Donor Relations Director Job Description
Donor relations director
provides insight and support to the Chief Advancement Officer and Major Gifts Officer(s), Museum President and Executive Director, trustees, and others in the areas of donor cultivation and stewardship.
Donor Relations Director Duties & Responsibilities
To write an effective donor relations director job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included donor relations director job description templates that you can modify and use.
Sample responsibilities for this position include:
Manage acknowledgement of gifts, recognition of major gifts and campaign gifts, including letters, press releases, events, plaques and gifts
Processing all non-annual fund gifts received by the Mountaineer Athletic Club imputing data for all non-annual fund gifts in Paciolan ticketing/donor software system
Research & recommend new and additional stewardship programs to convey the impact of donors’ gifts, the college’s gratitude, and to promote further giving
Preparation of all Acknowledgments—Coordinate and/or prepare all acknowledgments for all unrestricted gifts received in the amount of $1-$24,999
Collaborate with frontline fundraisers to create fundraising project summaries, letters, talking points, informational pieces, and other written materials for internal and external audiences
Develop and manage fundraising and partnership opportunities for capital and signature building/spaces campaigns
Develops and implements new initiatives to demonstrate impact of philanthropy on Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Direct 3 Regional Special Projects Directors and their teams of 3 professionals responsible for fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events in their regions
Oversee the planning, organization and implementation of the Pratt’s major fundraising event, Legends
Lead and direct a comprehensive program of donor relations activity designed to acknowledge and recognize donors to the American Museum of Natural History
Donor Relations Director Qualifications
Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.
Licensing or Certifications for Donor Relations Director
List any licenses or certifications required by the position: GOLD
Education for Donor Relations Director
Typically a job would require a certain level of education.
Employers hiring for the donor relations director job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Education, Communications, Management, Marketing, Business, Communication, Leadership, Public Relations, Computer, Writing
Skills for Donor Relations Director
Desired skills for donor relations director include:
Microsoft Office suite
Raiser’s Edge
Relational databases
Spreadsheets and mail-merge functions
Microsoft Office
Salesforce
PowerPoint
Access
Excel
Best practices in stewardship and donor relations
Desired experience for donor relations director includes:
Conceptualize and execute systems and processes for comprehensive stewardship reporting
Manage and coordinate Museum crediting
Oversee the acknowledgment letter-writing process
Demonstrated knowledge of development or fund-raising concepts
Create the long range regional individual giving vision and annual strategic and operating plans to ensure that the Miami-Dade Region maximizes opportunities, meets its goals, and significantly grows funding while building long-term sustainability
Support all shared development team responsibilities, including board meetings, school visits
Donor Relations Director Examples
1
Donor Relations Director Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is looking to fill the role of donor relations director. We appreciate you taking the time to review the list of qualifications and to apply for the position. If you don’t fill all of the qualifications, you may still be considered depending on your level of experience.
Responsibilities for donor relations director
- Develop and manage an Advancement scholarship awards process, including coordination with Financial Aid, to verify that scholarship awards made are appropriate to donor fund agreements and are awarded on a timely and regular basis, coordination with Foundation Accounting Manager for timely, accurate reconciliation of scholarship bills
- Organize efforts to develop, implement, and improve upon current stewardship efforts for University Advancement
- Design and implement donor centric processes for stewardship in line with University Advancement strategic goals
- Identifies, researches, & cultivates donors through the creation of strategic long-term stewardship plans & the management of daily stewardship activities
- Plan and coordinate recognition efforts for leadership giving societies
- Track and analyze the ongoing data to tailor stewardship and events efforts
- Advising and developing the strategic direction on all aspects of marketing and donor relations for the unit including creative, multi-media plans, digital outreach, direct response, data capture, data measurement, donor engagement and recognition and stewardship planning
- The planning and oversight of the marketing and donor relations strategies
- Developing and implementing strategies to expand the prospect base across the unit by bringing a proven and demonstrated level of expertise in marketing tactics which drive acquisition, cultivation and solicitation efforts
- Recommending creative ways to present data and lead not only the team, but MBSD in uncovering areas for new promotion opportunities, all in the effort to acquire targeted donor bases, steward existing donors, and maximize retention rates in overall donor engagement
Qualifications for donor relations director
- Experience working in incentive or recognition programs
- Writing and or editorial experience
- Experience with standard style guides (e.g., AP and Chicago)
- Experience supervising or managing the work of others is a plus
- Serving and acting as a change agent and a thought leader in all elements of multi-media strategies including but not limited to digital and direct response trends and techniques
- Ensuring quality, accuracy, and timeliness of measurement deliverables in the area of annual giving through leading-edge approaches to direct response programming
2
Donor Relations Director Job Description
Job Description Example
Our growing company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of donor relations director. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for donor relations director
- Serve as a member of the Advancement Leadership team working closely with the Vice President of Advancement, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, and the Director of Major and Planned Giving
- Work closely with the Associate Director of Stewardship to create and deliver accurate and meaningful reports to donors or their designees for endowed funds or special gifts
- Develop the annual report for the Vice President of Advancement and the President including an honor roll of donors
- Design and disseminate customized solicitation strategies targeting organizational objectives and donor interests in partnership with cross-departmental teams
- Explore new and creative platforms, formats and content for conveying the impact of giving to donors
