Director of Donor Relations

Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The SIU Foundation seeks candidates for the Director of Donor Relations. This position provides strategic leadership for donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement initiatives, ensuring meaningful acknowledgment of donor contributions and alignment with donor intent.

The role collaborates with development staff and University partners to support cultivation and stewardship efforts, coordinate recognition activities and events, and maintain accurate donor records and reporting to strengthen

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; at least five years of work experience in donor relations or a similar role.
• Extensive knowledge of donor relations' role in higher education environments.
• Strong planning, management, and supervisory skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Master's Degree and three or more years of supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and implement strategies for Donor Relations and stewardship programs/initiatives.
• Ensure the alignment of Donor Relations initiatives with SIU Foundation and university goals and objectives.
• Assist Executive Director with setting Advancement Services and Foundation priorities; organize competing priorities with an eye to both short‑and long‑term needs and efficiencies.
• Develop, manage, and monitor donor recognition programs for major/principal gifts, inclusive of written acknowledgments, ceremonies, donor walls, plaques, etc.
• Oversee the development and management of broad‑based stewardship and recognition vehicles, inclusive of giving societies, donor honor rolls, and special acknowledgements (e.g., first‑time donor packages and board thank‑yous).
• Oversee the execution of select Foundation programs and events.
• Engage in marketing and communications efforts related to Donor Relations/stewardship program (inclusive of writing for print and electronic channels).
• Identify and leverage collaborative stewardship opportunities with development staff.
• Identify and recruit students and alumni for participation in Donor Relations programs.
• Manage invitation/registration tracking for select Foundation, Alumni Association, and SIU events with cultivation, stewardship, and/or solicitation components.
• Develop and maintain strategic operating plans and associated budgets for Donor Relations, regularly monitoring, assessing, and reporting progress to goal.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for Donor Relations and stewardship matters; communicate and champion the area's initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Financial Services to ensure accommodation of donor intent.
• Collaborate with development staff to ensure appropriate engagement and stewardship of major donors, arrange donor visits and tours, etc.
• Provide reports, tools, and other resources to relevant Foundation and SIU staff, staying current with industry standards and best practices.
• Manage department and event budgets.
• Manage multiple projects and tasks of varying complexity.
• Supervise, train, direct, and evaluate the work of assigned Donor Relations staff; recommend necessary changes in staffing, structure, resources.
• Plan, develop, and implement strategies for Donor Relations and stewardship programs/initiatives.
• Ensure the alignment of Donor Relations initiatives with SIU Foundation and university goals and objectives.
• Assist the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Major and Planned Giving with setting priorities; organize competing priorities with an eye to both short‑and long‑term needs and efficiencies.
• Develop, manage, and monitor donor recognition programs for major/principal gifts, :inclusive of written acknowledgments, ceremonies, donor walls, plaques, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Donor relations

Higher education fundraising

Supervisory skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

The SIU Foundation seeks candidates for the Director of Donor Relations position. This position provides strategic leadership for donor stewardship, recognition, and engagement initiatives for the SIU Foundation. This position also develops and implements programs to ensure meaningful, consistent acknowledgment of donor contributions and alignment with donor intent. The role collaborates with development staff and University partners to support cultivation and stewardship efforts, coordinate recognition activities and events, and maintain accurate donor records and reporting to strengthen long‑term philanthropic relationships.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

The primary charge of this position is to lead the SIU Foundation's donor relations function, inclusive of: donor acknowledgment and recognition, engagement‑related donor communications and events, gift stewardship, major gift "onboarding" (gift agreement administration and fund creation).

1. Plan, develop, and implement strategies for Donor Relations and stewardship programs/initiatives.
2. Ensure the alignment of Donor Relations initiatives with SIU Foundation and university goals and objectives.
3. Assist Executive Director with setting Advancement Services and Foundation priorities; organize competing priorities with an eye to both short‑and long‑term needs and efficiencies.
4. Develop, manage, and monitor donor recognition programs for major/principal gifts, inclusive of written acknowledgments, ceremonies, donor walls, plaques, etc.
5. Oversee the development and management of broad‑based stewardship and recognition vehicles, inclusive of giving societies, donor honor rolls, and special acknowledgements (e.g., first‑time donor packages and board thank‑yous).
6. Oversee the execution of select Foundation programs and events.
7. Engage in marketing and communications efforts related to Donor Relations/stewardship program (inclusive of writing for print and electronic channels).
8. Identify and leverage collaborative stewardship opportunities with development staff.
9. Identify and recruit students and alumni for participation in Donor Relations programs.
10. Manage invitation/registration tracking for select Foundation, Alumni Association, and SIU events with cultivation, stewardship, and/or solicitation components.
11. Develop and maintain strategic operating plans and associated budgets for Donor Relations, regularly monitoring, assessing, and reporting progress to goal.
12. Serve as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert for Donor Relations and stewardship matters; communicate and champion the area's initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.
13. Collaborate with Financial Services to ensure accommodation of donor intent.
14. Collaborate with development staff to ensure appropriate engagement and stewardship of major donors, arrange donor visits and tours, etc.
15. Provide reports, tools, and other resources to relevant Foundation and SIU staff, staying current with industry standards and best practices.
16. Manage department and event budgets.
17. Manage multiple projects and tasks of varying complexity.
18. Supervise, train, direct, and evaluate the work of assigned Donor Relations staff; recommend necessary changes in staffing, structure, resources.
19. Plan, develop, and implement strategies for Donor Relations and stewardship programs/initiatives.
20. Ensure the alignment of Donor Relations initiatives with SIU Foundation and university goals and objectives.
21. Assist the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Major and Planned Giving with setting priorities; organize competing priorities with an eye to both short‑and long‑term needs and efficiencies.
22. Develop, manage, and monitor donor recognition programs for major/principal gifts, :inclusive of written acknowledgments, ceremonies, donor walls, plaques, etc.
23. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree. A minimum of five years of work experience in donor relations or a similar role with relevant responsibilities. Extensive knowledge of donor relations' role in higher education environments and familiarity with the role/function of advancement services and/or financial aid offices. Strong planning, management, and supervisory skills. Ability to balance a wide variety of competing responsibilities, priorities, and stakeholders. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Masters Degree and three or more years of supervisory of experience.

Contact:

Darla Peterman, [e-mail]