Associate Director of Donor Relations

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech seeks an Associate Director of Donor Relations to lead stewardship programs, oversee daily operations, and collaborate with Advancement and university partners. The role drives best-in-class donor recognition, acknowledgments, and communications across giving societies while maintaining donor confidentiality.

The position supervises staff, develops procedures, and ensures timely delivery of donor acknowledgments and engagement activities, reporting to the Director of Donor

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree with experience equating to an advanced degree.
• Experience in donor relations, nonprofits, communications, fundraising, event planning, alumni relations, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, ability to identify and solve problems in a fast-paced environment, develop and execute strategies to enhance the donor experience.
• Strong track record of high-level customer service, critical thinking, organization, capable of working independently and collaboratively, managing multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day donor stewardship operations and activities.
• Lead centralized stewardship for high-end donors, giving societies and acknowledgments.
• Ensure effective processes and SOPs; collaborate to update annually and meet deadlines.
• Report to the Director of Donor Relations and supervise Donor Stewardship Coordinators across the team.

Skills

Donor relations

Nonprofits

Communications

Project management

Customer service

Organization

Team leadership

Education

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree with related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Constituent data reports

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Director of Donor Relations is an important partner in the strategic management of Virginia Tech’s relationship with its donors, collaborating with members of the Advancement team and university partners. They are a strategic-thinking member of the Advancement Division’s Office of Donor Relations with lead responsibilities to passionately pursue and promote the overall institutional goals related to best-in-class stewardship, relationship building and customer service for internal and external constituents. This position develops, executes and oversees strategies to enhance the donor experience through the communication and interactions they receive in recognition of their philanthropic engagement with the university, contributing to longstanding and successful relationships between Virginia Tech and its donors.

The Associate Director plays a leadership role within the Advancement Division, working to maintain and enhance the university’s relationships with its major donors through recognition, acknowledgments and communications. They are responsible for oversight of the day-to-day stewardship activities and operations of the Donor Relations office. This position reports to the Director of Donor Relations and may be asked to fill in when the Director is unavailable. The Associate Director will supervise the Donor Stewardship Coordinators on the Donor Relations team. This position has frequent contact with, and is a resource for donors, faculty and staff, assisting in the resolution of donor inquiries relating to gifts, pledges, giving society membership and qualification, and acknowledgments, while maintaining confidentiality with sensitive donor information. The Associate Director acts independently, making decisions and interpreting policy in regard to donor relations procedures/issues. This position actively participates in office training for new Donor Relations employees and provides guidance across Advancement.

This position oversees program, project and event management for the office. They will lead centralized stewardship for our high-end donors, including giving societies and acknowledgments. They will ensure effective processes and Standard Operating Procedures are in place, overseeing/collaborating with the Donor Relations team to update annually. They will ensure that deadlines are met with best-in-class stewardship practices, with an eye to continuous review and enhancement of the donor experience with Virginia Tech.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree and experience equating to an advanced degree.
• Experience in donor relations, nonprofits, communications, fundraising, event planning,
• alumni relations, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, with the ability to identify and solve
• problems in a fast paced environment, develop and execute strategies with a keen eye to
• enhancing the donor experience, and collaborate with colleagues to accomplish established
• goals.
• Strong track record of high-level customer service, critical thinking, and organization, with
• the capability to work both independently and collaboratively, and manage multiple
• competing tasks with great attention to detail.
• Proficiency in desktop applications and computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite,
• and experience working with constituent data reports.
• Excellent communication skills with internal and external constituents.
• Experience handling confidential materials and information.
• Experience in supervising staff and overseeing day-to-day operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or similar field.
• Experience with databases, querying data to segment audiences for communications, effectively manipulate the database for retrieval and production of detailed donor information.
• Experience working with a variety of internal/external populations, such as high-level donors, volunteers, senior leadership, and diverse populations, and the ability to effectively and professionally communicate with them on behalf of the Office of Donor Relations and Virginia Tech.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$72,000–$78,000

Hours per week

40+ hours per week

Review Date

September 22nd, 2026

Additional Information

• Safe Driving Record
• Uncommon Work Schedule – (Rotating Shifts, Weekend, Nights)
• The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Advancement HR at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.