Donor Relations Senior Specialist

Purdue Research Foundation • West Lafayette, IN

15h

About The Position

Working for the Purdue For Life Foundation offers a unique opportunity to be part of an organization dedicated to empowering Purdue University alumni and fostering a lifelong connection to the institution. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to contribute to a mission that supports educational initiatives, scholarships, and programs that positively impact the lives of Purdue students and graduates. The Foundation's commitment to education and community engagement provides a fulfilling work environment where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community. Additionally, you'll have access to a network of passionate colleagues and the resources needed to drive positive change, making the Purdue For Life Foundation an inspiring and rewarding place to build your career. Your next giant leap starts here.

This is an opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven professional to play a visible role in advancing Purdue’s mission through meaningful donor engagement. As a senior member of the Donor Relations team, you will partner directly with fundraising leadership to design elevated stewardship experiences that deepen relationships and demonstrate impact. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy collaborating with senior stakeholders, and are passionate about creating thoughtful, high-touch donor experiences, we invite you to bring your expertise to a team committed to excellence and innovation in philanthropy.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and translate fundraising priorities into effective donor engagement plans.
• Ability to operate autonomously with sound judgment and minimal supervision.
• Proven experience managing multiple complex projects and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Strong relationship management skills, particularly in partnering with senior fundraisers and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce executive-ready donor materials.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to coordinate across multiple teams and manage competing priorities effectively.
• Professional discretion in handling confidential donor information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (advanced Excel preferred) and CRM systems such as Ascend/Salesforce.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of donor engagement activities.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in donor relations required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary donor relations liaison for two or more assigned colleges/units, partnering directly with the Senior Fundraiser and their development team to lead and execute unit-level stewardship strategy.
• Develop, implement, and manage comprehensive donor experience plans aligned with fundraising priorities and top donor portfolios.
• Operate as the central coordination point for all donor relations activity within assigned units, translating fundraising strategy into integrated execution across Recognition, Acknowledgment, and Reporting pillars.
• Design and lead high-touch donor experiences, including complex campus visits, executive engagement moments, impact storytelling opportunities, and personalized stewardship strategies.
• Provide strategic oversight and execution of premium stewardship initiatives, which may include football suite management, basketball suite hospitality, Purdue Day of Giving experience strategy, and other signature engagement programs.
• Independently manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring timelines, quality standards, and donor expectations are consistently met.
• Draft and refine donor-facing communications, executive briefing materials, impact summaries, and personalized stewardship follow-up correspondence.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of donor engagement activities within Ascend/Salesforce, ensuring stewardship actions and deliverables are properly recorded.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance donor experience quality and implement improvements aligned with departmental standards.
• Serve as a strategic resource to development officers regarding donor engagement strategy, visit preparation, and stewardship best practices.
• Provide leadership support within the Experience pillar, which may include onboarding or informal training of Donor Relations team members.
• Contribute to enterprise-wide stewardship initiatives and cross-functional workgroups across the Purdue for Life and Donor Relations platforms.
• Identify process improvements and develop tools, templates, and workflows to enhance efficiency and consistency across units.
• Represent Donor Relations & Stewardship at events, meetings, and internal planning sessions as appropriate.
• Participate in PFLF Develop U and other professional development opportunities to remain current in stewardship best practices.
• Support special projects and other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• 10 paid holidays per year.
• Accrue up to 22 vacation days a year.
• Traditional pre-tax 403(b) and Roth retirement plans available.
• 10% employer contribution to your retirement plan and immediate vesting.
• Health Savings Account- earn up to $700 annually towards medical expenses.
• Employer funded Preventative Dental and Vision insurance.
• Tuition discounts on eligible programs at Purdue University and Purdue Global for qualified employees, spouses, and dependents.

What This Job Offers

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