Donor Experience Officer

Wayne State University • Detroit, MI

4d • $60,000 - $61,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Donor Experience Officer at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

JOB PURPOSE
Participate in the planning, development, and implementation of a suite of donor engagement programs meant to enhance philanthropic support and deepen donor relationships. Maintain and enhance donor relationships through responsible stewardship, meaningful recognition, engaging events, and impactful communications. Integrate efforts into solicitation campaigns and strategies, while prioritizing the overarching donor experience. This position reports to the Associate Director, Donor Experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in marketing, business administration, communications, or related field.
• Three to Four (3-4) years of experience in fundraising/development, marketing, communications or related field.
• Professional understanding of, and interest in, Development and Alumni Affairs best practices and general operations.
• Understanding trends and best practices within the Donor Experience and Annual Giving fields.
• Positive and collaborative professional philosophy, recognizing that this position is integral to the achievement of the goals and objectives of Development and Alumni Affairs.
• Ability to evaluate, interpret, and present complex information effectively in professionally prepared documents or presentations.
• Demonstrated attention to detail in order to achieve a high degree of accuracy.
• Willingness to partner with units across the university with integrity and high character to reach unified goals.
• Ability to navigate difficult situations with grace and understanding.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and professionally both orally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to plan and deliver oral and written communications that are impactful and persuasive including presentations to university management and committees.
• Independent and innovative self-starter who displays an ability to learn quickly and easily adapts to changing situations.
• Experience researching topics to gain knowledge and understanding when information gaps exist.
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, prioritize and plan work activities while meeting respective deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Maturity, sound judgment and ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues within the division and other units to gain full understanding of the project and desired outcome; ability to produce high quality and consistent results with assistance of team members; provide support to teammates when tackling complex projects.
• Proficient in the use of complex administrative systems software, preferably in the higher education environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word, Excel and Teams.
• Ability to understand and translate complex concepts into lay terms.
• Adhere to confidentiality and data usage policy for the division.
• Candidate must be willing to work extended hours as needed due to evening and weekend donor engagement events.

Nice To Haves

• Nonprofit or higher education experience preferred.
• Experience with donor database systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with donors to encourage continued and increased giving. Collaborate with Annual and Digital Campaigns teams in the creation and implementation of complementary appeals and impact pieces, specialized stewardship for first-time donors, and customized engagement plans for major and principal-level donors. Track analytics and adjust stewardship strategies as needed based on donor response. Document all customized plans in donor database.
• Manage stewardship and engagement programming for the university’s donor communities. Plan and oversee signature donor engagement events, including the Wayne Loyal Lifetime Circle Induction and Thanksgiving Day Parade Watch Party.
• In collaboration with university partners, manage the production and distribution of annual impact reports, scholarship student profiles and other supplemental materials for endowed and named annual funds. Prepare ad-hoc reports and other impact pieces as requested by divisional leadership and donors. Assist donors and colleagues with inquiries and report analysis continuously innovating and improving processes.
• Collaborate with division colleagues, campus partners, and vendors to create and update donor recognition pieces on campus. Manage and track donor recognition signage and related maintenance plans. Plan, implement, and manage recognition and engagement events for various donors and prospects. Prepare event budgets and monitor expenditures. Regularly evaluate strategies for donor recognition, identifying ways to improve the donor experience.
• Prepare personalized donor correspondence as requested, including congratulatory wishes, condolences, apologies, and special requests. Assist with other programs and initiatives managed by the Donor Experience team as needed.
• Regularly participate in available professional development opportunities and industry forums/listservs, and network with colleagues at peer institutions to remain aligned with industry innovation and growth. Represent the Donor Experience team at industry or community meetings at the request of leadership. Special projects and other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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