Director of Donor Relations

Director of Donor
Relations 

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for University
Advancement, the Director of Donor Relations creates, implements,
and manages all aspects of the University’s donor recognition
programs, personalized stewardship, and impact reporting. The
director will work closely with the offices of the Academic Dean,
Admissions and Financial Aid, Athletics, Business Office/Finance,
Career Excellence, Student Life, and others to create a
collaborative culture of shared stewardship responsibility within
the University. The director supervises an associate director and a
specialist. 

This is an “on-site” position but there could be future
opportunities for hybrid-remote for a successful
candidate.           

Salary $75,000 – $80,000. The actual rate will be determined
based on experience and other factors permitted by law. 

Duties/Responsibilities 

Management of donor relations program

• Develop, execute, and monitor annual goals, objectives, and
  metrics for the donor relations team.
• Manage the donor relations team including an associate director
  of donor relations and administrative assistant, providing overall
  guidance, mentoring and evaluation.
• Work collaboratively with frontline fundraisers and the
  Associate Director of Advancement Marketing & Communications to
  develop personalized proposals for donors at the major gift level
  and above, as needed.
• Develop and execute gift agreements for all major and planned
  gifts (at certain levels).
• Oversee the University’s gift acknowledgment process including
  primary gift acknowledgment letters from advancement staff,
  acknowledgments from the President and Board of Trustees, as well
  as outreach to first time donors and Sustaining Saints (loyal
  donors).
• Assist in the creation, monitoring, and updating of policies
  and procedures related to donor relations including gift minimums,
  naming guidelines and gift acceptance policies.
• Oversee the maintenance of the Mapping the Laurentian Legacy
  program that includes all named spaces and plaques on campus; and
  maintain an ongoing list of available naming opportunities.
• Manage the donor relations budget in Ellucian Colleague.
• Follow and promote the ethical guidelines set forth in the
  Association of Donor Relations for Advancement (ADRP), the
  Association of Advancement Services Professionals (AASP), the CASE
  Donor Bill of Rights, and the CASE Ethics Guidelines.

Develop and execute highly personalized stewardship and
impact reporting

• Draft individual stewardship plans for St. Lawrence’s top
  donors at the principal gift level and above; assist with execution
  of those plans.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in University Advancement,
  University Communications, and other departments as needed, to
  produce regular print and digital stewardship including individual
  and group stewardship reports, an annual endowment report, and
  overall and project-based donor reports, as needed.
• Work closely with the Academic Dean’s office to develop
  appropriate stewardship for donors to endow professorships/staff
  positions.
• Assist with the planning of on-campus dedications and
  celebration events, including all accompanying signage and plaque
  development.
• Participate with appropriate staff in the design and execution
  of on- and off-campus cultivation and donor recognition events, as
  well as individualized campus visits.

Oversight of donor fund creation and
management

• Work with Advancement Operations and the business office on the
  creation of new current use and endowed funds.
• Collaborate with the business office and other internal
  constituencies on the proper allocation and expenditure of endowed
  and expendable named funds.
• Work to ensure the timely, accurate reporting on fund use and
  endowment performance to donors who have established restricted or
  endowed funds for scholarships, professorships, research funds,
  athletic and other department programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Six or more years of donor relations, fundraising, marketing,
  communications, or related experience required, preferably in
  higher education.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required;
  experience in writing for fundraising or advancement purposes
  preferred.
• Management experience preferred.
• Proven organizational skills; experience managing special
  events and other complex and time- sensitive programs.
• Superior skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel;
  experience working in relational databases.
• Knowledge of The Raiser’s Edge a plus, but not required.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team, build
  effective relationships, effectively supervise, utilize staff, and
  manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to develop strong relationships with donors with the
  highest degree of professionalism.
• Ability to identify and adapt to shifting priorities, be
  flexible and resourceful, and exercise professionalism with
  numerous constituencies.

Interested applicants must apply online at http://employment.stlawu.edu
uploading all required materials which are defined in the “special
instructions to applicant” section.  Review of applications
will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Questions about the position may be directed to Kimberly Hissong,
Interim Vice President for University Advancement, khissong@stlawu.edu. 

All offers of employment are contingent upon the finalist
successfully passing a background (including criminal records)
check.

St.
Lawrence University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For
additional information about St. Lawrence, please visit http://www.stlawu.edu.