Dir of Donor Engagement & Strategic Initiativ

Knox College•Galesburg, IL

12d

About The Position

The Director of Donor Engagement and Strategic Initiatives plays a critical role in supporting Knox College's highest fundraising priorities. Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, the Director partners closely with the Vice President's office to ensure principal and major gift strategies are executed seamlessly and aligned with institutional goals. The Director provides leadership in project management, communications, and operational support that enable the Vice President and advancement leaders to engage effectively with top prospects, donors, and stakeholders. This role also serves as a key connector across the College, coordinating with the Vice President of Advancement and working with senior leadership, including the President, the Provost, deans, and other campus leaders, to align donor engagement with academic and institutional priorities. By bridging Advancement, the Vice President's office, and academic leadership, the Director of Donor Engagement and Strategic Initiatives strengthens Knox's ability to engage top donors, secure transformational gifts, and advance strategic priorities.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree required.
A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a relationship-driven field such as sales, account management, client services, hospitality, marketing, or nonprofit development, ideally including experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
Genuine intellectual curiosity and an appreciation for mission-driven work; prior experience in higher education or with a liberal arts institution is a plus, not a requirement.
Demonstrated success building and leading programs or initiatives from concept through execution, with the ability to quickly learn the fundamentals of philanthropic giving, planned giving, and fundraising practice.
Proven ability to build relationships and bring people together across teams, departments, and external partners; works collaboratively with peer colleagues across the team to build alignment, cohesion, and shared momentum toward common goals.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the judgment to represent the College confidently with senior leaders, board members, and high-value partners or clients.
Experience supervising or mentoring staff, and working effectively with volunteers, committees, or cross-functional teams.
Comfortable in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, highly collaborative environment, including during periods of significant organizational change or growth, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor CRM systems, and familiarity with social media and digital engagement platforms.
Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion, and willingness to travel and work some evenings and weekends in support of client or donor engagement and signature events.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in higher education or with a liberal arts institution.
A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in development, donor relations, stewardship, advancement communications, ideally including comprehensive campaign experience.
Experience managing high-level client, member, or donor relationships, along with diverse engagement programs and signature events, both locally and regionally.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic partner to the Vice President, contributing to divisional planning, goal-setting, and the broader direction of Advancement.
Prepare the donor relations function to operate at campaign pace, executing and coordinating additional donor engagement initiatives as the campaign requires.
Develop compelling gift opportunities, including named funds, endowments, and program-specific proposals, that align donor interests and giving capacity with institutional priorities.
Create polished gift proposals, gift agreements, and pledge documentation that translate cultivation conversations into clear, donor-ready materials and formalize commitments.
Spearhead the planning and execution of campaign-focused donor events, from milestone celebrations to major donor recognition gatherings.
Develop and lead a comprehensive, donor relations and stewardship strategy that spans the full donor journey, from first gift through principal-level giving.
Supervise the Associate Director of Donor Relations, and build capacity within the team to manage a growing engagement and long-term stewardship portfolio.
Partner with the Vice President, President's Office, and relationship managers to design cultivation and stewardship strategies for major- and principal-level donors.
Guide the direction of donor-facing advancement communications, ensuring a consistent voice and experience across channels; partner with Communications to produce high-quality deliverables, including videos, digital and print pieces, and signature events.
Coordinate with annual giving, development, and campus partners so that messaging and timing are aligned across the donor experience.
Oversee the process for timely, high-quality acknowledgment correspondence from the President, Vice President, and other institutional leadership, working closely with philanthropy officers and campus partners.
Work with Advancement Operations to strengthen policy and practice around reporting and tracking of endowed funds, named spaces, and principal gifts.
Oversee recognition programs, including personalized milestones, giving societies, and named space and endowed fund recognition.
Maintain accurate documentation of stewardship activities and proposals within the database.
Develop strategies and marketing programs that educate current and prospective donors on planned giving vehicles and grow membership in Knox's legacy giving society.
Design stewardship programming tailored to planned giving donors that reflects their unique relationship with the College.