Description
In University Advancement, we create the conditions for opportunity – human, financial, & experiential – by garnering and stewarding the resources that advance William & Mary.
William & Mary Foundation’s defining and essential mission is to support the university’s people and programs. By seeking private support, and then diligently managing those funds, the W&M Foundation advances and furthers the work of William & Mary’s students and faculty —providing vital resources for scholarships, professorships, research and program funding.
Consistent with the university’s shared services agreement with the William & Mary Foundation (WMF), this position is assigned 10% effort to support Foundation Services LLC, a subsidiary of WMF, with the responsibilities outlined below.
Summary:
The Associate Director, Donor Recognition, is an integral member of the donor relations team in the Office of University Advancement at William & Mary. The associate director will expand, elevate and ensure excellence in the execution of donor recognition, appreciation and engagement programs, communications and special events across William & Mary.
Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations for Principal Gifts, the Associate Director is responsible for the delivery of William & Mary’s engagement programs related to its donor giving societies. This includes the development and management of communications, year-end stewardship campaigns, and special events including the Charter Day dinner, annual giving societies celebrations, James Blair Society induction ceremony, football and commencement in the President’s Suite at Zable Stadium.
The Associate Director will also support the Director in executing bespoke recognition events for principal gift-level donors, creating targeted stewardship and gratitude communications, and designing engaging impact updates and one-pagers for key donors and funding priorities. Using a data-driven approach, the associate director will build invitation lists and ensure timely delivery of personalized communications to these constituencies.
The Associate Director will also serve as the team’s primary manager for donor recognition and naming programs, working closely with William & Mary’s Office of the Recording Secretary and campus partners to communicate naming guidelines, prepare plaque mockups and templates for gift officers and provide an accessible archive of photographed named spaces. The Associate Director will manage, with support from the donor relations coordinator, procurement of plaques and special commemorative gifts for major and principal gift-level donors.
This position is based in Williamsburg, Virginia, and offers a flexible work environment.
Review and download the full position description for this job on the University Advancement recruitment website: https://advancement.wm.edu/come-work-with-us/open-positions/index.php.
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
Significant and progressively responsible professional experience and specialized expertise directly related to the duties of this role.
Advanced knowledge of MS Office with strong skills in Word and Excel.
Demonstrated excellent administrative, oral and written communication skills, with attention to detail and the demonstrated ability to draft, edit and proofread documents, reports and thank-you letters.
Strong knowledge of databases, e.g. customer relationship management (CRM) and content management web-based platforms with demonstrated analytical skills.
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills with a strong customer service-oriented approach and the ability to work effectively with internal and external constituencies.
Strong project coordination skills and/or experience with the ability to plan, manage, and track projects through completion.
Knowledge of event coordination with the ability to coordinate and manage event logistics.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated exceptional experience in customer and/or donor relations.
Excellent project management skills.
Experience with other relational database systems.
Knowledge of best practices in stewardship and donor relations in higher education.
Experience in a higher education setting.
Experience in a fundraising environment.
Conditions of Employment:
This position may require you to work additional hours beyond the typical work week, to include evenings and weekends.
