Donor Relations Coordinator

Iowa State University Foundation; Ames (IA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work option

Location Ames, IA

Job summary

The Iowa State University Foundation seeks an organized, service-oriented Donor Relations Coordinator to support the donor relations team in communicating impact and stewardship across reports, project updates, videos, and recognition initiatives.

This role provides project coordination, administrative support, and helps ensure initiatives are completed accurately, on schedule, and with attention to confidentiality.

Qualifications

• 5-6 years of related work experience.
• Experience with project management, including processes and tracking.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with Workfront and Salesforce preferred.
• Strong self-motivation and growth mindset.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Highly organized with attention to deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Project management for donor relations initiatives and timelines.
• Develop and maintain project management procedures.
• Support stewardship and donor communications.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate donor-facing materials.
• Provide admin support for special projects and meetings.
• Manage department email inbox and day-to-day operations.
• Support financial data management and records in CRM systems.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Customer service

Organization

Self-motivation

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Tools

Microsoft Office

Workfront

Salesforce

Job description

Description

Join the Iowa State University Foundation in our mission to engage our community, inspire philanthropy, and steward resources to advance Iowa State University and its impact on Iowa and the world. We are seeking an organized, service-oriented individual to join our donor relations team.

Donor relations is focused on building and enhancing relationships with donors by capturing and communicating the impact of philanthropy through reports, project updates, videos, giving histories, recognition initiatives, and other meaningful expressions of gratitude. This coordinator position provides project coordination, administrative support, and operational assistance to the donor relations team and helps ensure initiatives are completed accurately, efficiently, and on schedule.

Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as the primary project manager for donor relations initiatives, overseeing project intake, workflow administration, timelines, reporting, and deliverables to ensure timely, accurate, and efficient completion of work.
• Support the development and maintenance of project management procedures, templates, and best practices.
• Provide project support for stewardship, acknowledgement, recognition, and engagement initiatives including donor outreach, information gathering, scheduling, and follow-up communications.
• Support the creation of stewardship and communication materials by helping draft, edit, proofread, design, and coordinate other donor-facing or internal communications.
• Provide administrative support for special projects, strategic initiatives, and process improvement efforts that advance donor relations and development priorities which may include annual awards, acknowledgements, and recognition societies.
• Provide operational and administrative support for the team including management of the department’s shared email inbox, ordering supplies, coordinating meeting logistics and notes, and supporting day-to-day team operations.
• Support financial operations and data management processes including budget tracking, invoice and reimbursement processing, expense reporting, and maintenance of stewardship-related records within the customer relationship management system and other systems to ensure data integrity and accessibility.

Requirements

Education & Work Experience

• 5-6 years of work experience related to employment area. Education may be substituted for years of work experience.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Experience with project management including establishing processes, tracking progress, and ensuring quality outcomes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new software. Experience with project management software (such as Workfront) and customer relationship management software (such as Salesforce) is preferred.
• Self-starter with strong self-accountability, motivation, and a growth mindset.
• Proactive, service-oriented approach with creative problem solving.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Must be adaptable, flexible, and self-directed.
• Highly organized and able to handle several activities simultaneously with attention to detail and adherence to deadlines and accuracy.
• Must adhere to strict confidentiality standards.

Travel: None

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Location: Ames, IA; potentially hybrid