The Path to Success in Advancement Services & Advancement Operations2010 Conference of Jesuit Advancement Administrators

Boston College, Office of University AdvancementBrenda Ricard, Associate Vice President, Advancement Operations Planning

Amy Bronson, Director, Recruitment & Training

Do you enjoy:y j y

ResearchResearchAnalyzing dataWorking with databasesWorking with databasesIdentifying and working to solve business problemsproblemsOrganization developmentM i b d tManaging budgetsProcess Management

Are you good with:y g

NumbersNumbersTechnology$$$$$$$$ProcessesMeeting deadlinesDetailsDetailsBenchmarking

Do you thrive when you are:y y

Managing the crisis of the momentManaging the crisis of the momentMaking order out of chaosFi ldi li it d f db kFielding unsolicited feedbackTriaging concurrent prioritiesFielding complaints

And can you also…y

Play an important but less visible rolePlay an important but less visible roleBe an unsung heroCl th l ’Clean up other people’s messesProblem solve under pressureServe many mastersSee the beauty in the detailsSee the beauty in the detailsMake lemonade out of lemons

Th iThen a career in AdvancementAdvancement

Services is for you!Services is for you!

What exactly is AdvancementServices?Services?

A collection of operational units that support the f d i i i ifundraising missionMost often these units include:− Gift processingp g− Records management− Advancement Information Systems− Prospect researchospec esea c

Some also include Administrative Services functions:− Fiscal planning and budget management− Human Resources managementHuman Resources management− Facilities and office management− Communications and marketing

Stewardship and donor relations− Stewardship and donor relations

Career pathsp

Can I have a career in AdvancementCan I have a career in Advancement Services and never be a fundraiser?

Can I have a career in Advancement S i if I h b f d i ?Services if I have been a fundraiser?

Career pathsp

What are some of the traditional careerWhat are some of the traditional career paths?

What are some of the more unusual th ?paths?

Career pathsp

Where can this take me professionally?Where can this take me professionally?

Preparing for successp g

Skill developmentSkill developmentFinding the right mentorN t kiNetworkingSpecial projectsInitiativeObservationObservationSelf Assessment

Identifying that next opportunityy g pp y

Which one is the right one?Which one is the right one?Is the timing right?St i t th i tit ti iStaying at the same institution vs. moving to a new oneLong term career objectives

Identifying that next opportunityy g pp y

Considerations from the recruiting/hiringConsiderations from the recruiting/hiring perspective:−Demonstrated skill−Demonstrated skill−Directly related experience vs. transferable

Institutional/departmental fit− Institutional/departmental fit

Advancement Services ResourcesResources

AASPAASPCASENEDRANEDRAAPRAJAANetworkingNetworkingSoftware vendor user groupsOthOther

Contact Us

Brenda Speight RicardAssociate Vice PresidentAdvancement Operations and PlanningOffice of University AdvancementBoston College617 552-0382brenda.ricard.@bc.edu

Amy BronsonDirector, Recruitment & TrainingOffice of University AdvancementBoston College617 552-3680amy.bronson.1@bc.edu