Core Competencies

Core Technology Competencies

The idea of "Core Technology Competencies" is to identify a baseline of competencies for individual areas within the Advancement Department. Personnel at all levels should have a basic skill level to help them more effectively perform their job.

We must all recognize that there are two opposite forces at play here. First, we must recognize that the mission of Advancement is to cultivate donors, raise money, establish relationships, etc - the mission is not to use technology. On the other hand, using technology can make our jobs easier, but only if it is effective and if we learn to use it effectively.

Institutions provide certain technologies to assist with the Advancement processes. These technologies are chosen to help:

respond to external requests for data

perform our own individual tasks

coordinate our work with others in Advancement

manage the overall Advancement operations

If everyone builds to a baseline level of competencies with this technology, they can all more effectively communicate with each other and work together. Individuals who don't bring their skills up to the baseline, can reduce the effectiveness of the entire department. Institutions welcome efforts of individuals to take their skills beyond the core competencies. This is certainly expected of staff in Advancement Services. For others in Development, Alumni Relations and/or Membership roles, remember to keep an appropriate balance with their primary mission.

Advancement Services should work to develop or identify training programs to help all areas achieve these core competencies. They should also work on developing a training proficiency matrix to identify areas where staff want to build skills beyond the baseline.

Following are suggested Core Competencies for different groups of personnel:

Core Technology Competencies - Executives

	Implement Strategic Information Systems Plan
	Use voice mail, e-mail, and fax
	Use office scheduling system for personal schedule
	Create rough draft WP documents
	Create rough draft budget spreadsheets; review others
	Save and retrieve files from LAN; use document naming conventions
	Use confidential document handling and printing features
	Log-on to institution Advancement database; look up constituents; inquire on basic donor biographic & demographic data; inquire on donor giving summary
	Establish evaluation system which recognizes and rewards staff achievement of core competencies

Core Technology Competencies

Management Staff & Development Officers

	Use voice mail, e-mail, and fax
	Use office scheduling system for personal schedule
	Format WP documents; change fonts and styles using LAN printers
	Create presentation material drafts
	Generate and consolidate budget and spreadsheet documents
	Access remote data sources (e.g., via Internet) and use list servers and BBS's
	Execute simple ad hoc user reports against Advancement database and other databases
	Request reports, execute pre-programmed reports
	Perform inquiry and some maintenance functions (for assigned prospects) against database
	Enter call reports into database; maintain personal moves and ticklers
	Prepare gift transmittal forms using appropriate codes for major gifts
	Assess progress of staff toward core competencies.

Core Technology Competencies

Support Staff and Administrative Assistants

	Extensive formatting of WP documents
	Serve as device operator for shared resources including printers, faxes, etc.
	Use office scheduling system for personal schedule; schedule meetings for groups
	Perform critical document backup on regular basis
	Use document naming conventions; establish and maintain directory/folder structures; file and retrieve documents on LAN
	Access Advancement database, perform assigned and authorized maintenance, and improve data integrity
	Download or extract data wherever possible to avoid duplicate data entry; import downloaded data into WP documents (for mail merge), spreadsheets, or other databases
	Use voice mail, e-mail, and fax machines
	Request reports, execute pre-programmed reports
	Provide first line PC hardware and software support for professional staff; be prepared to share core skills with others.

Core Technology Competencies - Researchers

	Use electronic sources, including CD-ROM and online services and databases, to access directories, references, and periodicals for the purpose of identifying, screening and researching prospects. Be familiar with offerings of electronic screening services.
	Use the Internet in a targeted way for information gathering.
	Subscribe to and properly participate in listserv electronic lists, such as Prspct-L.
	Perform inquiry and some data maintenance on Advancement database for demographic information and prospect management; inquiry only for detailed gift history. If accessible, download development data for inclusion in profiles and reports.
	Execute pre-programmed and simple ad-hoc reports on Advancement database. If access not available, know procedure to request reports from the Advancement database and submit data-changes.
	Develop and maintain standard formats for different levels of profiles and reports (e.g. simple bio vs. comprehensive profile.) Assist Advancement Services in making these profiles available to Development personnel via multiple media (hard copy, on-line, other).
	Back-up PC data, copy diskettes.
	Use scheduling system for tracking research assignments and/or prospect management.
	Use word processing.
	Use voice mail, e-mail, and fax.
	Clearly communicate capabilities and approaches to development officers. Train and supervise support staff or students in any of the above, as appropriate.

Thanks to Gini Mauchly for the additions to Core Technology Competencies for Researchers.

Core Technology Competencies - Volunteers

	Answer telephones and forward calls
	Look up constituent records and verify biographic data
	Submit record change requests
	Pre-process donations and pledges (prepare transmittals)
	Staff events
	Prepare and mail acknowledgment letters

Core Technology Competencies - Students

	Office Automation tasks: word processing and data maintenance support
	Filtering on-line information including Internet searches; read and clip news groups
	Fund source searches supervised/monitored through Research
	Preparation of internal documentation, some training materials and hands-on desktop support as appropriate.

I'd welcome your comment and additions at Charlie Hunsaker Thanks so much.

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Updated June 2003

	respond to external requests for data
	perform our own individual tasks
	coordinate our work with others in Advancement
	manage the overall Advancement operations