Donor Relations Manager

Columbia Journalism School; New York (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Journalism School seeks a Donor Relations Manager to elevate the donor relations program, manage acknowledgement and reporting, and support engagement across individual, foundation, and endowment donors. The role partners with frontline officers and works with the Office of Development and Alumni Relations to maximize donor impact under leadership including Dean Jelani Cobb.

The position reports to the Senior Director of Development and focuses on stewardship, reporting, events, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• 2–4 years' related experience required.
• Able to handle highly sensitive prospect information discreetly.
• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support donor relations strategies in consultation with the Senior Director and gift officers.
• Produce narrative stewardship and impact reports for major gifts and foundations.
• Manage donor acknowledgment program across digital and physical platforms.
• Assist in scholarship matching and administration of donor-directed funds.
• Plan and execute donor recognition events and activities.
• Develop and implement donor engagement protocols and improvements.
• Prepare narrative and financial reports for foundations in collaboration with Finance and PIs.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Discretion/Confidentiality

Relationship management

Attention to detail

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CRM/database management

Job description

Donor Relations Manager

Columbia Journalism School (www.journalism.columbia.edu) currently seeks a Donor Relations Manager.

The Donor Relations Manager reports to the Senior Director of Development and is responsible for elevating and scaling the school's established donor relations program. This role ensures that recognition, reporting, and engagement efforts are thoughtfully designed to strengthen retention, deepen relationships, build the school's pipeline of donors, and support sustained philanthropic growth. Working in consultation with frontline development officers, the incumbent will drive donor relations for different constituencies including individual donors, foundations, and endowment and legacy donors. This individual is responsible for a broad range of duties including gift and grant reporting, donor acknowledgement and communications, and supporting the team in development events and board engagement as appropriate. With the goal of increasing fundraising revenue, engaging donor constituents, and enhancing relationships, the Manager will work with staff across the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the University to implement strategies that will maximize donor engagement and impact. This is a great opportunity to work with staff and faculty across this world-renowned school under the leadership of visionary thought leader Dean Jelani Cobb.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of donor relations strategies in consultation with the Senior Director and gift officers. Partner with gift officers in alignment with the school's priorities. Provide active stewardship of all donors - including endowment donors; and foundation, leadership, major, and principal gift donors, with a particular focus on the stewardship of the school's scholarship donors.
• Project manage, research, and produce narrative stewardship and impact reports for major and principal gift individual donors and foundations.
• In collaboration with the Alumni and Development Administrator and the Leadership Gift Officer, manage the regular donor acknowledgment program across digital and physical platforms. Provide strategic input on best practices for acknowledging and stewarding donors to increase donor retention, for example by building out a first/initial time donor journey.
• Support the annual scholarship matching process in collaboration with the school's Office of Financial Aid and provide guidance on the administration of scholarships in accordance with donor intent. Maintain donor relations records in the development and financial aid databases.
• Support the planning and execution of donor recognition events and activities in collaboration with other team members.
• Identify and manage engagement opportunities and new initiatives to enhance donor experience. Develop and implement protocols, recommending improvements and implementing approved practices, to maintain and improve existing stewardship efforts.
• Manage and monitor grant and foundation activity for compliance. Work closely with Finance and PIs to prepare narrative and financial reports for foundations.
• Work closely with the school's centers to ensure the reporting of important research to their donors.
• Work closely with colleagues to prepare gift and grant proposal narratives, budgets, and ancillary materials.
• Work closely with the associate dean for advancement, the dean of the school, and the academic dean to steward and engage Board of Visitors and Columbia Journalism Review Board of Overseers.
• Perform other related duties as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree and/or its equivalent required.
• Experience: Minimum 2-4 years' related experience required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and organizational skills. Ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential prospect information discreetly. Able to manage relationships with colleagues in other departments and across the University. Ability to work in a high-volume environment managing multiple responsibilities. Good follow-through and attention to detail are essential. Excellent computer skills required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with CRM database management helpful.
• Experience in development, particularly in higher education, preferred.

Salary Range: $70,000-$80,000.

Columbia University is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran and is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.