Senior Director/Director of Donor Relations

NIU Division of Advancement

The division of University Advancement (UA) exists to energize
and rally the private sector to partner with the NIU community,
harnessing crucial resources for our collective future. Our mission
is all about empowering these connections to drive NIU’s growth and
innovation. Our focus includes amplifying our students’ influence
locally, nationally, and globally, fostering a world where their
ideas and actions make a real difference. Northern Illinois
University is in the Leadership Phase of a Comprehensive Campaign
focused on student success, faculty excellence and elevating the
innovative, entrepreneurial, and creative ecosystem of the
institution.

Position
Details             

The Director of Donor Relations is responsible for the design,
development, implementation and administration of a high
performing, comprehensive campus-wide donor relations program, in
collaboration with the Senior Director of Strategic
Communications/Marketing and Senior Leadership.  The position
will focus on executing a comprehensive Donor Relations program
designed to drive fundraising growth, ensuring every donor is
appropriately thanked, aware of their impact, and inspired to give
more. The Director serves as a key leader in the strategic
communication elements of the Campaign in support of messaging,
storytelling, stewardship, and partnership with the campus
community.

60% Strategic Planning & Execution

• Design, implement and direct a comprehensive integrated
  donor-centric stewardship plan to build donor trust and fulfillment
  through strategic and meaningful contact, experiences, and
  outstanding donor service.
• Develop, implement, and manage institution-wide stewardship
  plan that includes continuous outreach to faculty and staff to
  ensure funds utilization compliance with donor intent; creating a
  centralized information hub to assist with crafting, deployment and
  tracking of donor acknowledgments; and customize donor events based
  on established cultivation and stewardship plans.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the Gift Planning team to
  develop and implement an annual engagement plan for major and
  annual fund donors.
• Manage all inventory of naming opportunities related to new and
  existing facilities, including oversight and project management
  related to the execution of donor communications and the
  installation of physical elements of donor recognition.
• Develop and coordinate the timely delivery of comprehensive and
  engaging stewardship reports to donors, ensuring accurate
  reflection of the impact of their contributions. This includes
  gathering data, crafting personalized narratives, overseeing the
  production of supporting multimedia elements in partnership with UA
  Communications Team, and maintaining ongoing communication to
  foster strong, trusting donor relationships.
• Create a quantitative and qualitative measurement system to
  evaluate the effectiveness and success of all stewardship and
  recognition programs utilizing the data to improve standards and
  further the success of fundraising goals.
• Conduct routine analyses of applicable inter/intra departmental
  processes, policies, and related materials through the deployment
  of donor surveys and/or focus groups to understand and improve the
  donor experience and increase retention and giving.
• Develop annual departmental goals, objectives, key performance
  metrics and associated budget which support the advancement of the
  Division’s mission.
• Maintain working knowledge of industry best practices and
  standards to promote departmental longevity and divisional
  efficacy.

30% Donor Stewardship & Communication

• The Director must create and maintain a positive and
  professional relationship between the university and its donors,
  alumni, and constituents; collaborate with various UA units to
  determine effective donor stewardship strategies; and elevate the
  overall philanthropic experience to support donor cultivation at
  NIU.
• Serve as subject matter expert on donor guideline agreement
  process and implementation, in collaboration with the Gift Planning
  team, provides collaboration and training to division and
  university collaborators.
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative inputs from a wide range
  of leaders across campus to inform and develop highly customized
  stewardship plans for lead and major gift donors, lifetime and
  deferred/bequest giving societies, and annual fund donors.
  Collaborate with UA Communications/Marketing and identify areas of
  integrated marketing opportunities to tell donor impact stories and
  emotionally connect donors to NIU.
• Serve as primary stewardship portfolio manager for major donors
  assigned to Executive- and Senior-level gift officers. Facilitate
  and execute stewardship efforts for annual fund donors, lifetime
  donors and donors of deferred/bequest gifts.
• Manage and maintain regular stewardship interactions and
  communications to demonstrate donor impact, foster meaningful
  relationships and cultivate donors to their highest level of
  philanthropy.
• Lead the development and execution of strategic recognition and
  stewardship events, and programs for key donors and giving
  societies, in collaboration with UA Events Team and other necessary
  departments.
• May serve on scholarship review committee, as needed.

10% People Management

• The Director is responsible for the management of the Donor
  Relations Team, including day to day management and
  mentorship.
• Actively participates in divisional initiatives and priorities
  to foster an engaged and motivated work environment.
• Develops and participates in employee performance evaluation
  processes in relation to individual progress toward/achievement of
  departmental metrics as applicable. metrics-based goal setting with
  analytics supporting department prioritization and performance
  management and coordinate department resource planning and team
  management.

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Three (3) or more years of Donor Relations experience in a
  nonprofit or university advancement environment.
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office programs such as excel,
  SharePoint, Teams, etc.
• Proficient user of constituent resource management tools such
  as Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, etc.

Education and Experience Preferred

• Experience working in a higher education environment.
• Two (2) or more years of experience interacting with donors in
  live, virtual and phone settings.
• Experience managing teams.
• Familiarity with digital stewardship and engagement platforms
  such as ThankView, MailChimp, etc.
• Membership and/or previous involvement with professional
  development organizations such as Association of Donor Relations
  Professionals, Donor Relations Guru, etc.
• Experience working as part of a comprehensive campaign
  effort.

Physical Demands and Requirements

The physical demands described here are respective to those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential
functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is
regularly required to talk and hear. There is a high level of
keyboarding and virtual meeting use. The employee may be required
to walk; use fingers and hands to feel, grasp, operate or handle
objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. Must be
able to lift and carry 20 lbs. regularly.

Hours: While established University office
hours are 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, donor work may be professionally
conducted at times and places consistent with donor availability.
This may include nights, weekends, and trips outside the
University’s primary locations (DeKalb, Naperville, Chicago).
Therefore, some travel is required and a professional commitment to
a variable schedule is required.

Specify the number of employees reporting directly to
this position, including student employees: This position
provides management for two direct reports, with potential for
oversight of student workers.