Donor Relations Associate

University of Miami•Miami, FL

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Donor Relations Associate supports fundraising programs for Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center within the University of Miami’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations. Reporting to the Executive Director of Development Resources and working with the Executive Director of Development, the associate helps plan and carry out development and stewardship activities that build donor connections, deepen engagement, and encourage philanthropic gifts. The role involves communication with university leadership, trustees, VIP prospects and donors, department chairpersons, faculty, and research staff. It also provides administrative and donor-relations support and may help donors navigate medical requests within the University of Miami Health System. The associate solves problems and carries out tasks in accordance with university policies and procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Minimum of three years of relevant experience.
Solution-oriented, with the ability to work independently and complete projects on deadline.
Excellent spoken and written English, creativity, attention to detail, and superior customer service skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Initiative, sound judgment, and discretion when handling sensitive information.
Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and work in a dynamic team environment across multiple divisions.

Responsibilities

Serve as a contact and liaison for key donors, prospects, and VIPs; advance prospect strategies, respond to requests, and ensure appropriate follow-up.
Assist donors and prospects with appointment scheduling and other care-related requests at Sylvester and the University of Miami Health System.
Contact prospects and donors when necessary to verify biographical information and representative or event-invitee information.
Manage cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship appointments for fundraisers and administrators.
Prepare agendas, presentations, and briefing materials for key-donor meetings by requesting research from the Portfolio Optimization team or gathering information from online databases and annual financial reports.
Support Development Officers in maintaining donor communications and progressing donors through the gift cycle by tracking interactions and documenting them in i-BIS.
Assist with research and discovery to identify potential major-gift donors by reviewing daily patient screenings, making qualification calls, and referring prospects to Development Officers.
Share relevant donor information, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and accomplishments, with administrators and fundraisers in connection with cultivation and solicitation; support stewardship efforts.
Coordinate logistics with Development Officers for receptions, dinners, community activities, and small events supporting stewardship and cultivation of major-gift donors.
Use i-BIS and other university systems to update and extract constituent information in accordance with training, policies, and procedures.
Track gifts to ensure they are accurately entered and reported in i-BIS, and acknowledge gifts promptly.
Extract and distribute financial and donor-related data as needed.
Attend University Development meetings and training sessions.
Answer phones and provide general office support, including scheduling and processing mileage and business reimbursements.
Support stewardship and cultivation outreach, mailings, programs, and presentations.
Perform other duties or responsibilities as necessary.