Assistant Director

Overview

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for UW-Madison, is seeking an Assistant Director, Fund Administration and Compliance to join the Finance team! This individual contributor role leads fund administration activities throughout the fund lifecycle while supporting WFAA’s fund management and compliance programs. Reporting to the Director, Fund Accounting, Administration, and Compliance, this position serves as the department’s primary operations resource for fund establishment, modifications, donor intent interpretation, policy application, and governance activities.

The Assistant Director works collaboratively across Finance, Development, Legal, and with campus partners to ensure donor-restricted and donor-supported funds are administered consistently, accurately, and in accordance with donor intent, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements.

The position also supports the operationalization of WFAA’s fund management governance framework by coordinating strategic initiatives, development analyses and recommendations, supporting policy, implementation, and facilitating cross-functional efforts that strengthen compliance and organizational fund management practices.

Please note: This position may be filled in either a hybrid or remote capacity. Remote candidates must reside in one of the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Texas, or Wisconsin

Who is WFAA?The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive. 

Essential Functions

Fund Administration

• Perform fund administration activities across the full fund lifecycle, including fund establishment, modifications, reinvestments, closures, and other governance actions.
• In collaboration with the Senior Associate Director and Legal Affairs, interpret gift agreements, MOAs, MDMOAs, FOAs, and other governing documents to ensure accurate fund structures and administration.
• Serve as the department’s primary operational resource for fund administration policies, procedures, classifications, and documentation.
• Partner with Development and campus partners to resolve fund administration questions and facilitate complex fund changes.

Compliance & Fund Management

• Apply donor intent, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements to fund administration activities.
• Conduct compliance reviews and identify potential risk areas, policy exceptions, or governance concerns requiring escalation.
• Support utilization monitoring, fund audit activities, and ongoing compliance initiatives.
• Assist with the development, implementation, and maintenance of fund management policies, procedures, and standards.
• Support continuous improvement of WFAA’s fund management program through operational analysis and process enhancements.

Fund Management Governance & Strategic Initiatives

• Support the operational implementation of WFAA’s fund management governance program and strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate governance-related meetings, working groups, project activities, and follow-up actions as assigned.
• Prepare analyses, reports, recommendations, presentation materials, and supporting documentation to inform fund management decisions and organizational priorities.
• Conduct research, benchmarking, and analysis to support the development and continuous improvement of fund management policies, procedures, standards, and best practices.
• Track action items, strategic initiatives, and operational improvements, coordinating implementation across internal stakeholders.
• Partner with the Senior Associate Director to identify opportunities to strengthen fund governance, compliance, stewardship, utilization, and operational effectiveness.

Process Improvement & Collaboration

• Identify opportunities to improve fund administration processes, internal controls, and operation efficiency.
• Partner with the Associate Director, Financial Systems and Fund Operations to implement technology enhancements supporting fund administration.
• Develop and maintain fund administration procedures, job aids, and workflow documentation.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives supporting organizational fund management priorities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications: 

• 3+ years of professional experience in donor-restricted fund administration, gift administration, advancement services, donor compliance, stewardship, financial operations, accounting, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience administering donor-restricted funds throughout the fund lifecycle, including fund establishment, modifications, interpretation of governing documents, and ongoing compliance with donor intent.
• Experience interpreting complex financial, legal, or governing documentation and applying organizational policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while exercising sound judgment, attention to detail, and a high degree of accuracy.
• Strong analytical, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build collaborative relationships across multiple stakeholder groups.

Other Qualifications: 

• Experience within a higher education foundation, university advancement organization, healthcare foundation, or other complex nonprofit organization.
• Experience with CRM, financial, fund management, and reporting systems.
• Experience supporting governance, audit, compliance, reporting, or process improvement initiatives.
• Experience interpreting or applying policies, procedures, documentation, or governing agreements in an operational, financial, compliance, or fund administration environment.
• Working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards governing charitable funds and nonprofit organizations including IRS charitable contribution regulations, UPMIFA, CASE Management Reporting Standards, and nonprofit accounting guidance.
• Strong analytical, documentation, collaboration, and stakeholder service skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact well with people of diverse backgrounds, skill sets and experience; strong team orientation; as well as an ability to develop working relationships with internal staff, donors, and others.
• Must be able to work on a variety of simultaneous tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Takes initiative and works independently to meet deadlines.

At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. Click here to learn more about our employee benefits! 

*The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (advanceuw.org) is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.