Graduate Assistant for Institutional Advancement

About the Role The Graduate Assistant for Institutional Advancement supports the College’s fundraising and external relations efforts. This part-time graduate assistantship provides hands-on experience in sponsorship solicitation, annual giving donor cultivation, and athletics fundraising, working closely with advancement staff to strengthen donor relationships and advance institutional priorities.

What You'll Do

• Sponsorship Solicitation: Identify, research, and qualify potential corporate and community sponsors; draft sponsorship proposals, presentations, and customized partnership materials; support outreach via email, phone, in-person meetings, and events; maintain accurate sponsorship records; collaborate with campus partners to fulfill sponsorship benefits.
• Annual Giving – Donor Cultivation and Solicitation: Support planning and execution of annual giving initiatives (digital outreach, ThankView videos, Day of Giving, GiveCampus pages); engage alumni, parents, friends, and community members; conduct donor thank-you calls and stewardship touches; assist with segmentation, donor research, and prospect strategy; help manage giving data and prepare internal reports.
• Athletics Giving: Partner with athletics staff to engage donors, fans, and alumni; assist in organizing athletics fundraising events (golf outings, booster events, alumni games); help solicit gifts for athletics priorities; maintain strong communication with coaches and athletics leadership to align messaging.
• General Advancement Support: Provide event coordination support for donor receptions, alumni gatherings, and institutional celebrations; assist with database entry, gift processing, and data integrity; participate in strategic meetings and professional development; represent the Institutional Advancement office professionally at events and meetings.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree required; must be enrolled in a graduate program at North Central College.
• Strong interpersonal skills and comfort interacting with alumni, donors, and external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with CRM or fundraising databases preferred.
• Interest in fundraising, nonprofit management, higher education, or athletics administration is highly desirable.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hours per week typically 20; schedule may include occasional evenings and weekends for events.
• Part-time graduate assistantship with graduate tuition benefits and stipend provided according to institutional policies.