Associate Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

Associate Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

9439BR

University Advancement

Alumni and Constituent Engagement

Job Summary

The Associate Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship is primarily responsible for managing donor engagement, stewardship initiatives and recognition for all levels of the university’s donors. The Associate Director works closely with the advancement and alumni relations directors, university partners, and college faculty and staff to develop recognition and engagement plans that foster and sustain long-term meaningful relations between RIT and its donors. The Associate Director routinely responds to donor inquiries to maintain high standards for donor experiences and satisfaction. These programs will acknowledge, recognize and communicate the impact made by donors.

Please note-this position requires the ability to work flexible hours including some nights and weekends.

Job Responsibilities

• Creates, implements, oversees, and evaluates comprehensive stewardship and donor relations programs that creatively and strategically engages prospects and donors. Programs are complex requiring advanced knowledge and leadership, and this role serves as the division’s expert on legal requirements of various donor agreements, fund documentation, and gift agreements. Programs include but are not limited to: fund agreements and donor documentation; fund stewardship and reporting; fund utilization; and capital project stewardship as defined by the University Advancement leadership team.
• Assists the Sr. Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship developing overall donor relations and stewardship strategy to include: building new programs, creating practices and procedures, identifying metrics, leading process improvement initiatives that result in great efficiencies, improving workflow efficiencies, etc. Serves the Sr. Director’s deputy and functions on their behalf when needed. Provides guidance and mentoring to the Assistant Director.
• Develops and implements meaningful individual stewardship plans that strengthen long-term relationships with top-tier donors. Assists with strategies and creates stewardship plans for donors at various recognition levels and ensure plans are compiled, documented and communicated to all involved parties. Establish and manages information tracking processes regarding recognition, on-going communications and continued cultivation of past and current major donors to enhance their relationship.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external campus partners to manage capital project progress including prospect and proposal development and tracking, oversight of the capital project dashboard for reporting, management of web presence and marketing plans for select capital projects, assisting in evaluating naming opportunities, creating strategic stewardship plans for capital and special project campaigns, etc.
• Serve as project lead for complex and highly visible donor-related initiatives and programs including establishing guidelines; developing, implementing and documenting processes; leading cross-departmental teams; analyzing data and developing internal and external reporting standards.
• Responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data for all donors as it relates to determining donor reporting, recording fund beneficiaries and ensuring donor funds are expended appropriately within the administrative and academic units.
• Develop and execute communications and educational programming for divisional staff and campus partners that emphasize the importance of donor-centered principles in a complex university environment. Promote an institution-wide culture of donor stewardship.
• Collaborates with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship, the Controller’s Office and other academic and administrative units with respect to the appropriate utilization and administration of donor provided funds to ensure those funds are expended in accordance with the terms of the donor agreements and the donors’ wishes.
• Maintain business acumen associated with fundraising principles; IRS guidelines; current use, endowed and restricted fund management and other industry guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 5 years of constituent relationship, development or volunteer management experience, preferably in higher education

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Intermediate to Advance level in Microsoft Office with technical aptitude to learn role-specific software
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage competing deadlines and priorities
• Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Ability to work flexible hours including some nights and weekends.

Required Minimum Education Level

Bachelors or Equivalent Experience

Work Location

Hybrid — Remote/On-campus

Wage Band

118A

FLSA Category

Exempt

Employment Category

Fulltime

Required Application Documents

Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume, List of References

What do we believe at RIT?

Rochester Institute of Technology is a diverse and collaborative community of engaged, socially conscious, and intellectually curious minds. Through creativity and innovation, and an intentional blending of technology, the arts and design, we provide exceptional individuals with a wide range of academic opportunities, including a leading research program and an internationally recognized education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. We are dedicated to building a diverse community, one where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring.

As a member of the RIT community, you'll receive a comprehensive employee benefits package that offers multiple options and access to additional employment advantages. You can tailor your benefit elections to meet your needs (affordable medical/dental/vision benefits; paid vacation/sick time/retirement saving plan with exceptional employer match; and tuition assistance for you and your family, to name a few).

Department/College Description

At Rochester Institute of Technology, our mission is to shape the future and improve the world through creativity and innovation. As an engaged, intellectually curious, diverse and socially conscious community, we leverage the power of technology, the arts, and design for the greater good. In the Division of University Advancement at RIT, we are dedicated to advancing this mission by fostering deep and meaningful connections with alumni, parents, friends, and organizations with the goal of increasing the resources available to the university through greater volunteer engagement and increased philanthropic support. As Advancement professionals, we seek support from a variety of investors to ensure a life-transforming RIT education is accessible to the talented students who seek to join us.

RIT’s Division of University Advancement (UADV) is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe the power of diversity enriches all of us by exposing us to a range of ways to understand and engage with each other, our constituents and our broader communities. We are dedicated to developing and implementing best practices to promote even greater diversity through our employee retention and hiring, accessibility, marketing materials, constituent engagement and in pursuit of our philanthropic goals.

How To Apply

In order to be considered for this position, you must apply for it at, http://careers.rit.edu/staff. Click the link to search openings and in the keyword search field, enter the title of the position or the BR number. Please submit your online application, updated resume, cover letter, and a list of references.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity, pluralism and inclusion in the work place. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request to hr@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Hourly/Salary Minimum

45700

Hourly/Salary Maximum

76500