Director, Gifts and Endowment

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA), the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is hiring a Director, Gifts and Endowment (internal job title: Director of Fund Accounting, Administration, and Compliance Fund Accounting). In this role you will lead comprehensive fund management operations, including gift and endowment accounting, compliance, and administration for the Foundation's portfolio of over 9,000 donor-restricted funds. As of fiscal year-end 2024, the Foundation's investments exceeded $5.4 billion and annual contributions exceeded $470 million. Reporting to the Controller, this role oversees a team of 4-6 individuals responsible for fund-related accounting, reconciliations, reporting, administration, and compliance. This position provides strategic leadership for the integration of previously separate accounting and administrative/compliance teams to create a unified approach to fund management and will be responsible for building a cohesive unit with integrated processes and clear accountability.

The Director ensures proper fund establishment, accurate accounting records, timely fund reporting, and effective compliance and fund utilization monitoring. This position serves as a key liaison across departments and is responsible for managing internal controls, policies, and procedures to ensure the accuracy, compliance, and effectiveness of fund operations. We are seeking a transformational leader with strong accounting and compliance expertise, a growth mindset, and the ability to balance strategic goals with operational execution. 

Please note: We prefer to hire this role in a hybrid capacity, requiring 2 days per week in our Madison, WI office. However, we are open to 100% remote candidate with experience level. Remote candidates must reside in the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Who is WFAA?

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA) 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.  

Fund Accounting and Reporting:

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting entries, reconciliations, and financial reporting for all donor funds
• Support preparation of audit schedules and financial statement disclosures
• Serve as main liaison providing expertise on revenue recognition, fund accounting, and fund management with departments including Gift Services, Gift Planning, Legal, and Development
• Optimize systems and technology to enhance processes, reporting, and analytics
• Produce fund reporting, statistics, and analytics for routine and ad-hoc reporting needs, including financial modeling and trend analysis
• Oversee application and management of special handling instructions for donor-restricted funds

Compliance Program Management:

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive fund compliance program that effectively monitors adherence to donor restrictions and institutional policies
• Design and implement clear monitoring methodologies, review schedules, and escalation protocols
• Establish measurable compliance metrics and create regular reporting mechanisms for leadership
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate technologies to support compliance monitoring
• Ensure accurate fund documentation and maintenance of fund attributes across systems

Risk Assessment and Monitoring:

• Conduct regular risk assessments to identify and address compliance vulnerabilities
• Develop annual audit and/or monitoring plans based on identified risks and compliance priorities
• Perform and/or oversee systematic, risk-based reviews of fund activity, document compliance findings, and track remediation efforts to resolution
• Monitor fund usage against documented restrictions
• Implement effective methods to identify and address underutilized funds and partner proactively with stakeholders to optimize fund utilization
• Stay informed on changing regulations and best practices related to endowment fund compliance, including UPMIFA, FASB guidelines, legal, and tax requirements
• Advise leadership on emerging trends and their implications for compliance
• Evaluate existing policies and procedures, recommending enhancements as necessary and ensuring alignment between compliance requirements and operational processes

Stakeholder Education and Engagement:

• Advise on gift agreement language to ensure restrictions are feasible and monitorable.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs on fund accounting, management, and compliance policies and best practices for all stakeholders
• Promote a culture of compliance through regular communication and educational initiatives.
• Partner with teams across the organization to enhance processes related to contribution revenue recognition, fund management, reporting, and compliance.
• Facilitate access to or provide fund-related data for diverse stakeholders including campus representatives and donors.
• Collaborate on policy development for gifts and donor-restricted funds.
• Enhance reference guides and educational resources for stakeholders.

Team Leadership:

• Determine staffing needs, design appropriate roles, write/update job descriptions, allocate staff and assign/delegate duties accordingly.
• Lead and empower team members, fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Train, mentor, coach and develop staff members, encouraging an appropriate level of independence and supporting professional growth.
• Identify the current and long-term development/training needs of individuals and provide or facilitate access to appropriate development experiences.
• Set priorities, develop work schedules, and establish performance measures.
• Provide ongoing feedback and recognition as well as periodic formal performance appraisals to staff.
• Ensure cross-training of critical tasks.
• Ensure procedures are documented and regularly reviewed with a focus on automation, efficiency, and internal controls.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Professional certification in accounting, auditing, compliance, risk management or related fields (e.g., CPA, CMA, CIA or other relevant certification) or related advanced degree.
• 5 + years of related professional work experience.
• 3+ years supervisory and/or leadership experience demonstrating success in leading and developing team members.
• Demonstrable knowledge of not-for-profit accounting standards (GAAP), including revenue recognition, endowment accounting, and basic investment accounting.
• Knowledge of audit methodologies, procedures and related risk assessment
• Experience in developing and implementing policies and procedures, as well as evaluating and improving processes.
• Highly successful balancing working autonomously while maintaining alignment with strategic goals.
• Experience building consensus and managing change effectively.

 Other Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education or large nonprofit environment.
• Strong data analytics skills for identifying trends, anomalies and compliance risks
• Effective project management skills, with a successful track record of meeting deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of engaging effectively and professionally with diverse stakeholders.
• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership skills, with a proven ability to lead cross-departmental initiatives and foster collaboration.
• Proficient knowledge of Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and other legal/regulatory frameworks governing endowments.
• Knowledge of tax and regulatory filings applicable to endowment funds (e.g., Form 990).
• Exercise sound professional judgement and initiative navigating ambiguity and complex issues.
• Proven ability to influence and manage change with diplomacy, balancing diverse needs and advancing organizational goals.

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