Essential Duties
- Develops, implements, and oversees a comprehensive and creative donor relations plan for the School. Ensures industry best practices are met and exceeded.2. Works closely with senior management, development staff, and School officials to supervise the research, drafts and edits of highly personalized and timely letters from leadership acknowledging major gifts to the School, announcing professorship appointments to endowed chairs, and producing timely annual stewardship reports. Creates opportunities to connect and engage donors and fund recipients. 3. Works closely with fundraising staff to assist with the development of provisions for endowed funds, record stewardship responsibilities and activity in the database, and review existing funds to ensure the income is being used appropriately and in compliance with the terms of the gift, as established by the donor. 4. Directs and grows a team of donor relations professionals responsible for generating an increased volume of successful stewardship activities and establishing a culture that encourages ever improving levels of performance and responsiveness to donors and internal constituents.5. Sets unit's timeliness and performance metrics to achieve annual reporting goals; develops project plans specifying strategy, scheduling, contingency plans, and allocation of staff resources.6. Writes and edits materials including, but not limited to, acknowledgement letters, stewardship reports, and print and electronic copy. 7. Manages engagement of faculty, administrators, and University officials in stewardship efforts. 8. Supervises the selection of students to be awarded the School's named scholarship funds based on the students' activities, interests and accomplishments, and on the donors' provisions governing the funds they created. 9. Works with fundraising staff to develop creative and personalized stewardship and cultivation plans for top donors. Meet regularly with development and research on the progress of such plans. 10. Builds and maintains a productive working relationship with development and donor relations staff across the University to improve internal communications and collaboration and enhance the level of networking across campus. 11. May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience
Bachelor's Degree and four years of related professional experience, with two or more years in donor relations, stewardship, or a comparable area, preferably in higher education; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Background Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Position Focus:
The Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship creates, implements, manages and assesses a comprehensive donor relations plan to assist the Development and Alumni Affairs team in reaching its strategic fundraising goals. The scope of work includes donor relations, stewardship and related communications. The position requires excellent collaborative skills, requiring work with fundraising staff and partners across the University. S/he must have a strong writing background to draft written materials to aid in the School's effort to educate, cultivate, and recognize donors. This position, an integral part of the School's fundraising efforts, offers the opportunity to apply creative and critical thinking skills in a wide-range of communications and stewardship projects that connect the School with its current and prospective benefactors. The incumbent has a significant responsibility to organize work to achieve broadly stated goals for the department. The Director identifies objectives, directs programs, and develops strategies and policies, while also supervising staff and holding accountability for stewardship of financial resources in a manner consistent with broadly defined compliance goals and objectives. The position reports to the Senior Director of Development Information and Donor Services.
Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:
Extensive writing, copy editing, and proofreading experience. Ability to research and interpret financial information across multiple data platforms. Working knowledge of Blackbaud CRM or CRM systems. Comprehensive knowledge of the YSM's programs or experience in another University or similarly complex setting. Advanced proficiency using database systems and other computer applications.
Posting Disclaimer
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.