Director of Donor Relations

SIGN-ON BONUS

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.

• 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.
• Assist 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.
• Coordinate and update student stewardship program in collaboration with the Admission Office.
• In partnership with the Finance Office, collect information and engage budget holders in the stewardship process.

• Oversee the data integrity of donor naming opportunities
• Assist the Deerfield Fund team and the Advancement Services team to guide decisions regarding donor lists, milestones, and giving societies.
• Coordinate annual updates of Endowment Fund listings on the website.

• 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.

• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Services to oversee the formulation and execution of effective policies that govern gift acceptance, documentation, and recording.
• 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.
• Work with donors, Advancement colleagues, and departments across campus to ensure that gifts advance institutional priorities and that donors’ intentions are understood, documented, and honored.
• 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…