The Development Coordinator is a key support and operations role that will work with the Vanderbilt San Francisco Development Team, within Vanderbilt’s Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) department. This position will be based in San Francisco and is crucial for ensuring smooth operations within the growing development team for the new San Francisco campus.
Key responsibilities include providing operational and logistical support for development team communications, events, travel, donor events, meeting preparations, data reporting and other team activities. The role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to prioritize multiple projects with varying deadlines, and the capacity to exercise independent judgement.
The Development Coordinator will be involved in various functions such as donor communications and outreach, event planning, research, special projects, administrative support, data entry, meeting preparations, and donor reporting. Provide administrative support for the growing San Francisco Campus Development Team; manage daily office operations; handle budgetary and personnel activities; coordinate donor communication and respond to donor needs in consultation with the Executive Director and other staff.
About the Work Unit:
The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals. The Department is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University’s teaching and research programs. More information can be found here: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/dar/
Vanderbilt San Francisco, a full-time undergraduate academic campus, was announced in January 2026 with a planned opening date of Fall 2027. The campus represents the next step in Vanderbilt’s strategic growth and builds on the university’s recent expansions in New York City and West Palm Beach by extending Vanderbilt’s distinctive academic model into one of the world’s leading centers of creativity, technology and entrepreneurship.
The Vanderbilt San Francisco development team is charged with driving interest, engagement, and philanthropy to the new San Francisco Campus within Vanderbilt’s growing community of students, alumni, parents, faculty, and friends.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Budgetary Responsibilities
Maintains an in-depth understanding of financial and procurement policies and procedures.
Record and submit all checks/cash received.
Research, resolve and justify any budget or expense questions or discrepancies.
Compile data, monitor office budget and maintain current/accurate records
Project Management
Assist the San Francisco Development team with various internal and external event activities, including organizing meetings, managing vendor relationships, and coordinating event logistics and communication details. This role may also involve handling other logistical tasks as needed.
Coordinate research with Information Management and Research and Prospect Development on prospects and donors to include VandyQuest profiles; summarize findings; event and meeting briefings; bio updates (VandyQuest is Vanderbilt’s Salesforce-based donor/prospect database).
Manage research projects and data analysis for the development team and key San Francisco campus partners.
Create activity reports in database for communications received from constituents, as well as communications sent to constituents from development officers and other team members.
Assist with logistics and planning for alumni programs and other events.
Prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion based on deadlines and organizational needs.
Administrative Responsibilities
Provide high-level, direct support for the team including calendaring, expense reporting, procurement and budget management, and ad hoc projects.
Organize, attend, and actively participate in meetings regarding team functions, and prospect reviews; assist with scheduling for team-wide meetings and activities; maintain travel plans and calendars.
Maintain a thorough knowledge of the fundraising database and other project and information management systems to effectively update and utilize data, department projects, and report progress toward goals. Manage the input and output of data within database while maintaining regular quality control and data integrity. This may include bio updates, contact reports, activity reports, volunteer coding, compiling and formatting class lists, generating data reports and dashboards, updating opportunities, and submitting cases for various needs.
Will generate team reports from the donor database such as weekly gift reports, activity reports, campaign reports, and others on a regular basis.
Provide support as needed for Vanderbilt San Francisco donor events including meetings, workspace access, and other logistical support for on-campus and community events.
Will work with DAR support services, Human Resources, and other development teams in a highly collaborative manner to create and maintain training materials, onboard colleagues, facilitate team professional development, and ensure close communication with other departments.
Compose and maintain procedure and process documents of database and business processes for the team.
Provide follow-up from donor visits including sending mailings, packages, and donor or volunteer materials at the direction of the team as needed.
Provide customer service and administrative support to prospects, donors, faculty, and staff regularly.
Manage office files and organization of team supplies.
Collaborate with and support team members on special projects/initiatives.
Maintain an in-depth understanding, interpretation, and applicability of university policies and procedures.
Review, analyze, and research trends and recommend strategies for continuous improvement.
Perform tasks and other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Relationships:
This position has no direct reports. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Executive Director of Development, San Francisco campus.
Work Environment:
This position is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and will be fully remote until 2027 (TBD), when it will become a hybrid of remote and on-campus work, with on-campus approximately 2 days per week or more depending on business needs. The campus is located in San Francisco, CA. Occasional travel to Nashville, TN is required for on-boarding and all-staff meetings/activities.
Education and Certifications:
Associate’s degree, or the equivalent, is necessary
A bachelor’s degree is preferred
Experience and Skills:
2-3 years of relevant work experience, or the equivalent, is preferred
Prefer experience within development and/or higher education
Excellent interpersonal management skills
Confidentiality and discretion are a must
Must have a professional attitude, and exhibit considerable tact, persuasion, and judgement in interactions with internal and external constituents
Strong computer skills including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
Affinity for mastering new computer programs and database management
Ability to make independent decisions
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Excellent customer service skills
Excellent project management skills with ability to multi-task
Ability to handle crisis situations and perform well under pressure
Some evening/weekend work as needed
Salary Range: $65,000 - $70,000
(Geographical Differential Applied)
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
This range will be for employees who primarily perform work in the State of California.
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.