Director, Donor Relations

About University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation

Established in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF), a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to raise philanthropic funds in support of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus and wholly dedicated to supporting the University’s mission, UMAF is a separately governed nonprofit organization with its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits. UMAF serves the University of Massachusetts Amherst community by serving as a best practices resource for fundraising strategy and implementation. 

About the role

Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Chief Development Officer for the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS), the Director, Donor Relations (DDR) will design a comprehensive program that delivers highly tailored and innovative donor communications and experiences inclusive of message development, donor recognition, gift acknowledgements, endowment and impact reporting, donor and scholarship stewardship, and fund development and utilization.
 
The DDR will define standardized workflows and business processes – in collaboration with UMAF colleagues including gift officers, central donor relations, and annual giving as well as SBS faculty and staff – that deliver consistent, clear, and timely product sets and messaging, and materials that complement the full spectrum of advancement work at UMAF. They will set the schedule of reports and communication that support UMAF’s comprehensive and annual fundraising campaigns and implement special recognition awards and activities for donors through a range of channels such as events, media, and video. With a focus on data, the DDR will also ensure data integrity and track results to help inform and drive decisions about future initiatives and strategies.
 
The ideal candidate will bring five years of experience conceiving and implementing advancement communications and stewardship programs, ideally in complex institutional environments. They will demonstrate excellent project management skills and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and internal and external business partners. They will be creative, strategic, and offer skills in process development that will help structure the work of a busy team; and will be collaborative, data-driven, and organized, with demonstrated ability to cultivate productive, collaborative relationships with UMAF colleagues, SBS faculty, and staff across the university.

Location: This is a full-time hybrid position and is open to employees in select US states: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.

What you'll do

  • Develop communications and stewardship programs to ensure that donors feel informed, engaged, and celebrated. 
  • Ensure timely creation of delivery of all acknowledgment letters to donors.
  • Provide careful stewardship of scholarship funds so donors are informed and have an opportunity to connect with their scholarship recipients each year in a meaningful way. 
  • Track the use of gift funds and develop gift impact content for stewardship communications and other purposes.
  • Develop and implement individualized engagement plans for selected major gift donors and or prospects with an emphasis on donor recognition and communications, in collaboration with the Development team and SBS Dean’s Office  
  • Create unique and personal stewardship touch points for major and principal gift level donors that align with their individual stewardship/engagement plans. 
  • Collaborate with Annual Giving, central Donor Relations and Development teams to create specialty acknowledgments and stewardship for donor groups and programs.
  • In coordination with Annual Giving and central Donor Relations, develop behavior-based stewardship strategies for donor experience/engagement at various gift levels in ways that increase their potential to become major gift donors. 
  • Contribute to college development team meetings, including donor strategy conversations; and as a positive team member of the UMAF, attend development officer meetings, professional development activities, and other staff meetings as appropriate.
  • Collaborate with Advancement and central Donor Relations staff to report on the use of gifts, communicate gift impact, and celebrate contributions.
  • Maintain a high degree of confidentiality and adhere to the policies and procedures for accepting, recording, and acknowledging gifts.
  • Commit to growth on the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion to consider how to expand inclusivity of projects, relationships, and activities of the team.
  • UMAF is building and growing, and this position will support those efforts with other duties and projects as assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree and five years of experience in a combination of at least three of the following relevant areas: fundraising, alumni relations, organizing events, stewarding donors, and communications.
  • Demonstrated understanding of the principles and best practices of philanthropy and donor experience and communications, particularly in higher education and/or institutionally related foundations.
  • Knowledge of scholarship award management in a higher education environment and prior experience in scholarship stewardship and endowment reporting.
  • Ability to quickly gain substantive knowledge and comprehension of UMAF and SBS programs and initiatives, donors and supporters.
  • Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills. 
  • High degree of integrity, demonstrating respect for individuals at every level of an organization.
  • Ability to take initiative and work independently.
  • Ability to problem solve, adapt to change, and successfully manage multiple projects from start to finish.
  • High level computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft software (Outlook, Excel and Word), Adobe Photoshop, HTML or similar software. 
  • Must have a valid driver's license, the ability to obtain a driver's license, or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date.
Note: We’re passionate about building a diverse team. If your experience is close, but not an exact match, please consider applying. Experience comes in many forms, and skills are transferable. We know that diverse teams make better decisions and deliver better results, which is why we’re committed to adding new perspectives and encourage everyone to apply. 

BENEFITS
  • 20 vacation days, 12 holidays, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 office closure days.
  • 4-day summer work week.
  • 401(k) plan. You contribute 5% and receive a 10% match.
  • Health insurance packages for medical, dental, and vision.
  • 16 weeks of paid parental leave to use within 1 year of childbirth. An additional 6 weeks available for the birthing parent. Part-time work for full-time pay for the first 4 weeks post parental leave.
  • Learn more about our benefits.
Proposed Annual Salary Range:
 $84,000 - $92,000
 
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION 
At the UMass Amherst Foundation, we understand the value that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring to our workplace, our constituents, and our community. View our DEI Statement here 

We welcome and value diversity in all its forms and recognize that a diverse and inclusive team strengthens our work and advances our mission. We recognize that the benefits of a diverse team are fully realized when people of all races, gender identities, ages, ethnicities, cultural heritages and nationalities; educational backgrounds; religious and political beliefs; sexual orientations; abilities; and socioeconomic and veteran status are valued, respected, and included at every level. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact careers@uma-foundation.org to request accommodation.
 
OUR VALUES (S.T.E.W.A.R.D.S)
 
UMAF is committed to building a team with these shared values:  
 
Service:  We focus on the needs of others above ourselves and support our colleagues when they need help. 
Trust, Transparency, and Teamwork: We value honesty, trustworthiness, and open communication. Our colleagues can count on us for support. 
Excellence: We pursue excellence in all that we do – each time, and learn and grow as a team. 
Wellness: Our work culture provides flexibility and empowers individuals. 
Accountability: We accept full responsibility for our decisions, actions, and results. 
Respect: We respect each other and celebrate our different ideas, strengths, interests, and cultural backgrounds. 
Donor-Centric: We find intersections between donor’s experiences and values, and our organization’s priorities and funding needs. 
Synergy:  We connect, communicate, and collaborate within teams, and across functions to enhance our effectiveness and impact. 

Questions regarding the position or anything else related to careers with UMAF may be directed to the People & Culture team at careers@uma-foundation.org 
 

Development

Amherst, MA

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