provide gift officers and Advancement leadership with data needed to manage their portfolios effectively.
• Develop reports that identify gaps, opportunities, overdue activity, and prospects requiring follow-up.
• Support the Advancement team in establishing and monitoring measurable fundraising goals and KPIs.

1. Advancement Strategy & Collaboration

• Partner with Major Gifts, Annual Giving, Marketing and Communications, Finance, and other departments to ensure accurate and consistent Advancement information.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to inform fundraising strategy and resource allocation.
• Support campaign planning, annual giving, major gift initiatives, stewardship, and Board reporting.
• Participate in Advancement meetings and provide relevant data and analysis to support decision-making.
• Help develop and implement policies and procedures for Advancement data management, gift processing, and reporting.
• Continually evaluate systems and processes and recommend improvements that increase efficiency, staff productivity, and donor service. Key Competencies
• Data Management & Accuracy: Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to data accuracy, consistency, and integrity.
• Technical Expertise: Strong knowledge of CRM systems, with demonstrated expertise in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge. Advanced Excel/Google Sheets and reporting skills are strongly preferred.
• Analytical Ability: Ability to analyze fundraising data, identify trends and opportunities, and translate data into clear recommendations and actionable information.
• Supervision & Team Leadership: Ability to provide clear direction, training, feedback, and accountability to the Advancement Services Coordinator and student workers.
• Organization: Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet recurring reporting deadlines.
• Confidentiality & Discretion: High ethical standards and demonstrated ability to handle confidential donor, financial, and personal information appropriately.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain technical information and data insights clearly to non-technical colleagues.
• Collaboration: Ability to work collaboratively across Advancement, Finance, Marketing, and Seminary leadership while maintaining a service-oriented approach.
• Commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and willingness to abide by the Seminary’s Statement of Faith and Community Life Statement.

Education

& Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required, relevant graduate degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of experience in advancement services, development operations, CRM/database management, fundraising analytics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience working with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or a comparable fundraising CRM.
• Experience with gift processing, donor data management, reporting, and reconciliation preferred.
• Experience supervising staff or student workers preferred.
• Experience with prospect research and wealth screening tools preferred.
• Experience in nonprofit, higher education, or Christian higher education preferred. Application Process Please apply through Gordon-Conwell’s Career Center available here: https://www.gordonconwell.edu/employment/ Please include these documents in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats:
• A cover letter explaining your interest in the position preferred.
• A formal CV that includes the names of at least three references required. No hard copy materials, please. Opportunities to interview will be made available at the search committee’s initiative. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.