FLSA EMPLOYMENT CATEGORY: Salaried; Exempt; Administrative; Full time
DEPARTMENT: Advancement
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Stewardship plays a pivotal role in fostering strong relationships with donors and alumni at Alma College. This position is responsible for coordinating a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship strategy, ensuring consistent and meaningful engagement with donors across all levels. The role also involves planning and executing various events targeting donors and alumni in collaboration with Advancement and campus colleagues.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED:
This position reports to the senior director of advancement and has no supervisory responsibilities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Coordinate and execute a comprehensive donor relations program.
• Collaborate with fundraising colleagues on stewardship plans for annual, major, and principal gifts.
• Partner with Advancement staff to strategize effective stewardship for all donors, tailoring approaches for scholarship and non-scholarship endowments and gifts.
• Lead planning and implementation of Advancement events, including ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings for new buildings on campus.
• Develop and execute an annual plan as part of operational planning and budgeting, in collaboration with the supervisor.
• Collaborate on naming and recognition guideline materials for donor acknowledgement and recognition, and work with staff to define, update and create materials for recognition and stewardship opportunities.
• Handle monthly gift reporting to academic and athletic departments.
• Produce daily donor acknowledgement letter receipts from Advancement and monthly letters from the President.
• Serve as primary backup for gift acknowledge processes.
• Participate in the CRM Advance system conversion as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree; a combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must be organized and goal oriented, with a high level of initiative and energy, and the ability to attend to detail.
• Must be adept at problem-solving and using judgment in situations requiring independent initiative and tact.
• Must display a high level of maturity and personal integrity and ability to understand, develop, and sustain resilient and dynamic relationships with donors, colleagues, and senior management.
• Must be able to forge strong working relationships with others and a capacity for engaging confidence and trust among donors, alumni, parents and friends of Alma College.
• Must have the ability to maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive information.
• Must have the ability to implement and maintain quality control standards.
• Computer literacy skills including knowledge of Colleague (or a comparable client relationship management [CRM] system), Word, and Excel.
• Must have the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies.
• Must have the ability to perform basic office functions.
• Knowledge of Alma College’s mission, services, policies and procedures is essential.
• Ability to travel, including out of state as necessary; and the ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary.
• Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience with events
• One to three years constituent relations experience
• Special events management experience
• Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, Pell-eligible, and diverse populations.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station
• Walking, climbing, stooping, standing
• Lifting up to 20 pounds
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Interested candidates must submit the Alma College application, letter of interest, and a resume via the apply now button below. Applications will be accepted until January 6, 2025.
Alma College is classified as a selective Baccalaureate College: Diverse Fields by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Committed to academic excellence and development of responsible leaders, Alma’s students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff and student body.
Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. For more information about the College, visit www.alma.edu.