- Serve on university committees and act as resource to colleagues in relevant areas
- Ensures accuracy, quality and timeliness of information and records related to gift/fund reports and acknowledgement letters
- Manage staff who assist in executing the goals and objectives of the Donor Relations Program
- Provide oversight and create mechanisms to ensure that expenditure of gift funds meets donor intent
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight for donor recognition activities and benefits that provide high-impact and personalized opportunities and are received in a timely, efficient, and appropriate manner
Qualifications for donor relations director
- Proven track record in managing a team and motivating, coaching and counseling team members
- Excellent analytical, writing and editing skills in order to prepare reports and correspondence in appropriate tone, style and format
- Extensive proficiency in MS Office Suite
- Knowledge of data entry processing (to allow for effective quality control of data entry and caging operations)
- Experience with staff training and designing training programs for staff and vendors
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, written, verbal, and record keeping
3
Donor Relations Director Job Description
Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of donor relations director. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for donor relations director
- Management and Reporting of all Endowed and Expendable Funds – Ensure all endowed funds are being properly used by Kellogg, according to the donor’s intent
- News Alerts and Dean’s Correspondence—Develop a comprehensive system for tracking alumni news
- Plan and produce SafeHaven’s annual Dapper Dinner (April/May), Legacy of Women Luncheon (Oct), and Walk-A-Mile (Dec/TBD)
- Work in conjunction with Chief Sustainability Officer to establish long-term goals and objectives for each contribution category
- Research and analyze individual donors and prospects in order to develop strategies for gift growth and/or acquisition
- Serve as primary contact for donors
- Coordinate and implement donor appreciation and cultivation events and activities, SafeFutures appreciation event
- Effectively communicate with relevant staff regarding status of solicitations and prospects
- Monitor and supervise Development Coordinator to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of data entry and gift acknowledgment
- Creates and implements strategic long-term (5+ years) stewardship plans for key donors, paying special attention to critical & high-end donors ($1M+), in coordination with gift officers
Qualifications for donor relations director
- Working knowledge of computers and software as required
- Knowledge of Blackbaud CRM a plus
- Should be a critical and strategic thinker and possess strong time management skills, professional and courteous demeanor and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues throughout campus
- One year of experience in implementing and executing stewardship programs, or three or more years of experience in a related field
- Understand principles of donor engagement and stewardship
- Demonstrate excellent professionalism, the ability to communicate with performing, visual, and/or environmental arts donors, and to organize multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously
4
Donor Relations Director Job Description
Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is looking to fill the role of donor relations director. Thank you in advance for taking a look at the list of responsibilities and qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your resume.
Responsibilities for donor relations director
- Creating and implementing an organization strategy to identify, cultivate and solicit new and existing individual donors to achieve fundraising goal
- Leading PHS’ annual fundraising event to achieve a significant increase in attendance and net revenue, enhance the event experience to better engage donors
- Creating donor relations processes and directing PHS’ donor management systems, including Raiser’s Edge
- Managing a fulltime Development Assistant in prospect research, reporting, processing gifts, acknowledgements and database management
- Develops and implements new initiatives to enhance donor recognition
- Direct the Assistant Director of Donor Relations and a team of 5 professionals responsible for donor relations activities and stewardship programs
- Build collaboration between these separate but related functions
- Build robust donor travel program, with contributions from both teams
- Oversee the tracking and inventory of all named spaces on campus, giving and/or Development plaques, all named prizes and all endowed funds
- Oversee the production of written stewardship communications and acknowledgements
Qualifications for donor relations director
- Strong interest and knowledge of the performing, visual, and/or environmental arts
- Stewardship experience within a higher education environment
- Possess knowledge of policies and procedures specifically related to campus engagement and stewardship practices
- Must be able to negotiate stairs
- A sincere appreciation for people and how they are each uniquely motivated
- Strong written, presentation, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills
5
Donor Relations Director Job Description
Job Description Example
Our growing company is looking to fill the role of donor relations director. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for donor relations director
- Assist in the conceptualization and implementation of events that recognize and celebrate donors, including campaign events
- Works closely with the Corporate Campaign and Major and Individual Giving teams to acknowledge and steward individual and corporate donors
- Creates cultivation plans for the Women’s Leadership Luncheon, Gridiron Gala and other organization thought leadership and fundraising events
- Recommends and facilitates on- and off-campus publicity of major gifts and donors with the department of Marketing and Communications
- Prepare endowed fund reports and ensure they are mailed in a timely manner
- Development writing for publications, the web, as needed
- Maintain appropriate records on all prospects and donors
- Execute a highly detailed segmentation plan for Leadership Circle mailings and emails
- Plan and implement key University events such as the President’s Dinner
- Develop external reporting and communications, including but not limited to, annual endowment reports for all endowed funds with living points of contact
Qualifications for donor relations director
- Recognize and adhere to the Donor Bill of Rights as prescribed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Experience in a college athletics setting specifically with fundraising or ticket sales/operations, or transferable related experience in marketing, public relations, alumni relations or sales, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Interest in and passion for the ELS mission
- Minimum of seven years of effective and relevant work experience in broad development is required
- Orientation to jump in and quickly take on work when urgent needs arise, planning and executing special projects as needed
- 8+ years direct experienced preferred