Associate Director of Donor Relations

Vassar College • Poughkeepsie, NY

5d • $70,000 - $77,000

About The Position

Vassar College is deeply committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees by promoting an environment of transparency and respect for differences. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds who meet the qualifications of a posting. If you need to request an accommodation to fully participate in the search process, please contact [email protected].

Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, the Associate Director of Donor Relations serves as the primary executor of the acknowledgment process. The position leads reporting and stewardship for an assigned portfolio of grouped and individual funds, including named endowed faculty chairs, internships, Dean of the Faculty, and Presidential discretionary funds, as well as select individually managed funds requiring tailored stewardship. This position will also manage the Student Ambassador program within Advancement and write donor updates and stories that showcase philanthropy and its role in advancing the College’s mission.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• A minimum of three to five years of professional experience, preferably in a writing or research-intensive field.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills, with the ability to synthesize research and tailor tone and content for a range of donor audiences.
• Proficiency with a variety of technology platforms, including experience working with Google Workspace; customer relationship management (CRM) systems; project management tools; and the ability to manage workflows effectively.
• Creative, adaptable problem solver and quick learner.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a deadline-driven environment, communicate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, and handle sensitive information with sound judgment and discretion.
• Ability to supervise and support students from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience working in higher education or other complex organizations is preferred, particularly in donor relations, advancement, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead the College’s donor acknowledgment program, ensuring timely, accurate, and personalized expressions of gratitude; write special correspondence on behalf of the President and Vice President and oversee all related communications, including tribute gifts, donor-advised funds, and condolences.
• Manage the Student Ambassador Program, including selection, onboarding, training, mentorship, supervision, retention, and the hiring and supervision of the Lead Student Ambassador, along with the growth of the program.
• Guide the development and execution of the annual photo shoot, video shoot, student acknowledgment letter, and ambassador-driven engagement programming.
• Prepare personalized fund updates and donor communications that demonstrate impact and reinforce alignment with institutional priorities for assigned individual funds, to include discretionary, internship, lecture, and prize.
• Provide consolidated donor updates for a portfolio of funds, to include scholarship and faculty chair reports, communicating philanthropic impact and highlighting key College programs and institutional priorities.
• Manage scholarship notification communications to students and facilitate the connections between donors and scholarship recipients, and staff and scholarship recipients.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices in donor relations to strengthen processes, enhance engagement, and improve efficiency through effective use of technology.
• Write donor stories that showcase philanthropy and its role in advancing the College’s mission, as needed.
• Utilize donor management systems to track stewardship activities, ensuring compliance and accurate reporting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level