Dir of Donor Engagement & Strategic Initiativ

Job Description

Job Description

Purpose

The Director of Donor Engagement and Strategic Initiatives turns institutional priorities into a coordinated, donor-centered strategy, so that every touchpoint, conversation, and moment strengthens donors' relationship with the College and advances its fundraising goals.

Position Summary

The Director of Donor Engagement and Strategic Initiatives plays a critical role in supporting Knox College's highest fundraising priorities. Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, the Director partners closely with the Vice President's office to ensure principal and major gift strategies are executed seamlessly and aligned with institutional goals. The Director provides leadership in project management, communications, and operational support that enable the Vice President and advancement leaders to engage effectively with top prospects, donors, and stakeholders. This role also serves as a key connector across the College, coordinating with the Vice President of Advancement and working with senior leadership, including the President, the Provost, deans, and other campus leaders, to align donor engagement with academic and institutional priorities. By bridging Advancement, the Vice President's office, and academic leadership, the Director of Donor Engagement and Strategic Initiatives strengthens Knox's ability to engage top donors, secure transformational gifts, and advance strategic priorities.

About Knox College Advancement

Knox College's Advancement division supports the College's mission through major and principal gifts, annual giving, alumni and parent engagement, advancement operations, and grants. The team is currently focused on the Venture Boldly Campaign, strengthening connections with constituents, securing significant unrestricted support through the Knox Fund, and building a disciplined, high-performing major gifts program.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Partnership and Team Leadership:

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Vice President, contributing to divisional planning, goal-setting, and the broader direction of Advancement.
• Prepare the donor relations function to operate at campaign pace, executing and coordinating additional donor engagement initiatives as the campaign requires.
• Develop compelling gift opportunities, including named funds, endowments, and program-specific proposals, that align donor interests and giving capacity with institutional priorities.
• Create polished gift proposals, gift agreements, and pledge documentation that translate cultivation conversations into clear, donor-ready materials and formalize commitments.
• Spearhead the planning and execution of campaign-focused donor events, from milestone celebrations to major donor recognition gatherings.

Strategic Donor Engagement and Stewardship:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive, donor relations and stewardship strategy that spans the full donor journey, from first gift through principal-level giving.
• Supervise the Associate Director of Donor Relations, and build capacity within the team to manage a growing engagement and long-term stewardship portfolio.
• Partner with the Vice President, President's Office, and relationship managers to design cultivation and stewardship strategies for major- and principal-level donors.
• Guide the direction of donor-facing advancement communications, ensuring a consistent voice and experience across channels; partner with Communications to produce high-quality deliverables, including videos, digital and print pieces, and signature events.
• Coordinate with annual giving, development, and campus partners so that messaging and timing are aligned across the donor experience.
• Oversee the process for timely, high-quality acknowledgment correspondence from the President, Vice President, and other institutional leadership, working closely with philanthropy officers and campus partners.
• Work with Advancement Operations to strengthen policy and practice around reporting and tracking of endowed funds, named spaces, and principal gifts.
• Oversee recognition programs, including personalized milestones, giving societies, and named space and endowed fund recognition.
• Maintain accurate documentation of stewardship activities and proposals within the database.

Planned Giving Marketing and Stewardship:

• Develop strategies and marketing programs that educate current and prospective donors on planned giving vehicles and grow membership in Knox's legacy giving society.
• Design stewardship programming tailored to planned giving donors that reflects their unique relationship with the College.

Required:

• Baccalaureate degree required.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in a relationship-driven field such as sales, account management, client services, hospitality, marketing, or nonprofit development, ideally including experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Genuine intellectual curiosity and an appreciation for mission-driven work; prior experience in higher education or with a liberal arts institution is a plus, not a requirement.
• Demonstrated success building and leading programs or initiatives from concept through execution, with the ability to quickly learn the fundamentals of philanthropic giving, planned giving, and fundraising practice.
• Proven ability to build relationships and bring people together across teams, departments, and external partners; works collaboratively with peer colleagues across the team to build alignment, cohesion, and shared momentum toward common goals.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the judgment to represent the College confidently with senior leaders, board members, and high-value partners or clients.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff, and working effectively with volunteers, committees, or cross-functional teams.
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, highly collaborative environment, including during periods of significant organizational change or growth, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor CRM systems, and familiarity with social media and digital engagement platforms.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion, and willingness to travel and work some evenings and weekends in support of client or donor engagement and signature events.

Preferred:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in development, donor relations, stewardship, advancement communications, ideally including comprehensive campaign experience.
• Experience managing high-level client, member, or donor relationships, along with diverse engagement programs and signature events, both locally and regionally.

Note: This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Summary Pay Range: Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance, and experience. Please note that pay is only one component of total compensation.

Benefits:

Health Insurance

Dental

Vision

FSA/ HSA/ FSA Dependent Care 

Employer Paid Basic Life & LTD

Voluntary Life

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Employee Assistance Program

Parental Leave 

In keeping with its commitment to equal rights since it was founded in 1837, Knox College particularly welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups. Knox College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious affiliation, sexual orientation or preference, age, marital or family status, disability, veteran status, or other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in admission, financial aid, employment, athletics, or any other aspect of its educational programs or activities. In addition, Knox College is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its accompanying regulations from discriminating on the basis of sex. 

The College official responsible for coordinating compliance with this Notice of Non-Discrimination is the Director of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance. Any inquiries regarding policies that prohibit discrimination and harassment, including Title IX sexual harassment, as well as the policy prohibiting hazing, should be directed to the Director of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance identified below. Staff in the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance are available to meet with or talk to students, staff, and faculty regarding issues relating to this Notice of Non-Discrimination and the College’s policies and procedures.

Director of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance
Old Jail 12 | Campus Box K-209
337 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
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Email: View email address on ziprecruiter.com

Inquiries about the application of Title IX to Knox may be referred to the Director of Civil Rights & Title IX Compliance, the United States Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, or both. Individuals may also contact the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights for additional information.

Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education-Chicago Office
500 W Madison St., Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661-4544
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Email: View email address on ziprecruiter.com

Inquiries regarding the College’s policies regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) should be directed to the ADA/504 Coordinator identified below:

Knox College ADA/504 Coordinator
Jennie Hemingway, PhD
Old Jail 12 | Campus Box K-209
337 South Cherry Street
Galesburg, IL 61401
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Email: View email address on ziprecruiter.com

Employees requesting accommodations may contact:

Human Resources
52 W South St., Alumni Hall, Suite 100 | Campus Box K-200
Galesburg, IL 61401
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Students requesting accommodations may contact:

Director of Disability Support Services
Patricia Harden
Umbeck Science and Math Center E111 | Campus Box K183
340 South West Street
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Email: View email address on ziprecruiter.com

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in certain aspects of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a human.