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.