This position provides leadership and strategic direction as the Donor Relations team handles four primary areas of programming critical to deepening life-long donor relationships: acknowledgement, recognition, stewardship and accountability. This position plays a critical role in managing members of the donor relations team and overseeing several key areas of focus in support of a comprehensive Donor Relations program. The position reports to the Senior Director of Donor Engagement and Communication and works in collaboration with partners across the Foundation.

Essential Job Functions:

• With Senior Director of Donor Engagement and Communication, set priorities for overall Donor Relations team and partner on annual program plan and goals.

• Provide strategic and proactive oversight of Donor Communications program ensuring a seamless and donor-centered approach to engagement and stewardship communications.

• Manage impact and endowment reporting processes. Work with communications, creative, finance, and fundraising teams to ensure timely production of reports and fulfillment of stewardship obligations to donors. Serve as a primary resource for questions related to fund financials.

• Supervise and provide mentoring and guidance to the Development Coordinator and Donor Relations Gift Officer(s) to ensure a high-quality donor experience.   

• Build cross-team partnerships to develop and manage stewardship plans to steward, engage and recognize donors to key programs and initiatives.

• Think creatively and strategically about revising existing programs and developing new ways of stewarding donors and engaging prospects.

• Partner with Donor Relations team members to develop strategies and tactics to fulfill event stewardship, donor gift program and dedication activities.

• Support other Donor Relations activities and initiatives as needed.

• Actively participate in benchmarking and best-practice sharing with local and national colleagues.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or comparable professional experience required.

• Minimum of three years of management experience, preferably in a healthcare or higher education setting and/or in Stewardship or Donor Relations.

• Discretion with confidential materials required.

• High level understanding of financial data and basic understanding of accounting required.

• Exceptional written communication and editing skills required.

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as creativity and resourcefulness required.

• Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented team environment required.

• Attention to detail and the ability to prioritize and execute multiple projects under demanding deadlines are essential.

• Excellent customer service and social skills and high emotional intelligence to best communicate with a wide range of audiences.

• Ability to quickly reprioritize to ensure resources (e.g., work group members, systems, tools, etc.) are in place to achieve objectives. Responds positively and is supportive of change initiatives.

• Prior experience with Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, or similar software required. 

• Ability to work independently in a deadline-oriented team environment required.

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills as well as creativity and resourcefulness.

• A team-based attitude is necessary to work with internal and external constituencies.

• Current or past membership in the Association of Donor Relations Professionals preferred.