Development and Donor Relations Coordinator

About the role

The Development & Donor Relations Coordinator advances the mission of the Lakeshore College Foundation by building meaningful relationships with donors, alumni, and community partners. This position manages an assigned portfolio of annual, mid-level, and scholarship donors while leading scholarship administration, annual giving initiatives, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship. This position exercises considerable independent judgment in managing donor relationships, identifying fundraising opportunities, and advancing the Foundation's philanthropic priorities while collaborating closely with the Director on strategic initiatives. It will provide an exceptional customer service experience to both internal and external customers throughout every interaction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage an assigned portfolio of annual, mid-level, and scholarship donors with defined fundraising, stewardship, and engagement goals that contribute to the Foundation's annual fundraising objectives.
• Lead all stages of the donor cycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewal for assigned donors.
• Develop and implement individualized engagement strategies to strengthen donor relationships and increase giving.
• Conduct donor visits, meetings, presentations, and stewardship activities.
• Lead prospect research efforts to identify, qualify, and prioritize new individual, corporate, and foundation giving prospects.
• Recommend solicitation strategies and gift opportunities based on donor interests and Foundation priorities.
• Document and manage donor interactions, next steps, and fundraising activity within the Foundation's CRM.
• Collaborate with Foundation staff to ensure consistent donor communication and exceptional donor experiences.
• Support the Director in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift and principal gift prospects.
• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of annual giving initiatives, including annual appeals, year-end campaigns, employee giving, and other fundraising efforts.
• Develop and implement stewardship strategies that strengthen donor retention and increase philanthropic support.
• Ensure donors receive timely, meaningful, and personalized stewardship throughout the year.
• Plan, manage, and execute donor appreciation events and recognition activities.
• Oversee donor acknowledgments, recognition programs, and impact communications.
• Evaluate the performance of giving initiatives and recommend strategies to improve participation and donor engagement.
• Lead the administration and continuous improvement of the Foundation's scholarship program, including administration, application cycles, scholarship setup, reviewer management, and annual planning.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for scholarship donors by providing stewardship, facilitating scholarship fund creation and modifications, and cultivating long-term donor relationships.
• Administer scholarship funds by ensuring compliance with donor intent, coordinating financial reconciliation and disbursements, monitoring fund utilization, and collaborating with Financial Aid, Finance, and other campus partners.
• Develop and manage scholarship communications, stewardship initiatives, recipient recognition, impact reporting, and donor engagement activities while serving as the Foundation's primary scholarship resource for students, donors, faculty, and staff.
• Maintain accurate scholarship records, donor agreements, databases, operational documentation, and reports to support effective program administration, decision-making, and audit readiness.
• Evaluate scholarship utilization, funding levels, and program performance to identify opportunities for operational improvements, maximize scholarship impact, and enhance the student and donor experience.
• Plan and coordinate alumni engagement events and communications.
• Build relationships with alumni that encourage volunteerism, mentoring, advocacy, and philanthropy.
• Partner with College departments to increase alumni participation and strengthen lifelong connections.
• Support comprehensive fundraising campaigns and strategic Foundation initiatives.
• Prepare fundraising reports, donor proposals, presentations, and stewardship materials.
• Maintain accurate donor records and fundraising activity.
• Monitor data integrity and generate reports to support fundraising strategy.
• Represent the Foundation at meetings, events, and community activities as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related discipline required.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Two to three years of related occupational experience required.
• Note: May consider candidates with alternative combinations of education and experience consistent with the College’s equivalency guidelines.
• Preferred knowledge and experience:
• Articulate Storyline and Rise e-learning development
• Familiarity with media software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, etc.
• Use or management of a Learning Management System (LMS)
• Use and editing of SharePoint sites

Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Effective interpersonal skills and customer service skills
• Strong critical thinking, decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Adapt quickly to new and changing technology
• Perform work accurately and thoroughly, with a high level of accountability and attention to detail
• Work independently, as part of a team, and/or with minimal supervision
• Present self in a professional, ethical and respectful manner at all times
• Use discretion and maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Prioritize and manage multiple projects or tasks, maintaining deadlines
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and relate successfully with staff, students and all stakeholders

Benefits

• Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Up to $3,000 in tuition reimbursement annually
• Professional development and growth opportunities
• 7.2% Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) savings - matched dollar for dollar
• 403(b) and 457 retirement savings options
• College paid life and disability insurance
• Health and dependent care Flex Spending Accounts
• Onsite fitness center and walking path
• Up to 8 weeks paid New Child Leave
• Relocation assistance available
• Generous paid time off: 15 days vacation, 9 days sick time, 6 days personal leave, 10 holidays, and a one‑week winter break