Associate Director of Donor Relations

Saint Mary; Notre Dame (IN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Mary’s College seeks an Associate Director of Donor Relations to design and lead a comprehensive donor stewardship program aligned with the college’s mission. You will ensure timely, meaningful donor engagement and impactful storytelling across annual, major, and endowed giving programs.

You will oversee endowment and impact reporting, coordinate donor recognition efforts, and partner with Marketing to integrate communications across print and digital platforms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 3–5 years in development, donor relations, or higher education advancement preferred.
• Understanding of the donor lifecycle and donor stewardship principles.
• Ability to develop and execute comprehensive stewardship strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communications, donor-centered messaging.
• Strong attention to detail and organization.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Collaborates well with colleagues and campus partners.
• Upholds donor intent with sound ethical judgment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee endowment and impact reports in collaboration with Finance and campus stakeholders.
• Ensure reports are accurate, clear, engaging, and donor-focused.
• Provide measurable outcomes and storytelling on student impact.
• Evaluate and enhance reporting formats for readability and effectiveness.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship program across giving levels.

Skills

Donor stewardship

Communication skills

Project management

Collaboration

Attention to detail

Ethical judgment

Time management

Mission alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Donor databases

Advancement systems

Reporting tools

Job description

The Associate Director of Donor Relations serves as a key member of the Annual Giving and Donor Relations team and the broader Advancement Division. This position is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive, coordinated donor stewardship and recognition program for Saint Mary’s College. This role ensures that donors at all levels experience timely, meaningful, and mission-centered engagement that reflects the impact of their generosity.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Three to five years or more of related professional experience, preferably in development, annual giving, donor relations, fundraising, or higher education advancement.
• Understanding of the donor lifecycle and principles of effective donor stewardship.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive stewardship strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create compelling, donor-centered communications.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and campus partners.
• Ability to exercise sound ethical judgment and uphold donor intent.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Saint Mary’s College.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education advancement or a nonprofit development environment.
• Experience with donor stewardship, recognition, annual giving, or fundraising programs.
• Experience preparing endowment reports and donor impact communications.
• Experience managing donor recognition programs or giving societies.
• Experience working with donor databases, advancement systems, and reporting tools.
• Experience analyzing donor engagement, retention, and stewardship data.
• Strong storytelling, editing, and content development skills.
• Knowledge of current donor relations and stewardship best practices and trends in higher education advancement.

Job Responsibilities Endowment & Impact Reporting

• Oversee the preparation and distribution of endowment reports and other fund-specific impact reports in collaboration with Finance, Advancement Services, and campus stakeholders.
• Ensure reports are accurate, clear, engaging, and tailored to donor interests.
• Communicate measurable outcomes and student impact through meaningful donor-centered storytelling.
• Evaluate and enhance reporting formats to improve readability, engagement, and effectiveness.

Donor Stewardship Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship program aligned with Saint Mary’s College’s mission, values, and fundraising priorities.
• Ensure consistent and coordinated stewardship practices across annual giving, major gifts, leadership giving, and endowed funds.
• Establish stewardship standards, timelines, and best practices.
• Ensure donor communications are accurate, timely, personalized, and meaningful.
• Develop strategies that encourage continued engagement and philanthropic support regardless of a donor’s giving level or type.

Donor Recognition

• Lead college-wide donor recognition efforts, including leadership, lifetime, loyalty, and legacy giving societies.
• Coordinate special donor acknowledgements and recognition opportunities.
• Partner with Advancement Marketing & Communications to integrate donor recognition across print and digital platforms.
• Maintain thoughtful and inclusive recognition practices that reflect donor intent and institutional values.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the College.

Data Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with Finance and campus partners to review fund usage and ensure alignment with donor intent.
• Work with Advancement Services to track stewardship activities, donor recognition status, and reporting compliance.
• Use donor feedback, engagement data, and retention metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship efforts.
• Recommend improvements based on data, donor feedback, and program outcomes.
• Stay current on donor stewardship best practices and trends in higher education advancement.

Schedule

Full-time, 12-month position.

• 40 hours per week
• Monday–Friday

Eligibility to Work

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and must not require visa sponsorship from the College, either now or in the future.