Director, Donor Relations
About The Position
The Director, Donor Relations will play a critical role in the development, implementation, and management of a comprehensive stewardship system that appropriately and consistently promotes interactions with and recognition of donors. In addition, the Director, Donor Relations will be responsible for collaborating with senior leaders and key stakeholders as the content and policy expert for stewardship-related matters, especially gift agreements, fund compliance, endowment reports, and naming opportunities. Your impact will be significant. This position is instrumental in building, leading, and motivating donor relations professionals. You will operationalize innovative donor relations models, use technology to its fullest, and measure outcomes to strengthen our continuum of donor engagement. Location: This is a full-time hybrid position and is open to employees in select US states: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- More than five years of development experience in donor relations and stewardship, preferably in a higher education setting.
- Demonstrated understanding of the principles and practices of philanthropy, particularly in higher education and/or institutionally-related foundations.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
- High degree of integrity, demonstrating respect for individuals at every level of an organization.
- Ability to take initiative and work independently.
- Ability to work effectively as a member of a team, particularly multiple organizational teams.
- Ability to effectively represent UMAF.
- Sense of humor and life balance; an optimistic personality with a dedication to the highest standards of professionalism.
- Knowledge of fundraising database software, with a preference for Salesforce and/or Ellucian Advance.
- Champions a diverse culture where opinions are welcomed and valued and the ability to effectively work and interact respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment.
- Data-driven decision-maker with attention to detail and follow-through.
- Ability to create operational efficiencies and optimize the use of resources.
- Possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel and work evenings and weekends occasionally.
Responsibilities
- Collaboration with External Stakeholders (45%)
- Collaborate with development officers and university partners to develop endowment and current use gift agreements.
- Review and approve restricted major- and principal-level gift proposals to ensure resulting gifts are legal, practical, awardable and follow established policies. Consult with and counsel gift officers regarding establishing endowments and other named funds.
- Establish and implement training program for UMAF team to educate and provide guidance on named gifts standards and protocols.
- Act as primary liaison between the UMAF and UMass Foundation for endowed gift agreements, fund compliance, and named gifts.
- Endowment Reporting and Compliance (30%)
- With creativity and innovation, develop and oversee the production of stewardship reports, including, but not limited to annual endowment impact and financial reports.
- Conduct periodic audits of philanthropic funds across the university. Collaborate with university partners, support efforts to ensure endowment income and current-use spending is timely and in accordance with the intent of the donor.
- Respond to inquiries regarding stewardship and endowment fund compliance issues and concerns.
- Benchmark best practices across the industry in stewardship and fund compliance practices.
- Named Gift Compliance (15%)
- Work with the Senior Director, Donor Relations to create and provide oversight for standards and protocols for all named gifts.
- Collaborate with development officers and university partners to ensure all named gifts follow appropriate approval processes and procedures.
- Other Duties as Assigned (10%)
- UMAF is building and growing, and this position will support those efforts with other duties and projects as assigned from time to time.
Benefits
- 20 vacation days, 12 holidays, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 office closure days.
- 4-day summer work week.
- 401(k) plan. You contribute 5% and receive a 10% match.
- Health insurance packages for medical, dental, and vision.
- 16 weeks of paid parental leave to use within 1 year of childbirth. An additional 6 weeks available for the birthing parent. Part-time work for full-time pay for the first 4 weeks post parental leave.
- Learn more about our benefits.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
