Assistant Director of Donor Engagement & Alumni Relations

About the role

Working under general direction, the assistant director of donor engagement and alumni relations will direct, manage, and oversee a comprehensive donor and alumni engagement program for the College of Arts and Sciences and its $300+ million endowment. Duties include working collegially with university alumni and donor relations, the Case Alumni Association, and University Marketing and Communications to manage events, publications, and programs for advancement initiatives, as well as managing engagement efforts encompassing an international pool of alumni and donors. The assistant director works closely with the dean of the college, associate and vice deans, managers, and all directors to assist with donor and alumni engagement, with a focus on stewardship of major gift fundraising. The assistant director will plan engagement activities and events for the department which will include executing stewardship activities to recognize and engage college alumni, donors, and friends to encourage their financial support. Local travel on occasion; some evening and weekend work as necessary relating to committee work and events. The employee will perform repetitive motion using computer mouse and keyboard to type. Hybrid eligibility: up to two remote days per week at the discretion of the department, subject to supervisor approval, orientation completion, and remote work checklist certification.

Responsibilities

• Initiate and manage customized stewardship strategies for a portfolio of donors.
• Identify and plan opportunities to engage donors and alumni annually with visits, events, calls, and/or special reporting as appropriate from the university.
• Partner with major gifts officers, senior director of donor engagement and alumni relations, and other development colleagues as necessary and oversee customized stewardship and alumni activities based on donor relationships.
• Direct and execute stewardship outreach that works in tandem with the university's major gift cultivation efforts.
• Make recommendations and coordinate donor and/or beneficiary recognition at/participation in special visits and event programming.
• Plan and manage College of Arts and Sciences donor recognition and alumni relations programs, events and other activities that connect alumni and donors to the College of Arts and Sciences and that enhance overall philanthropic giving.
• Develop multi-faceted strategies to thank and recognize donors through print and digital media, including ideas for repurposing content for other stewardship projects.
• Coordinate all necessary activities and collaborate with development colleagues and other internal partners to engage students, faculty and staff in creative gratitude stories and messaging.
• Create content to be sent to donors through various print and digital media and manage distribution of messaging.
• Coordinate, under the direction of the Senior Director and/or Vice Dean of the college, the execution of college stewardship activities and cultivation events and support special events as needed.
• Ensure personal and mass communications are accurate and timely and reflect the appropriate branding of the college and university. Work with the marketing and communications team to develop a broad range of collateral and manage alumni email campaigns. Provide oversight and manage execution of donor acknowledgments and other high-level correspondence from senior leadership. Serve as the point of contact for colleagues in the schools, college, and other departments managing written donor communications. Maintain donor salutation and signature preferences, address changes, etc. for the dean, vice dean, and other external relations officers.
• Partnering with the senior director, and coordinating with the CWRU Alumni Association, plan and execute activities related to Homecoming and Reunion weekend, including volunteer coordination and management. Track all college events and communicate them to the Alumni Association.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

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