Director of Donor Relations

Director of Donor Relations

The University of Evansville (UE) is seeking a strategic, highly organized, and collaborative Director of Donor Relations to join the University Advancement team. This leadership role oversees advancement communications, donor stewardship, and development special events. The Director ensures these functions work together to recognize generosity, communicate philanthropic impact, and create meaningful donor experiences.

The successful candidate will bring strong project management, communication, and organizational skills; exceptional attention to detail; sound professional judgment; and the ability to coordinate complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and budgets. This is an opportunity to lead a critical University Advancement function and help create a consistent, thoughtful, and high-quality experience for those whose philanthropy advances UE's mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Donor Stewardship Strategy: In partnership with the Major Gifts and Development team, develop and lead a comprehensive stewardship strategy for major donors and prospects at the $50,000+ level, ensuring timely, personalized, and meaningful engagement that strengthens relationships and demonstrates the impact of philanthropy.
• Advancement Communications: Oversee the strategy, development, and execution of advancement communications, including donor stories, stewardship materials, impact communications, invitations, and other print and digital content. Ensure communications are accurate, compelling, audience-centered, and aligned with University priorities and brand standards.
• Endowment and Impact Reporting: Oversee the planning, production, and delivery of endowment reports, impact reports, and other stewardship communications that clearly demonstrate the use and outcomes of donor support. Partner with Advancement Services, Fiscal Affairs, Student Financial Services, academic and administrative units, and gift officers to ensure reports are accurate, timely, personalized, and aligned with donor intent.
• Stewardship and Recognition Programs: Oversee the University's principal donor recognition and engagement programs, including the 1854 Society, Clifford Circle, and John Collis Moore Society. Plan meaningful annual experiences, communications, and opportunities for engagement with the University's most dedicated supporters.
• Donor Event and Special Initiative Leadership: Serve as the lead project manager for high-profile donor events, including intimate cultivation gatherings, recognition events, campaign celebrations, groundbreakings, dedications, and other signature University experiences, such as designated donor-funded lectures. Manage event strategy, timelines, budgets, venues, invitations, logistics, vendors, and post-event follow-up, ensuring each experience reflects donor intent, University priorities, and high standards of hospitality and execution.
• Naming and Recognition Management: Coordinate campus naming and donor recognition projects from gift confirmation through completion. Partner with Advancement, Facilities, Marketing and Communications, University leadership, and external vendors to manage approvals, signage, installations, recognition language, and associated dedication events.
• Fundraiser and Campus Collaboration: Partner closely with major gift officers and campus colleagues to develop individualized stewardship plans where appropriate, coordinate donor engagement, support proactive follow-up, and maintain accurate documentation of stewardship activities and commitments.
• Departmental Leadership and Supervision: Supervise the Communications Coordinator, establish clear priorities and expectations, support professional growth, and ensure the timely and effective completion of advancement communications and related projects.
• University Stewardship Leadership and Execution: Serve as a trusted resource to University leadership, faculty, and campus partners on donor stewardship, recognition, protocol, and engagement best practices. Promote a consistent, institution-wide culture of gratitude and accountability.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in communications, business, marketing, higher education, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• Professional Experience: Minimum of three years of progressively responsible professional experience in donor relations, advancement communications, stewardship, development events, nonprofit administration, or a related area.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to develop clear, compelling, and donor-centered communications for a variety of audiences.
• Project Management: Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple complex projects, establish timelines, coordinate stakeholders, and meet competing deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Collaboration and Professional Judgment: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with donors, University leadership, faculty, staff, volunteers, vendors, and other partners while exercising discretion, sound judgment, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Event and Stewardship Execution: Experience planning and executing high-quality events, stewardship initiatives, communications, or recognition programs from concept through completion.
• Technology: Proficiency with standard office and project management technology, with the ability to learn and effectively use constituent relationship management systems and other advancement platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education advancement, donor relations, stewardship, or a comparable nonprofit setting.
• Experience developing donor communications, impact reports, recognition programs, and stewardship initiatives.
• Experience planning and executing high-profile development events.
• Familiarity with endowment reporting, naming opportunities, gift agreements, and donor intent.
• Experience collaborating with donors, faculty, staff, institutional leaders, and external partners.
• Experience managing departmental, program, or event budgets.
• Experience using an advancement CRM system to document donor activity, manage information, and support stewardship and engagement efforts.
• Supervisory experience.

Why Join University Advancement?

At the University of Evansville, donor relations is about more than acknowledging generosity. It is about telling meaningful stories, demonstrating the impact of philanthropy, and creating thoughtful experiences that strengthen donors' connections to the University.

As Director of Donor Relations, you will play an important role in shaping how UE communicates gratitude, celebrates giving, and shares the difference donors make for students, faculty, and the broader campus community. You will join a collaborative and supportive University Advancement team and work across campus to create high-quality communications, stewardship programs, and development events that reflect UE's mission and values.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should complete the online application through the University of Evansville employment portal.