Assistant Director of Donor Relations

*Please include a writing sample with your application. Position Purpose

To collaborate with the Director of Donor Relations in developing and executing stewardship initiatives, including, but not limited to, all efforts to acknowledge, report to, and recognize donors.

Key Accountabilities

Donor Relations and Recognition

• Researches relationships among major gift and endowed fund donors and develops opportunities to engage and recognize these donors. Assists in building pipeline of younger donors to become major donors. Builds complex leadership program to lead donors to the next level of giving.
• Works with donors interested in giving to Exeter in memory and in honor of students, alumni, faculty and friends.
• Manages the installation and subsequent tracking of named spaces and plaques in collaboration with donors, major gift officers, and the Facilities Management Office.
• Acknowledges donors for their support by communicating directly with donors to express appreciation, answering questions and providing information to donors as requested.
• Partners with colleagues to build relationships with top prospects, such as designing and producing personalized gifts for donors, assisting in planning special on-campus events for donors and top prospects, and hosting donors on individual campus visits.
• Develops budgets for special events and projects. Supervises the program assistant who maintains department budget, completes AmEx expense reports, and prepares RFPs and reimbursement forms.

Stewardship

• Creates and executes programs for stewarding and reporting to 9 categories of 1,500 endowed funds and hundreds of current restricted use funds.
• Assists the team in engaging students in thanking donors to cultivate philanthropy by writing notes, acknowledging milestones, and creating video thank yous.
• Assists in executing annual cycle for communicating with beneficiaries of, and financial reporting on, endowed funds.
• Creating and managing special stewardship and acknowledgement projects related to the introduction of 8 areas of designation for the Exeter Fund.
• Initiates a collaborative effort to devise a special “thank you” to all donors at end of each fiscal year.

Outreach and Education

• Partners with IA colleagues (Exeter Fund, Family Engagement, Alumni Relations) to educate students, faculty, and staff about the impact of philanthropy.
• Build relationships with and manage information flow among various entities across campus, including Financial Aid, Finance, Facilities Management, and Advancement Operations.
• Serves on various campus committees on behalf of Donor Relations and Institutional Advancement.
• Represent Donor Relations during staff meetings of other Institutional Advancement teams.

Program Management

• Manages on-boarding of ThankView software in order to modernize stewardship with use of video
• Ensures that the technology needs of Donor Relations are met and manages all data-related needs, including the collection, storage, and export of data. Builds competency in Raiser’s Edge Blackbaud software system.
• Oversees internal information and management structures that permit Donor Relations to run accurately and efficiently.
• Continue to develops, evaluates, and streamlines systems to support the Donor Relations program by managing the administrative workflow needs, including the production of donor communications, Donor Relations’ database and files relating to endowed funds, current use funds, named spaces and plaques.

Degree of Independent Action Performed

Incumbent is expected to work with a high level of knowledge of cutting-edge strategy for stewardship field and exercise a high degree of judgment in decisions impacting donors and

Expected to solve problems or address issues that require immediate attention.

Direct/Indirect Reports

The Associate Director position will assist with the supervision of the Program Assistant directly and collaborate with the director to assign work to the part-time stewardship reporter.

Internal & External Contacts

Frequent contact with students, Dean of Students office, PEA administrative and academic offices, faculty, coaches, and staff. External contacts will include major donors, alumni, parents, outside organizations, visitors and local community neighbors.

Position Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Experience

• 5 or more years’ experience in Donor Relations, Alumni Relations, or related fields.
• Experience working with adolescents in an educational setting preferred.

Skills & Knowledge

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with emphasis on writing. Ability to communicate with officers, faculty, administrators and donors. Ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling manner in writing and in person.
• A passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

• Demonstrate respect for diversity of identities and experiences, an orientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency in all aspects of Academy life.

• Strategic high-level thinking coupled with the attention to detail necessary for successful planning and execution.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students by building trust and credibility.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills as well as a strong customer focus.
• A strict adherence to confidential policies is required.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

• Proficient in MS Office.

• Willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed.
• High degree of organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and multi-task with accuracy.
• Ability to follow verbal and written directions, maintain a professional demeanor and restraint at all times, including stressful situations.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

1. Ability to sit in a normal seated position for extended periods of time.
2. Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
3. Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example using a keyboard.
4. Communication skills using the spoken and written word.
5. Ability to see with normal parameters.
6. Ability to use a visual display terminal with continuous wrist movement on a keyboard.
7. Ability to hear within normal range.
8. Ability to lift and transport up to 10lbs without assistance.

Additional Requirements

1. Successfully complete a criminal background check (reviewed every 5 years).
2. Clean Driving record (reviewed annually)

COVID Vaccine Policy:
Phillips Exeter Academy requires all community members to be fully vaccinated* against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters. *With the exception of a PEA-approved medical or religious exemption.