Director of Donor Relations

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.

Position Details
Wesleyan University’s Office of Advancement ( ADV ) builds lifelong relationships with alumni, parents, and friends, and engages them in support of the University’s educational mission and financial goals. The Advancement team fosters pride in the Wesleyan community and develops support for university initiatives through outreach activities including development and fundraising, alumni and parent relations, and on and off campus events. Wesleyan is currently in the quiet/leadership phase of a comprehensive fundraising campaign and Donor Relations plays a critical role in all stages of this effort.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President and Campaign Director, the Director of Donor Relations is responsible for the development, implementation, execution, and management of a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program that appropriately and consistently promotes interactions with and recognition of donors at all levels and at all stages of giving.

The Director serves as a key partner within the Advancement team and across campus and is responsible for providing leadership and strategic vision for strengthening donor relationships through comprehensive engagement, stewardship, and recognition programs, and manages the delivery of high-level stewardship communications and engagement activities.

In addition, the Director is responsible for promoting a donor-centric culture within Advancement and throughout the University, developing cross-campus partnerships that are mutually beneficial for donors and the campus at large.

Responsibilities Include:

• Working in collaboration across the Office of Advancement, design, implement, and maintain a comprehensive and strategic donor relations program, developing a roadmap that emphasizes meaningful donor-centric interactions with prospects and donors before, during, and after completion of the gift.
• Working closely with the Principal Gifts team, provide oversight, counsel, and support for donor engagement and stewardship for the top 80-100 prospects and donors, including campaign gift announcements.
• Supervise two direct reports, ensuring the planning and execution of donor-centric communications, reporting, acknowledgement, outreach, and recognition, while weaving in storytelling and building trust through consistent, strategic, and meaningful contact.
• Overseeing the awarding and stewardship process for endowed and current-use funds, including the named scholarship program, by working with key partners across all areas of the University, including Academic Affairs, the Office of Admission and Financial Aid, the President’s Office, Construction Services, and Finance and Administration
• Evaluating and establishing a structured, systematic, and streamlined program for endowment reporting that will outlast changes in staff and ensure perpetual and mutually beneficial relationships with donors.
• Planning and executing high-level donor recognition events including dedications, ribbon cuttings, building openings, and intimate gatherings, and, in collaboration with ADV colleagues, oversee large-scale donor relations events; explore and facilitate new opportunities for donor engagement, including student interfacing.
• Planning and monitoring departmental budget, using resources for best results in planning activities involving prospects and donors.
• Developing systems with effective use of information technology, including databases and platforms, necessary to track and streamline Donor Relations processes, ensuring recognition communications for all gift levels including annual gifts, major gifts, planned gifts, and principal gifts.
• Providing thorough, accurate, and timely responses to all endowment stakeholder requests for information and demonstrate exemplary customer service in all exchanges, while also assuring compliance with donor intent.
• Developing and assessing policies and procedures that are essential for a comprehensive donor relations program, including continued improvement of best practices in gift acceptance.
• Serving as an expert resource to benchmark comprehensive, integrated donor relations and stewardship best practices that support fundraising goals and initiatives; research and communicate emerging trends in all areas of donor relations, seeking opportunities to share knowledge with ADV team members.
• Leveraging data and research to understand donor needs and interests in order to deliver effective engagement opportunities and acknowledgement; create a quantitative and qualitative measurement system to evaluate the effectiveness of all stewardship, donor relations, and recognition.
• Other duties as assigned.

This is an on -campus position with potential for hybrid work in the future
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in donor relations with a consistent increase in responsibility, including leadership and management experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Demonstrated understanding of the donor cycle, fundraising best practices, and industry trends.

Demonstrated knowledge of trends and best practices for stewarding scholarships with particular consideration for equity and inclusion.
Demonstrated creative and conceptual thinker

Demonstrated record of accomplishment of building and leading (and supervising) high performing teams
Demonstrated ability for managing relationships at all levels of the organization

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Proven ability to work across departments, and on projects with multiple stakeholders and advisors.

Self-motivated and able to balance competing deadlines, and manage multiple (and often shifting) priorities.

Sophisticated writing, editing, and presentation skills.

Mission-driven, self-motivated, and dedicated to contributing to a team, and being of service to colleagues and the University broadly.

Ability to utilize software systems, such as Microsoft Office, project management, CRM , and donor relations platforms.

Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact openly with individuals of different backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
Proven record of donor relations and management success with 10 years of experience. Experience in higher education development. Demonstrated experience in a comprehensive campaign. Understanding of Workfront, AcademicWorks, and development databases (such as Affinaquest).
Special Instructions to Applicants
The position is open until filled. For full consideration please apply by September 24 , 2022, when first review of applications will begin
Additional Information
All offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of apre-employment background check screeningto the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan University requires proof of COVID -19vaccination andbooster(if eligible under CDC guidelines) or an approvedexemptionprior to first day of employment.

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504, or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to: Alison Williams, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion/ Title IX Officer, 860-685-3927, awilliams@wesleyan.edu.