Assistant Director, Stewardship and Donor Communications

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

4d•$80,656 - $91,950

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Stewardship and Donor Communications for the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) is a newly created position within the SCA Advancement office based on the increased need for more cohesive and impactful stewardship for SCA’s donors. As the School embarks on a fundraising campaign in support of its 100th Anniversary, this position will be critical to ensuring continued success in philanthropy among its key supporters. The primary responsibilities for the position will include generating regular annual impact reports for a wide variety of gift funds, including endowment funds; interfacing with donors and their offices to ensure that donors are properly stewarded; drafting, editing and sending all types of correspondence from the Dean and Advancement office, including gift acknowledgements. Reporting to the Senior Associate Dean for Advancement, the position will conduct research into donors and prospects and be responsible for managing constituent information stored in relevant USC databases. The position will also be responsible for drafting and editing briefings for the Dean, and conducting campus tours for guests of SCA. The position may assist in the creation of donor-related content, including marketing materials and gift proposals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Combined experience/education as a substitute for minimum education
5 years of Development experience in higher education.
Ability to self-manage, prioritize work assignments and manage multiple deadlines.
Experience maintaining and interpreting datasets and database systems.
Excellent planning, organizational and interpersonal skills.
Detail oriented with excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking and fundraising proposal writing/editing.
Proficient in Microsoft Office

Nice To Haves

7 years of experience
Experience in creating stewardship reports and/or materials for fundraising campaigns, preferably at a complex research university
Experience in and an understanding of the entertainment industry as well as the School of Cinematic Arts
Solid relationship-building skills, ability to interface with donors, leading faculty and staff, cross-campus partners, and high-profile guests
Donor prospect research experience in higher education
Experience with stewardship and donor relations programs, including software platforms
Customer service experience
Strategic, creative thinking to maximize the growth of the School’s donor base
Demonstrated ability to adapt, manage and implement change; and flexibility to thrive in a fast-paced, complex environment
A valid driver’s license is required
A Master's degree.

Responsibilities

Overseeing SCA stewardship and donor relations, including generating annual reports for SCA donor support funds, including academic and student-based funds
Drafting, editing, and sending a variety of written communications from the Dean and Office of Advancement, including gift acknowledgements, congratulations and condolence notes.
Managing SCA donor and constituent information for databases, including Salesforce.
Researching donor prospects to develop gift solicitation strategies and target areas.
Preparing briefings for the Dean on donors and guests
Conducting SCA complex and campus tours for guests
Working with other Advancement staff and internal SCA departments, including Student Services, to collect and synthesize information for donor reporting purposes.
Serving as primary liaison with USC Central Stewardship office
Collaborating with SCA Communications office on stewardship-related materials
Creating and editing donor-related content, including marketing material for campaigns and proposals, in concert with other internal SCA staff
Collaborating with other SCA Advancement staff on events and donor visits
Performing other duties as assigned in support of SCA’s mission.