Program Coordinator, Principal Gifts

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Overview

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Program Coordinator provides advanced support and analysis for the University Director of Principal Gifts and the team of Principal Gifts officers in all aspects of their work. Principal Gifts is responsible for substantial and transformative donations made to the university. As a key part of this important work, the PC position provides a fascinating window into the inner workings of major initiatives and upper levels of administration at Yale.

The PC will draft correspondence, briefings, proposals, and stewardship reports; conduct research projects; and maintain detailed prospect database records for a fundraising program serving Yale's most generous alumni and friends. Previous development experience, though helpful, is not essential. Ideal candidates will have superior writing skills, have experience with quantitative or financial data analysis and presentation, show great attention to detail and excellent judgement, and be curious and engaged with the donor cases that this individual will support.

The following principal responsibilities are generic in nature.  Applicants will find the information in this position focus to be most relevant to the needs of the position.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Exceptional communication skills with special emphasis on advanced writing ability and strong attention to detail. Ability to communicate effectively with top-level donors and senior Yale administrators. Writing sample required at time of interview. Cover letter is required for consideration. 

2. Demonstrated organizational and research abilities, including analyzing large volumes of information and/or quantitative data from disparate sources and synthesizing it in cogent and concise written form. An interest in graphic design is a plus, though not required. 
3. Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines in a time-constrained environment. Ability to initiate and complete tasks with minimal supervision and to maintain strict confidentiality. 

4. Professionalism, maturity, and ability to demonstrate and promote a positive attitude via helpfulness, teamwork, and support for others. 

5. Ability to understand and work with financial information and intermediate to advanced proficiency with standard office software including MS Word, Excel and related programs. 

Preferred Skills and Abilities
1. Two years of administrative or professional writing experience.

2. Experience in a university setting working with sensitive and confidential information.

3. Familiarity with Yale University.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Coordinates with other departments at Yale to develop or enhance proposals and briefings summarizing Yale activities, and to plan events. 2. Develops and maintains a log of Yale academic and programming activities having development potential for prospects and donors. 3. Coordinates and staffs events. Helps secure hosts and locations for events. Works with Special Events team to secure campus locations. Produces invitation and confirmation cards. Compiles and maintains invitation lists, extend invitations, confirms attendance, ensures attendance accuracy, prepares biography for guest speakers, prepares Event Flow documents, staffs selected events, and contacts vendors. 4. Conducts research on individuals, corporations, foundations, governments and institutions using office files, databases and internet search engines and resources, including sources in other languages when relevant for international development. 5. Drafts a wide variety of written materials including detailed biographical and business briefings, correspondence, proposals, endowed gift agreements and stewardship reports. 6. Designs, develops and produces ad hoc reports and analyses by report generation and manipulation of information systems, including our primary Alumni database. 7. Researches and investigates gift commitments using office files and databases. Ensures the accuracy of gift acknowledgments and all information relayed to prospects. 8. Builds strong relationships with staff and serves as a key contact on questions relating to various departmental needs. 9. Interacts with donors at the request of director and/or gift officers in response to inquiries. 10. Assists with the assignment of tasks to student workers. 11. May perform other duties as assigned. Required Education and Experience Eight years of related experience, six of them in the same job family at the next lower level and a high school level education; or six years of related experience and an Associate's Degree; or two years of related work experience and a Bachelor's Degree; or an equivalent combination of experience and education. Required License(s) or Certification(s) Required License(s) or Certification(s):

Job Posting Date

08/19/2026

Job Category

Administrative Support

Bargaining Unit

L34

Compensation Grade

Labor Grade E

Compensation Grade Profile

Hourly Range

$35.64

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

The hiring rate of a role is determined in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective collective bargaining agreement.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.