Development Manager, Donor Relations

Development Manager, Donor Relations
Department: University Advancement
The Development Manager for Donor Relations will evaluate and implement opportunities to creatively and strategically engage prospects and donors relevant to the university's agenda, as well as recognize them for their contributions and inform them about the impact of their gifts to the university. This position partners with the Development Team, Advancement Services, Alumni Relations, and various campus offices and university leaders to ensure that donors and alumni are appropriately and personally recognized and communicated with in a timely way and that they receive targeted messaging relevant to their interests on a regular basis. This position will also play a large role in executing all Advancement communications, including but not limited to digital newsletters, social media, mailings, printed publications, and websites.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Stewardship and Donor Relations

• Helps manage the acknowledgments of gifts of all levels through letters, phone calls, hand-written notes, and other means as deemed necessary.
• Manages the solicitation and stewardship of UST's giving societies as well as communications with these groups
• Executes, enhances, and provides support for the donor recognition system; communicates with gift officers as donors qualify for recognition at new levels; coordinates the ordering and delivery/presentation of personalized mementos, plaques, etc.; and ensures all appropriate information is captured in a method for reporting.
• Review and modify, as necessary, the acknowledgment process to ensure donors are thanked in a personal, timely, and appropriate manner.
• Collaborate with Prospect Research and Development Officers to create plans for individual donor stewardship events and work with the primary prospect manager to facilitate appropriate stewardship action plans.
• Connect and engage donors and fund recipients through programs and events to ensure donors that the schools and centers are attuned to their interests and concerns.
• Works with the Events Manager to plan and implement all major donor recognition events such as capital project dedications and ceremonies, events for specific groups of donors such as luncheons and dinners, and giving society stewardship events.

Advancement Communications

• Aids in the creation and dissemination of all donor communications.
• Develops online and printed materials for University of St. Thomas giving societies
• Implements an online presence for UST stewardship activities, including offerings and initiatives through contributions to newsletters or websites that reach donors.
• Helps develop targeted case messaging and collateral, and donor segmentation to effectively drive donor and alumni engagement and fundraising results.
• Manage the social media accounts for the Alumni Relations Office/Alumni Association

Qualifications and Requirements

• BA required, with a major in marketing, communications, or a related field preferred.
• A graduate of the University of St. Thomas is preferred.

• 5 years of successful experience in development, annual giving, and/or Donor Relations activities.
• Proven ability to work effectively with a diverse group of external and internal constituents.

• Minimum 1 year of experience working with constituent relationship management (database) systems.
• Experience as an administrator with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is required.
• Demonstrated abilities to work independently and, at times, with work teams.
• Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to multitask, and work independently.
• Demonstrate a creative thought process in order to implement new programs.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and work effectively in teams with a positive attitude.
• Strong organizational, logistical, and planning skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment with a focus on service.
• Must have an advanced level of proficiency in working with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word software.
• Creative thinker with passion and high energy for the mission of UST.

Preferred

• Membership and/or previous involvement with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of work performed by individuals in this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and qualifications required of individuals in this job classification. All job classifications may have miscellaneous job duties assigned on an as-needed basis. The University retains the right to assign and change the duties of this position at any time.