Manager, Donor Relations and Stewardship

This is an opportunity to join a growing Resource Development team and play a key role in significantly increasing the level of philanthropic income for the University by engaging with prospective and current donors at all giving levels.

 

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Manager, Donor Relations and Stewardship will be responsible for:

• Developing and implementing comprehensive strategy for all aspects of donor relations and donor stewardship, ensuring its alignment with the overall university fundraising strategy, and that policies and practices address all levels of donors;
• Working closely with university and academic leadership to develop a portfolio of donor proposals on perse University fundraising priorities. These may include short briefings, full proposals, or detailed brochures, compelling case for support, images, and budgets, and will be designed and produced to the highest standards;
• Securing, reviewing and editing content from faculty and administration, and preparing perse reports and updates for donors, ensuring that information is comprehensive, of a high quality, and accurate;
• Maintaining a record of gifts and gift agreements to ensure that gifts are fulfilled as per the donor's intentions. Liaising with the university offices as appropriate;
• Securing and reviewing financial information relating to donations, project implementation, specialized funds or endowments from Finance Office;
• Maintaining a stewardship schedule and ensure that donors receive information and reports related to their gifts in a highly professional and timely manner;
• Overseeing the design and production of high quality reports, ensuring consistency in branding, tone, style, format, etc.;
• Reporting on donors and the impact of gifts across university communications, including reports to university leadership, annual reports, e-newsletters, websites, donor-related special events and presentations;
• Leading, motivating and managing staff and writers working in areas related to donor relations, donor reporting and stewardship;
• Reviewing related policies and practices, and recommend updates as necessary;
• Maintaining strong working relationships with fundraisers and Advancement Services staff, ensuring an integrated, professional and timely approach to donor relations and stewardship. Collaborating with colleagues on fundraising strategies, sharing best practices and advancing shared objectives;
• Working closely with Communications Office leadership and staff, to secure their partnership in strategic communications and messaging, as well as branding guidelines, templates, photographs, graphics, content, design and other support; 
• Ensuring related information on Raiser's Edge and in other donor files and records are up-to-date and accurate;
• Travelling regularly to the campuses and perse operations of the University as necessary, to maintain strong working relationships and to secure information.

 

Requirements

You should have:

• A university education at the Master's level;
• Experience in an international non-profit, academic, research, public policy or other similar institution, preferably with experience in the developing world;
• Management level experience in working in a university or major non-profit in fundraising, donor relations, donor stewardship, advancement services or university communications (preferable)
• Excellent writing, editing and reporting skills, with ability to convey perse and occasionally complex subjects in compelling, clear and concise manner;
• Experience working with perse inpiduals to secure and deliver information on strict schedules;
• Knowledge of, or proven sensitivity to perse cultures, including preferably, the Islamic and developing world;
• Financial literacy and high attention to accuracy and detail;
• Experience in managing and motivating staff, setting performance standards and delivering team results;
• Experience in overseeing the design of reports, publications, websites or e-communications, to a high standard;
• Highly organized, with an ability to manage multiple projects and demanding schedules;
• Collegial and professional manner;
• Resourceful and comfortable working within a geographically dispersed fundraising operation and team and mission-oriented environment.
• Strong ethical behavior, and an ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately and with discretion;
• Willingness to travel to the University campuses and other locations.