Philanthropic Recognition Officer

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Washington, a historic institution dedicated to learning, innovation, and community building, seeks a Philanthropic Recognition Officer to support its mission of becoming the world's greatest public university. This role is part of the University Advancement team, which focuses on fostering meaningful connections to advance the UW's impact through development, alumni engagement, marketing, communications, and operations. The Development team's mission is to facilitate private resources to enhance the University's reputation and support equitable community building. The Philanthropic Recognition Programs (PRP) team specifically works to highlight the collective impact of philanthropy and celebrate every gift and contributor. This position will support three key recognition programs: The President's Circle, UW Lifetime, and Husky Loyal, which honor annual leadership giving, lifetime cumulative generosity, and loyal year-over-year support, respectively. The Philanthropic Recognition Officer will play a vital role in cultivating relationships with supporters and ensuring they feel appreciated and connected to the University of Washington.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree AND a minimum of two years of experience in nonprofit donor relations, program management, customer service, communications, or a related field.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Experience in event coordination and customer-facing support, with working knowledge of CRM systems to manage relationships and drive service efficiency.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify inefficiencies and propose practical process improvements.
Demonstrated strong computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint for correspondence, special reports, spreadsheets, databases and forms.
Ability to make decisions in ambiguous situations and exercise good judgment based on available information in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to work independently, problem solve, take initiative, set priorities and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively.

Nice To Haves

During Events (from setup to tear down) or on Event days: Ability to lift/move 20 pounds regularly and up to 40 pounds occasionally for event setup and tear down.
Ability to stand 4 or more hours continuously.
Ability to walk 4 or more hours continuously.
Ability to work greater than a 10-hour day.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day fulfillment activities for donor recognition programs, including communications, inventory, vendor relations, gift distribution and CRM recognition coding.
Act as a CRM expert and improve processes through enhanced tools, workflows and standard operating procedures.
Manage donor recognition inquiries, concerns, and feedback as the primary point of contact, ensuring timely and professional responses.
Analyze donor responses to identify actionable insights and recommend strategy improvements.
Independently write and edit donor materials such as emails, website content, newsletters, ads and impact stories.
Support donor engagement and University fundraising goals by using data and research to guide communication plans and decisions.
Maintain an inventory of digital assets for recognition programs, ensuring websites and other online resources are regularly updated and aligned with current strategies.
Support the planning and implementation of exclusive donor recognition events in partnership with University Marketing & Communications.
This includes managing invitation lists and CRM data, maintaining project documentation and workflows and occasionally leading small-scale donor engagement events involving vendors, volunteers and event logistics.
Provide input into the annual planning process by sharing ideas and recommendations based on audience needs, past events and program goals.
Act as an internal ambassador for recognition programs by sharing information, fostering cross-team understanding and partnering with the Associate Director to increase program visibility.
Participate in relevant University Advancement and UW committees, working groups, events and activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.