Gift Operations Analyst

Job Summary

Are you equal parts detail-oriented and systems-savvy? Do you find satisfaction in clean data, optimized workflows, and processes that just work?

Bethel University is seeking a Gift Operations Analyst, a hands-on processor and strategic problem-solver who ensures every donation and gift is recorded accurately, acknowledged promptly, and used faithfully.

The Gift Operations Analyst is both a hands-on gift processor and a systems-minded strategist who owns and continually improves the gift management lifecycle at Bethel University. While daily gift entry is a core responsibility, this position emphasizes optimization, automation, and data accuracy—ensuring Bethel’s philanthropic records are clean, compliant, and actionable.

In this key Advancement role, you’ll manage the full gift lifecycle from daily gift entry to improving automation within Bethel’s Salesforce CRM, ensuring our giving process serves the needs of our donors and internal stakeholders. You’ll partner closely with colleagues in Finance, Donor Relations, Prospect Strategy, and Development to strengthen Bethel’s giving infrastructure and support our mission of equipping students to lead lives of impact for Christ.

Responsibilities

Gift Entry & Acknowledgment (40%)

• Process and record all charitable contributions—checks, credit cards, stock, DAFs, crypto, pledges, estate gifts and more—with precision and care.

• Generate timely, accurate acknowledgments and tax-compliant receipts while engaging with external donors and constituents to provide support in their giving.

• Create and maintain donor records and fund designations with exceptional attention to detail.

• Respond to internal questions regarding gift crediting, coding, and processing policy.

• Serve as the quality-control lead for all gift data, ensuring consistent coding and donor recognition.

Process Analysis & Optimization (30%)

• Serve as the subject-matter expert for gift workflows in Salesforce.

• Partner with the Salesforce Solutions Analyst to streamline processes and enhance automation.

• Develop documentation and training materials to standardize best practices.

• Identify inefficiencies and propose creative, data-driven solutions.

• Train and guide student employees or team members on gift entry tasks.

Data Integrity & Reporting (20%)

• Monitor and validate giving data for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with IRS and university standards.

• Assist with fundraising performance reports, pledge reminders, and year-end donor statements.

• Support annual giving and campaign reporting needs across Advancement.

Financial Collaboration & Compliance (10%)

• Partner with the Business Office to ensure proper fund setup, reconciliation, and financial coding.

• Support documentation and audit preparation for charitable contributions and donor records.

• Coordinate monthly payments and annual 1099-R reporting for gift annuity donors.

Additional Responsibilities:

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affirmation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affirmation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness. Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments. As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

Other Duties: The essential functions, tasks, and responsibilities of this position may change from time to time. Bethel University reserves the right to add or omit duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the University or its leadership. Additional tasks or duties required of the position will be communicated to the incumbent with specificity to ensure the employee may perform their role with complete understanding. This job description is intended to describe the general level of work being performed; it is not intended to be all-inclusive.

Required Skills

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong proficiency using CRM platforms, financial systems, and/or donor databases to manage records, automate tasks, and generate reports.
• Ability to independently identify inefficiencies in workflows and propose actionable improvements.
• Strong analytical thinking with attention to patterns, exceptions, and data integrity.
• Familiarity with general accounting principles and IRS nonprofit giving regulations (e.g., 1099s, receipting, gift substantiation).
• Exceptional attention to detail combined with the ability to manage complex processes with multiple stakeholders.
• Effective communicator and collaborator across teams (Advancement, Finance, IT).
• High degree of discretion and commitment to donor confidentiality and intent.

Experience

Required Experience

• 1–2 years of professional experience in a CRM-driven environment such as fundraising, advancement services, donor relations, operations, or financial management.
• Direct experience with data entry and validation in a database, CRM, or financial system/ledger. 
• Exposure to process documentation, systems troubleshooting, or collaborative problem solving.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with Salesforce (especially NPSP or Nonprofit Cloud) or comparable CRM.
• Prior involvement in gift processing, fundraising analytics, or financial reconciliation.
• Experience supporting internal users with reporting, data interpretation, or process improvement.

Education

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, accounting, finance, data analytics, or a related field—or equivalent experience.

Preferred Education

• Training or certification in Salesforce, fundraising operations, financial analysis, or process improvement

Additional Information

Travel: This position does not require travel.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers and smartphones.

The work environment involves working for a suburban, Christian university in which all employees are expected to have a demonstrated commitment and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the mission and values of the University, and an agreement to abide by all University policies.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. The job requires extended periods of sitting and traversing the Bethel Campus on a regular basis. Reasonable accommodations may be made to ensure people are able to perform the essential functions.

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

Expected Hours of Work:

Typically, days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, with the expectation to work specific schedules and hours as identified and communicated by management. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand. This is a 40 hour per week, 12 months per year position.

Benefits

Bethel is committed to offering meaningful benefits to our employees including health insurance, retirement plans, and a generous time off package. Learn more about these offerings here.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity in hiring .

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

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