The Director of Donor Relations is responsible for leading the direction, operation and assessment of a comprehensive stewardship and donor relations program in support of Pacific's development goals. This position will be a vital member of the development team and will play a key role in Pacific's expanding donor relations program. The Director oversees all central stewardship processes and programs and collaborates with development teams and campus partners in a collective effort to ensure consistent, impactful stewardship and meaningful donor recognition at all giving levels. The position reports to the Senior Associate Vice President of Development.
Essential Functions
The Director creates, implements, manages, and assesses a comprehensive donor relations plan to support fundraising goals for the university.
Oversee all central stewardship processes and programs and collaborates with development teams and campus partners in a collective effort to ensure consistent, impactful stewardship communications, gift agreement compliance and meaningful donor recognition at all giving levels.
Develop and ensure high quality content for a full range of development materials including acknowledgments, endowment reports, giving societies, impact reports, and videos through multiple mediums including web, social, email and print.
Responsible for the Annual Endowment Reporting process, including annual process development/improvement, research, collaborating with internal partners, assembly, mailing, maintaining appropriate documenting practices, and responding to donor or development officer inquiries.
Partner with Pacific’s senior leadership to identify stewardship priorities, goals, and activities for the University’s high-level donors. Drive the implementation, management, and evaluation of these priority stewardship initiatives.
Responsible for donor recognition events. Plan detailed programs, coordinate, and coach student presenters, and orchestrate successful logistical arrangements to enhance program success.
Collaborate with staff and faculty on impact reporting, endowed chairs and professorships recognition, and other VIP donor experiences in partnership with senior development leadership.
Manage all gift acknowledgement processes, ensuring that donors are thanked appropriately, professionally, and accurately through specialized acknowledgements (both custom and broad-based) according to gift levels, donor history, and special circumstances.
Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for fund utilization monitoring, fund administrator training, and donor intent compliance. Work closely with schools/units to identify underspent and unspent funds, determine the causes of underspending, and implement solutions that honor donors’ intent. Relay information to senior development leadership.
Collaborate with major gift officers, annual giving, and other campus partners to ensure effective and cohesive stewardship and impact reporting around solicitations.
Design and execute annual giving day stewardship plan.
Establish methods to assess ROI on donor relations activities, report results, and evaluate and refine scope of work based on evidence-based successes.
Oversee the Assistant or Associate Director of Donor Relations for goal setting and performance management purposes.
Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.
University of the Pacific recognizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to the success of our valued students and employees. We prioritize policy and decision-making that demonstrates awareness of, and responsiveness to, the ways socio-cultural forces related to race, gender, ability, sexuality, socio-economic status, etc. impede or propel students, faculty, and staff.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree.
Seven (7) years of relevant work experience of increased responsibility, preferably in donor relations with a focus on alumni giving/engagement and stewardship.
Preferred Qualifications
An understanding of philanthropy as it relates to higher education.
Ability to inspire, educate and motivate development personnel about strong stewardship and donor communication practices.
Experience and discretion with confidential materials.
Understanding of donor funded financial aid and scholarship practices in a university setting.
Ability to interpret gift and financial data for fund tracking and donor stewardship practices.
Positive attitude, proven ability to work successfully with diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance diversity and inclusion
Demonstrated management and organizational ability to work on multiple projects with competing deadlines and to establish goals and workload priorities.
Ability to develop and monitor budgets and production schedules.
Proven ability to review detailed materials accurately (frequently under time pressures).
Demonstrated ability to build manage, mentor and motivate an effective team.
Ability to navigate a complex academic community and to build bridges and effective, collaborative relationships with internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
Results-oriented leader with ability to successfully manage multiple and competing priorities.
Strong project and process management skills.
Exemplary interpersonal and oral / written communication skills.
Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and consensus building abilities.
Innovative, creative strategist dedicated to continuous improvement.
Experience and sensitivity in working with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Demonstrated experience in advancing social justice, equity, and inclusion in a university setting.
Ability to engage and integrate culturally responsive practices and knowledge in their work.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative but not definitive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Requires extended periods of sitting and repetitive hand/wrist motion while using computer keyboard and phone. Frequent standing, walking across campus, climbing stairs, bending, stooping and reaching. Constant verbal and written communication. Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
Work Environment/Work Week/Travel
Work is frequently performed in a standard office environment with use of computer and phone. Work is typically scheduled during standard business hours however, evening and weekends will be required at various time throughout the year to accommodate business needs for special events, during board reporting periods and as aligned with special stewardship activities and events. Occasional travel both local and overnight. Use of laptops and mobile devices to access data.
Hiring Range: $84,137.02 - $115,679.96 per year. We consider factors such as, but not limited to, scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s qualifications, internal equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
Background Check Statement
All applicants who receive a conditional offer of employment are required to execute a release and authorization for a background screening.
To apply, visit https://pacific.peopleadmin.com/postings/28560
University of the Pacific is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity. In compliance with applicable law and its own policy, Pacific is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff and does not discriminate in its hiring of faculty and staff, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its faculty and staff on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sex/gender, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, medical condition, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, or mental or physical disability.