Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship

Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

Reporting to the Executive Director of Advancement Services, the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship will conceptualize and execute a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program in support of the Advancement Office at Ursinus College. They will manage targeted, research-based and content-driven outreach that serves to advance the donor relationship with the college. Specific elements of the donor relations and stewardship program include annually scheduled impact reporting, lifetime stewardship reporting, endowment reporting, principal gifts stewardship, an acknowledgment letter process, donor recognition societies and signage, donor stewardship events and visits, and soft-touch stewardship outreach. They will focus much of their time on building a principal gifts stewardship program, supporting Presidential and Advancement leadership efforts, and increasing donor retention. This position provides direct supervision to the Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develops and manages a collaborative, thoughtful approach to the announcement, acknowledgment, and recognition of principal level gifts in collaboration with Advancement leadership and campus partners.
• Prepares highly-personalized written correspondence from the President of the College and other senior leaders, as requested, which may include meeting follow-up notes, letters of congratulations, and general outreach/issues management that serves to advance an individual's relationship with the college.
• Work closely with the Vice President for Advancement and External Relations and Associate Vice President for Advancement to lead principal gift stewardship program. This may include creating comprehensive program-specific reports with financial accounting, developing broader lifetime impact reports, and coordinating individual donor visits and donor experiences.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues across the college to advise and implement individualized stewardship plans, programs, and other deliverables, both virtual and in-person, during the next campaign.
• Manages a small portfolio of donors in permanent stewardship, ensuring strategic touches annually as appropriate.

Donor Retention:

• Works closely with the Ursinus Fund team to focuses on donor retention and implementing practices that support that priority. In collaboration with the Executive Director of the Ursinus Fund and Director of Operations, Systems, and Technology, monitor retention trends and develop strategies that improve repeat giving and the recapture of lapsed donors through effective stewardship.
• Serve as lead for donor recognition societies, working with key Advancement partners to manage associated events, programs, and honor rolls. These groups currently include the 1869 Society (leadership annual), Sycamore Club (loyalty), and Tower Society (gift planning), and may expand to include an Athletics-based club and others. Develops, schedules, and manages society-specific engagement, with the ultimate goal of generating annual support.
• In collaboration with the Executive Director of the Ursinus Fund, support stewardship of various annual funding priorities such as the Bears Club, Friends of Myrin Library, Friends of Berman, Friends of Theater & Dance, Friends of Music, recurring gifts, first-time donors, and more.

Program Development and Administration:

• Oversee the administration a comprehensive acknowledgment letter program, which includes correspondence on behalf of the President of the college, Vice President for Advancement and External Relations, Associate Vice President for Advancement, and other senior-level directors.
• Conceptualize, develop, plan, and oversee a program for stewardship reporting (narrative and financial) for current-use and endowed funds including: developing, documenting, and adhering to an annual schedule to ensure timely delivery; researching, writing and editing reports and cover letters; and utilizing systems necessary to track reporting.
• Lead the planning and execution of donor recognition events for the college in collaboration with colleagues and campus partners. Such events may include donor stewardship visits and luncheons, an annual benefactor's dinner, site visits from institutional partners, signage unveilings, and building dedications, among others.
• Conceptualize, develop, plan, and oversee donor recognition signage on the Ursinus College campus. This includes keeping an accurate inventory of naming opportunities (sold and available), interfacing with donors, and coordinating with campus units and third-party vendors to ensure timely production and installation.
• Annually audit endowed and term funds to ensure that administration is in adherence with the guidelines established in the Gift Acceptance Policy and in alignment with documented donor intent. This includes for our endowed prizes, named scholarship program, and more.
• Establish and manage information-tracking processes regarding acknowledgement, recognition, ongoing communications, and continued cultivation of past and current donors to enhance their relationship. Utilize Raiser's Edge to input information.

Management:

• Provide direct supervision to the Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, ensuring that work plans are established to advance individual growth while also supporting departmental needs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience, ideally in a higher education or non-profit environment
• Strong understanding of non-profit fundraising;
• Outstanding interpersonal and customer service skills;
• Strong project management and planning skills as well as the ability to navigate multiple, competing deadlines;
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to draft executive-level correspondence;
• Ability to adhere to confidentiality.
• Ability to perform in-depth research and synthesize and communicate out evidence-based detailed information and statistics, including financial data;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team;
• Excellent computer skills, including using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat Professional, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator);
• Knowledge and experience working with the Raiser's Edge database system, or comparable database software;

Work Environment:

• Ability to sit for long periods at personal computer performing related functions;
• Ability to lift and transport materials weighing less than 15 lbs.;
• Availability and flexibility to travel, as needed;
• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends, as necessary.

Departmental Accountabilities:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues and team members in the Advancement Office and throughout the College. Participates in Advancement Office meetings and other key College staff meetings.
• Provides support to office leadership, as needed, for priority projects.
• Possesses knowledge and experience with computer programs that support the Advancement Department including Microsoft Office programs and Raiser's Edge.

Other Duties:

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position and are not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Job responsibilities and activities may be modified or changed at any time with or without notice. Job descriptions are audited periodically by the Ursinus Human Resources department to ensure they are up-to-date and reflect the essential responsibilities and duties of the job.

Ursinus EOO Statement:

Ursinus is an EEO employer. Ursinus College does not discriminate on grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, creed, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, disability, or other classification protected by applicable law in the administration of any of its educational programs or activities or with respect to employment.