Director of Donor Relations

About the role

The successful candidate will receive a $1,000 sign-on bonus ($500 paid at time of hire and $500 paid at the end of 90 days of employment.) Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the Director of Donor Relations provides the vision and strategic direction for the planning, implementation and management of a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program that complements and supports the mission of the Office of Advancement.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

• Oversee the Donor Relations & Stewardship Program
• Design, implement and coordinate a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program to acknowledge, recognize, engage and inspire donors to continue to support the Academy.
• Partner with Leadership Gift Officers and Deerfield Fund team members on donor relations and stewardship strategy for donors at all levels.
• Aid Leadership Gift Officers and the Deerfield Fund team to identify giving opportunities, prepare gift proposals, and develop individual stewardship plans for top donors and prospects.
• Oversee all aspects of annual donor recognition events such as the 1797 Society Reception, 1902 Society Dinner, and President’s Dinner and on-campus building dedications or other donor recognition events.
• Identify and coordinate engagement opportunities such as on-campus tours and programs that help inform, educate, and connect donors and potential donors with the Academy.
• Track and analyze participation and engagement metrics of donor events.
• Devise, coordinate, and execute effective and strategic ongoing communications with donors that illustrate the impact of philanthropic support, including quantitative and qualitative updates on endowed funds and programmatic reports on current and completed facility renovation/construction projects and significant current restricted gifts.
• In coordination with other departments, compile, update, and distribute relevant Deerfield Academy information and statistics for the Advancement team, donors, and the wider community.
• Write, send, and track special acknowledgments from the Head of School and for memorial gifts.
• Collaborate with the Admission Office in the coordination of the student stewardship program.
• Coordinate annual updates of Endowment Fund listings on the website.
• Assist the Director of Advancement Services on the design and implementation of the comprehensive Advancement effort to ensure that the Academy’s gift receipt/pledge confirmation and donor acknowledgment process meets IRS requirements and expresses gratitude in a timely, meaningful manner.
• Facilitate, document, and track the establishment of endowed funds and designated gifts, providing guidance and information regarding pledges, gifts, and designations.
• Collaborate with Chief Advancement Officer regarding the implementation and revision of donor naming guidelines as developed by the Advancement Office in consultation with the Board of Trustees.

Donor Recognition

• Absorb the data integrity of donor naming opportunities.
• Guide decisions regarding donor lists, milestones, and giving societies.
• Coordinate annual updates of Endowment Fund listings on the website.

Staff Management

• Supervise the work of the Assistant Director of Donor Relations to ensure continuing creativity and fresh thinking, awareness of campus culture and industry trends, and adherence to Advancement Office practices as well as institutional guidelines and standards.
• Effectively manage overall work performance of Donor Relations team members, including review and development of individual job skills.
• Work with Human Resources in the hiring process for new Donor Relations employees, according to the Academy’s stated Best Practices in Hiring.
• Oversee orientation and training of new Donor Relations staff.

Policies & Procedures

• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Services to oversee the formulation and execution of effective policies that govern gift acceptance, documentation, and recording.
• Aid the Director of Advancement Services on the design and implementation of the comprehensive Advancement effort to ensure that the Academy’s gift receipt/pledge confirmation and donor acknowledgment process meets IRS requirements and expresses gratitude in a timely, meaningful manner.
• Facilitate, document, and track the establishment of endowed funds and designated gifts, providing guidance and information regarding pledges, gifts, and designations.
• Collaborate with Chief Advancement Officer regarding the implementation and revision of donor naming guidelines as developed by the Advancement Office in consultation with the Board of Trustees.

Job Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 5-7 years of experience in advancement, donor relations or equivalent combination of education and related experience
• A proven track record as a successful manager of teams
• Excellent verbal and written communication and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• An open and collaborative leadership style
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite and fundraising CRMs (Raiser’s Edge/Almabase/Blackbaud)
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion and to serving the needs of a diverse community
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends as required in support of Advancement
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects and manage competing priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships

Physical Job Demands

• Close visual acuity to analyze data and figures and to view a computer terminal
• Ability to sustain substantial movements of the wrist, hands and/or fingers
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects up to 10 lbs.
• Occasional stooping, kneeling or reaching

Working Conditions

• The worker is in an office environment, and while in the office is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.
• While traveling, the worker is subject to outside environmental conditions.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Application Materials Must Include A cover letter summarizing interests and qualificationsA complete resume or curriculum vitae

Compensation & Benefits

Deerfield Academy offers a competitive total compensation package, where base compensation or salary is just one component. Pay within the published range is determined by factors such as qualifications, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, allowing for growth and progression within the role. We also offer a comprehensive suite of benefits to eligible employees, including:

• Health & Financial: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b)-retirement plan; and employer-paid life and disability plans
• Time Off: Generous paid time off and paid holidays
• Campus Perks: Tuition remission, fitness center access and complimentary dining hall meals

See benefit plan details here.

Disclaimer

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. This job description is not intended to be construed as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. It is expected that job duties and responsibilities will develop over time commensurate with performance.