ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, VOLUNTEER & DONOR ENGAGEMENT

Scripps Research • San Diego, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Scripps Research, a world-renowned nonprofit biomedical research institute, is seeking a strategic and relationship-driven Volunteer & Donor Engagement Associate Director to join our Philanthropy team. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, this position plays a central role in cultivating and sustaining engagement among the institution's most important volunteer constituencies and donor communities. The Volunteer & Donor Engagement Associate Director will serve as the primary staff liaison for the Global Ambassadors Council (GAC), the Alumni Board, and the Advancement Committee, as well as individual key volunteers and philanthropic partners. This role combines relationship management, event leadership, and project management, working cross-functionally to advance Office of Development priorities, maintaining the team's master engagement calendar, and leading the execution of signature donor and volunteer events throughout the year.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• 3+ years of experience in development, donor relations, volunteer management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain relationships with donors, volunteers, and institutional leadership.
• Proven experience leading event conception, planning, and execution, including invitation strategy and donor outreach.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and a dynamic team calendar.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; experience preparing agendas, briefings, and materials for executive and donor audiences.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and travel as needed for events and donor engagements.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with donor databases and CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge) preferred.
• Experience with project management software (e.g. Asana) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary staff liaison for the GAC, Alumni Board, and Advancement Committee, as well as individual key volunteers and philanthropic partners.
• Develop annual engagement calendars, individual stewardship plans, and multi-year strategies for volunteer boards, key volunteers, and philanthropic partners.
• Manage new member onboarding, prepare meeting agendas, background materials, talking points and track action items to ensure timely follow-through.
• Coordinate pre- and post-meeting communications to sustain momentum and volunteer investment between formal gatherings.
• Lead the planning, and execution of signature cultivation and stewardship events, including chair celebrations, donor appreciation events, fellowship recognitions, Front Row Dinners, faculty engagement opportunities, and salon dinners.
• Serve as the Office of Development's primary liaison to the events team, driving creative vision, project timelines, messaging and invitation strategy, and logistics from inception through follow-up.
• Personally engage and reach out to key donors, prospects, and volunteers to secure attendance at priority events, with the goal of celebrating relationships and advancing philanthropic conversations.
• Prepare briefings and talking points for senior leaders prior to key interactions, and support the Director with special projects, presentations, and reports as needed.
• Review event collaterals to ensure accuracy and message alignment.
• Track and manage ROI for all events using data to refine new event and engagement strategies.
• Serve as a central project management resource for volunteer management and donor engagement activities, collaborating with colleagues to move initiatives forward and ensure timely execution across the Office of Development.
• Develop and maintain the Office of Development's master engagement calendar, proactively identifying and resolving scheduling conflicts and competing priorities.

Benefits

• Employer Contributed Retirement Plan – Depending on eligibility, employees receive an employer contributed retirement plan (no employee contribution required) and the option to contribute to a 403(b) (which is similar to a 401(k) using your own pre or post-tax dollars)
• Full Suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more
• Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care)
• Competitive vacation and sick leave policies
• Free, on-site parking

What This Job Offers

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