Associate Director, Donor Recognition and Giving Societies

Job Requisition:

JR101271 Associate Director, Donor Recognition and Giving Societies (Open)

Job Posting Title:

Associate Director, Donor Recognition and Giving Societies

Department:

CC00287 WM001 | WMUA | Stewardship & Donor Relations

Job Family:

Staff - Stewardship & Donor Relations

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular (benefited)

Job Requisition Primary Location:

Discovery 1

Primary Job Posting Location:

Discovery 1

Job Description Summary:

In University Advancement, we create the conditions for opportunity – human, financial, & experiential – by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary.

William & Mary Foundation’s defining and essential mission is to support the university’s people and programs. By seeking private support, and then diligently managing those funds, the W&M Foundation advances and furthers the work of William & Mary’s students and faculty —providing vital resources for scholarships, professorships, research and program funding.

Consistent with the university’s shared services agreement with the William & Mary Foundation (WMF), this position is assigned 10% effort to support Foundation Services LLC, a subsidiary of WMF, with the responsibilities outlined below.

Summary:

The Associate Director, Donor Recognition, is an integral member of the donor relations team in the Office of University Advancement at William & Mary. The associate director will expand, elevate and ensure excellence in the execution of donor recognition, appreciation and engagement programs, communications and special events across William & Mary.

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations for Principal Gifts, the Associate Director is responsible for the delivery of William & Mary’s engagement programs related to its donor giving societies. This includes the development and management of communications, year-end stewardship campaigns, and special events including the Charter Day dinner, annual giving societies celebrations, James Blair Society induction ceremony, football and commencement in the President’s Suite at Zable Stadium.

The Associate Director will also support the Director in executing bespoke recognition events for principal gift-level donors, creating targeted stewardship and gratitude communications, and designing engaging impact updates and one-pagers for key donors and funding priorities. Using a data-driven approach, the associate director will build invitation lists and ensure timely delivery of personalized communications to these constituencies.

The Associate Director will also serve as the team’s primary manager for donor recognition and naming programs, working closely with William & Mary’s Office of the Recording Secretary and campus partners to communicate naming guidelines, prepare plaque mockups and templates for gift officers and provide an accessible archive of photographed named spaces. The Associate Director will manage, with support from the donor relations coordinator, procurement of plaques and special commemorative gifts for major and principal gift-level donors.

This position is based in Williamsburg, Virginia, and offers a flexible work environment.

Review and download the full position description for this job on the University Advancement recruitment website: https://advancement.wm.edu/come-work-with-us/open-positions/index.php.

Job Description:

Salary: $50,000 to $60,000, commensurate with experience and internal alignment.

For full consideration, submit application materials by the review date. Applications received after the review date will be considered if needed. A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.

•  Significant and progressively responsible professional experience and specialized expertise directly related to the duties of this role.

• Advanced knowledge of MS Office with strong skills in Word and Excel.

• Demonstrated excellent administrative, oral and written communication skills, with attention to detail and the demonstrated ability to draft, edit and proofread documents, reports and thank-you letters.

• Strong knowledge of databases, e.g. customer relationship management (CRM) and content management web-based platforms with demonstrated analytical skills.

• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills with a strong customer service-oriented approach and the ability to work effectively with internal and external constituencies.

• Strong project coordination skills and/or experience with the ability to plan, manage, and track projects through completion.

• Knowledge of event coordination with the ability to coordinate and manage event logistics.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated exceptional experience in customer and/or donor relations.

• Excellent project management skills.

• Experience with other relational database systems.

• Knowledge of best practices in stewardship and donor relations in higher education.

• Experience in a higher education setting.

• Experience in a fundraising environment.

 

Conditions of Employment: 

• This position may require you to work additional hours beyond the typical work week, to include evenings and weekends.

 

Duties: 

60% - Donor Recognition Events & Celebrations:

• Promote and assist in execution of William & Mary’s annual calendar of donor engagement opportunities including Charter Day and Homecoming Weekend events and special invitations to the President’s Suite at Zable Stadium for Tribe Football and Commencement.

• Manage data requests and membership rosters for W&M’s premier giving societies, volunteer boards and top prospects to promote and improve participation in signature stewardship events.

• Support the director in executing bespoke recognition events for principal gift-level donors, including, but not limited to:

• • Plumeri Awards for Faculty Excellence.

  • McGlothlin Leadership Forum.

  • Giving Society special events.

  • Groundbreakings, dedications and ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

  • Principal gift donor recognition events.

• Curate and maintain inventory of donor appreciation gifts & swag.

 

20% - Donor Recognition and Naming Programs:

The Associate Director will serve as the team’s primary manager for donor recognition and naming programs, working closely with William & Mary’s Office of the Recording Secretary and campus partners, including facilities management and the Office of the President to:

• Develop and communicate naming guidelines.

• Prepare naming mockups and templates for gift officers.

• Build and maintain a catalog of named spaces and opportunities.

• Provide an accessible archive of photographed named spaces.

• Oversee Living Remembrance program.

• Assist gift officers in procuring plaques and special commemorative gifts for major and principal gift-level donors.

• Pilot innovative recognition programs and other projects as assigned.

 

20% - Donor Communications and Outreach:

• Develop and execute stewardship communications using ThankView, Salesforce Marketing. Cloud and Canva-designed impact updates and one-pagers, track and analyze the effectiveness of donor communications.

• Develop and maintain the university’s giving societies stewardship grid.

• Develop acknowledgement and welcome letter templates for premier giving societies and donor segments.

• Create and coordinate invitation outreach for donor engagement events.

• Develop and execute year-end stewardship mailing for premier W&M giving societies.

• Manage greeting card/e-card design, production and distribution for principal- and major-gift level donors.

• Oversee annual parking pass offer and mailing.

• Oversee annual giving societies welcome mailing.

• Assist with James Blair Society and Royal Charter Society welcome letters.

Equal Opportunity Statement

EEO is the Law.  Applicants can learn more about William & Mary’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

 

Background Check Statement

William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Benefits Summary Statement

William & Mary offers our employees a full array of benefits including retirement, health insurance with options for expanded dental and vision along with group and optional life insurance with coverage for spouse and children, flexible spending accounts, and an EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Our employees enjoy additional university benefits such as educational assistance, professional development, wellness benefits, and a robust holiday schedule. All employees have access to fitness facilities on campus. Staff members also have access to the university libraries, and much more.

Additional Job Description:

Job Profile:

JP0525 - Donor Relations/Stewardship Officer - Exempt - Salary - S10

Qualifications:

Compensation Grade:

S10

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-01-22

Review Date:

2026-02-13

Position Restrictions:

EEO is the Law.  Applicants can learn more about William & Mary’s status as an equal opportunity employer by viewing the "Know Your Rights" poster published by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. https://www.eeoc.gov/know-your-rights-workplace-discrimination-illegal

 

Background Check: William & Mary is committed to providing a safe campus community. W&M conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check. 

 

Remote Work Disclaimer: Remote work eligibility is not guaranteed and is subject to approval. Employee eligibility depends on the likelihood of the employee succeeding in a remote work arrangement and the supervisor’s ability to manage remote workers. Departments and/or Human Resources may amend, alter, change, delete, or modify eligibility.