Director of Donor Relations

Salary: $53,812.00 - $71,300.00 Annually
Location : Carbondale, Illinois
Job Type: Administrative Professional
Job Number: 2600268
Department: SIU Foundation Carbondale-SIUC
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 9/11/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA:: Exempt
Security/Safety Sensitive:: NA
FTE: 1.0


Description


The SIU Foundation seeks candidates for the Director of Donor Relations position. This position provides strategic leadership for donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement initiatives for the SIU Foundation. This position also develops and implements programs to ensure meaningful, consistent acknowledgment of donor contributions and alignment with donor intent. The role collaborates with development staff and University partners to support cultivation and stewardship efforts, coordinate recognition activities and events, and maintain accurate donor records and reporting to strengthen long-term philanthropic relationships.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Examples of Duties


The primary charge of this position is to lead the SIU Foundation's donor relations function, inclusive of: donor acknowledgment and recognition, engagement-related donor communications and events, gift stewardship, major gift "onboarding" (gift agreement administration and fund creation).

1. Plan, develop, and implement strategies for Donor Relations and stewardship programs/initiatives.
2. Ensure the alignment of Donor Relations initiatives with SIU Foundation and university goals and objectives.
3. Assist Executive Director with setting Advancement Services and Foundation priorities; organize competing priorities with an eye to both short-and long-term needs and efficiencies.
4. Develop, manage, and monitor donor recognition programs for major/principal gifts, inclusive of written acknowledgments, ceremonies, donor walls, plaques, etc.
5. Oversee the development and management of broad-based stewardship and recognition vehicles, inclusive of giving societies, donor honor rolls, and special acknowledgements (e.g., first-time donor packages and board thank-yous).
6. Oversee the execution of select Foundation programs and events.
7. Engage in marketing and communications efforts related to Donor Relations/stewardship program (inclusive of writing for print and electronic channels).
8. Identify and leverage collaborative stewardship opportunities with development staff.
9. Identify and recruit students and alumni for participation in Donor Relations programs.
10. Manage invitation/registration tracking for select Foundation, Alumni Association, and SIU events with cultivation, stewardship, and/or solicitation components.
11. Develop and maintain strategic operating plans and associated budgets for Donor Relations, regularly monitoring, assessing, and reporting progress to goal.
12. Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for Donor Relations and stewardship matters; communicate and champion the area's initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.
13. Collaborate with Financial Services to ensure accommodation of donor intent.
14. Collaborate with development staff to ensure appropriate engagement and stewardship of major donors, arrange donor visits and tours, etc.
15. Provide reports, tools, and other resources to relevant Foundation and SIU staff, staying current with industry standards and best practices.
16. Manage department and event budgets.
17. Manage multiple projects and tasks of varying complexity.
18. Supervise, train, direct, and evaluate the work of assigned Donor Relations staff; recommend necessary changes in staffing, structure, resources.
19. Plan, develop, and implement strategies for Donor Relations and stewardship programs/initiatives.
20. Ensure the alignment of Donor Relations initiatives with SIU Foundation and university goals and objectives.
21. Assist the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Major and Planned Giving with setting priorities; organize competing priorities with an eye to both short- and long-term needs and efficiencies.
22. Develop, manage, and monitor donor recognition programs for major/principal gifts, :inclusive of written acknowledgments, ceremonies, donor walls, plaques, etc.
23. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree. A minimum of five years of work experience in donor relations or a similar role with relevant responsibilities. Extensive knowledge of donor relations' role in higher education environments and familiarity with the role/function of advancement services and/or financial aid offices. Strong planning, management, and supervisory skills. Ability to balance a wide variety of competing responsibilities, priorities, and stakeholders. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Masters Degree and three or more years of supervisory of experience.

Required Documents: Please submit a letter of application, CV/Resume, and three references.

Contact: Darla Peterman,


Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University with a statewide economic impact of $2.7 billion dollars. We offer 200+ undergraduate degrees, minors and specializations, 79 master's degrees, and 40 doctoral degrees. Our main campus is 1,136 acres, with additional acreage in University Farms, Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and other facilities. The university is an essential part of the city of Carbondale and an important contributor to the culture of the entire region. While Carbondale includes many of the amenities of urban life, it retains its small-town flavor. Cost of living is considerably lower in the region than similar areas elsewhere, and many employees commute from nearby counties.

The Southern Illinois region is distinct from the rest of the state, boasting considerable natural beauty including the Shawnee National Forest, many state parks, national wildlife areas, and several lakes beloved for recreation. Local foods are readily available in the area, with a variety of eateries and a growing specialized food truck presence. The area is home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, an official wine appellation designation. The wineries extend the cultural reach of the community, hosting live music and continual art exhibits. The campus itself is a microcosm of the area, with a lake and forest on campus, as well as traditional collegiate architecture, quad, and residential halls. Students enjoy outdoor study areas as well as specialized computer labs scattered across campus, including in the three million volume Morris Library. To learn about , , and find resources about Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region, visit:
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer dedicated to building a community of excellence, equity, and diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, genetic information, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation including gender identity, unfavorable discharge from the military or status as a protected veteran. The university will comply with all federal and state nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, orders, and regulations.
University employees may be eligible for a variety of State of Illinois benefits. These benefits are administered through the Illinois Department of Central Management Service (CMS). These benefits include: Health Insurance plans (HMOs, OAPs, QCHP and CDHP), Dental Insurance, Vision Plan, Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Supplemental Long Term Disability (LTD), Flex Spending Accounts, MCAP and DCAP, and 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

Eligible employees are required to participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS). SURS is the retirement administrator for employees in public higher education in the State of Illinois.

Other benefits available to eligible employees include: Generous paid time-off, 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Employee Assistance Program.
SIUC also provides extensive tuition benefits for its employees and their families such as: tuition waiver/application fee waiver for the employee and their dependents , a Legacy tuition rate for children of SIU Alumni , and Civil Service Employee Counsel (CSEC) Education Assistance Program (EAP)

For more information please visit: