Associate Director of Donor Relations

The Associate Director of Donor Relations plays a pivotal role in developing stewardship strategies in support of fundraising at Reed College. This role reports to the Director of Donor Relations. The Associate Director will join a high-functioning development team at Reed in the wake of campaign planning efforts that will inform the fundraising priorities of the college in the years to come. Donor stewardship and engagement at this time are critical to the college’s future. This is a fun job—you’ll work with smart people and big ideas.

The Associate Director of Donor Relations manages a comprehensive donor recognition and stewardship program for gifts of all sizes, focusing on leadership gifts; creates compelling content that illustrates the impact of donors’ gifts and demonstrates gratitude; and partners with colleagues across Reed to ensure gifted funds are spent to the fullest extent possible while meeting donor intent. This position manages the leadership gift acknowledgement process and the endowed fund stewardship program in partnership with the gift entry team and colleagues.

Reed College offers an exceptional benefits package, including a comprehensive medical and dental insurance option for you (Reed pays 60% on medical and dental insurance premiums for your dependent), 403(b) retirement plan with 10% employer contribution (after one year of service), educational assistance for employees and their children, 22 days of paid vacation, paid holidays, half-day Fridays in the summer, and many other campus amenities. This is a full-time role with typical work hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a one hour unpaid lunch.

Starting salary for this position is $64,400 - $69,400. Pay offers are contingent upon experience and are determined through an internal pay assessment. This is an exempt position in grade 6.

Who You Are

• You value the impact of higher education and the work of development. You know that follow-through with constituents is one of the most important aspects of relationship-building.

• You are a creative thinker, able to generate new concepts, make connections, and draw on available resources to create engaging ways to demonstrate impact and express gratitude.

• You enjoy writing, have a strong command of the mechanics of language, and take pride in presenting an impeccable finished product.

• You are an exceptional project manager, talented at juggling multiple priorities, always with a plan to meet your deadlines.

• People like working with you because you’re detail-oriented and organized, yet flexible.

• You have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and donors, and communicate with a high degree of tact and diplomacy.

• You are a resourceful systems thinker who is unafraid of databases, spreadsheets, and other tools to manage and improve your work and the work of your team.

• You enjoy taking initiative and working independently as well as working collaboratively and in consultation with leadership.

• You have a strong customer service orientation and effective communication skills.

• You have demonstrated commitment to advancing equity. You are self-aware and comfortable working on teams with varying gender, racial, socio-economic, ability, sexual orientation, and cultural identities.

What You’ll Do

Gift Acknowledgement Process

• Drafts, edits, updates, reviews and customizes donor acknowledgement letters for signatures by college leaders, ensuring timely and meaningful thank-yous to donors.

• Develops and maintains systems to produce and document acknowledgments; coordinates with campus partners to ensure completion.

Reporting to donors

• Writes, edits, and packages compelling content that connects donors to the impact of their gifts.

• Drafts stewardship letters and coordinates with colleagues to ensure appropriate recognition of donors on a regular basis. Develops annual reporting to donors of scholarships, lectureships, professorships, and other endowments.

• Monitors and reports on scholarship, lectureship, professorship, and other endowed funds to ensure the utilization of those funds by the college and for reporting to donors.

• Researches use of endowed funds through the Business Office and other colleagues for donor reporting.

• Coordinates and plans special events and associated publications that pertain to stewardship and donor recognition.

Operational Duties

• Develops and maintains accurate records on scholarship, lectureship, and other endowment funds, coordinating information from the offices of Financial Aid, Business, and the Dean of the Faculty.

• Creates memos to internal colleagues when certain funds are created or changed, to communicate donor intent and stewardship expectations; partners with colleagues to ensure the creation of new endowed funds dovetails with strategic fundraising priorities and stewardship paradigms.

• Completes ad hoc funds management research projects as requested.

• Partners in policy creation and review as needed.

• Assists as needed with writing and editing of miscellaneous fundraising letters, print copy, and other correspondence.

• Collaborates with College Relations Informations Systems to execute giving and stewardship activities in a donor-centered manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Five years of professional experience in donor relations, fundraising, and/or marketing and communications

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education or nonprofit experience (experience with campaign stewardship a plus)
  
  Familiarity with technological tools and database systems (Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Salesforce/Affiniquest a plus)

• Project management experience

Application Instructions

You will be directed to Interfolio to create a free account and begin your application. A resume and cover letter are required. You can submit these documents in any format, but pdf works best.

Priority application deadline is December 1. Applications will be considered as they are submitted so you are encouraged to apply early.

Reed College replies to every candidate. We will confirm that your application is received, and if you are not selected, we will let you know as soon as possible.