Alumni Engagement Manager

The Dream Program•Winooski, VT

About The Position

DREAM seeks a relationship-driven and highly organized Alumni Engagement Manager to strengthen lifelong connections between DREAM and its alumni. This position will develop opportunities for alumni to stay involved as volunteers, mentors, ambassadors, donors, and organizational leaders. The Manager will oversee alumni communications, events, outreach, data management, and fundraising efforts while helping DREAM build a stronger culture of alumni engagement and philanthropy. The ideal candidate is a strong relationship builder who is equally comfortable connecting with alumni, organizing an event, writing a fundraising appeal, and maintaining accurate records in a donor database.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
One to five years of experience in alumni relations, fundraising, development, communications, events, community engagement, or a related field.
Demonstrated ability to build relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
Experience with fundraising, donor stewardship, volunteer engagement, or community-building initiatives.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience planning events or programs from development through execution.
Comfort using donor databases, CRMs, email platforms, spreadsheets, and basic reporting tools.
Strong organization, project management, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with a nonprofit, mentoring, education, or youth-serving organization preferred.
Personal experience as a DREAM alum or participant in a similar youth-development program is valued.
Ability to occasionally work evenings or weekends and travel to DREAM regions.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement an alumni engagement plan with clear annual goals.
Build relationships with DREAM alumni across programs, regions, and generations.
Create opportunities for alumni to participate as volunteers, mentors, speakers, ambassadors, advisors, and donors.
Identify and support alumni leaders who can help strengthen DREAM’s alumni community.
Explore regional alumni gatherings, committees, or networks in areas with strong alumni participation.
Develop strategies to increase alumni giving and build a long-term culture of philanthropy.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of alumni donors and prospects.
Coordinate alumni-focused fundraising campaigns, appeals, and giving initiatives.
Create meaningful communications and stewardship opportunities that show alumni the impact of their support.
Partner with the broader development team to connect alumni engagement with DREAM’s fundraising goals.
Plan alumni events, including regional gatherings, networking opportunities, reunions, service activities, and virtual programs.
Manage event promotion, registration, logistics, budgets, and follow-up.
Produce alumni communications, including newsletters, event invitations, organizational updates, and fundraising appeals.
Collect and share alumni stories, accomplishments, and community contributions.
Collaborate with DREAM’s communications team on alumni content for email, social media, and the website.
Maintain accurate alumni records in DREAM’s donor and relationship-management systems.
Conduct outreach and research to update contact information and reconnect with alumni.
Develop processes for capturing information as participants transition from DREAM programs into the alumni community.
Track alumni participation, volunteering, communications, and giving.
Use engagement data to evaluate results and guide future strategies.
Work with development, communications, program, data, and regional staff to coordinate alumni engagement.
Help staff create consistent pathways for participants to remain connected after leaving DREAM programs.
Identify alumni who may be strong candidates for employment, board service, advisory roles, partnerships, or storytelling opportunities.
Represent DREAM at alumni, fundraising, and community events.