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Wage: $38,900 - $55,500

SUMMARY

The Assistant/Associate Director of Donor Relations plays a central role in advancing a comprehensive donor stewardship and engagement strategy. This position ensures that donor intent is honored, relationships are strengthened over time, and donors experience the meaningful impact of their philanthropy. Working collaboratively across Advancement and campus partners, this role supports and implements donor relations priorities—overseeing donor-funded agreements, stewardship initiatives, recognition programs, and engagement opportunities that connect donors with the students and the broader college community their generosity supports.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Donor Stewardship and Engagement

1. Manage and implement proactive donor retention strategies, including first-time donor engagement, consecutive/cumulative donor recognition, and long-term loyalty initiatives.

2. Create and execute strategic stewardship communications that highlight donor impact and deepen connection to the institution.

3. Partner with the Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement to strengthen the overall donor experience and stewardship strategies.

4. Lead planning and execution of the Luther Gives event, creating meaningful opportunities for students to thank donors, increasing donor connection and satisfaction.

5. Track, analyze, and report on donor relations and stewardship activities to inform strategy and improve outcomes.

Donor-Funded Gift Agreements and Fund Stewardship

1. Draft and manage gift agreements for donor-funded scholarships, grants, awards, and other endowed and restricted funds.

2. Conduct and maintain a comprehensive audit of endowed and restricted funds; proactively identify opportunities for updates or amendments in partnership with Development Officers.

3. Collaborate with Development Officers, Financial Aid, and campus partners to ensure agreements align with institutional guidelines, reflect donor intent, and are structured for long-term sustainability.

4. Work in partnership with the Director of Undergraduate Research and the Provost’s Office to integrate student summer research into donor stewardship efforts; guides students in developing profiles and reports and presents to researchers on communicating donor impact.

5. Serve as the primary resource for donors with questions regarding scholarship recipients and fund stewardship and serves as the campus resource for questions related to donor intent, spending guidelines, and fund restrictions.

Recognition, Events, and Operations

1. Oversee campus donor recognition programs, including recognition trees, benches, plaques, and related initiatives, ensuring accuracy and consistency.

2. Maintain and update donor-facing website content related to giving opportunities, recognition, and impact.

3. Assist in planning and execution of Advancement events, including groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, donor recognition events, and special campus gatherings.

4. Collaborate across Advancement and campus partners to ensure alignment in stewardship, recognition, and donor engagement efforts.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervise the Gift and Fund Manager and the Donor Relations and Records Coordinator, providing guidance, support, and accountability.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve on cross-campus committees as requested or as related to donor relations.
• Advance equity-centered principles, practices, and learning within the Advancement Office division and across campus
• Contribute to the overall success of the Advancement Office and teams through teamwork and collaboration.
• Cultivate community relationships and networks that support Luther’s advancement.
• Represent Luther as a professional collaborator at public functions and events, including social and professional gatherings.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, and SKILLS:

Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience: A minimum of three years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, advancement, communications, or event planning is preferred. Experience in customer service, relationship management, or volunteer engagement is beneficial. An understanding of and commitment to higher education, particularly within a liberal arts environment, is desirable.

Skills:

• Donor Relations & Stewardship Expertise: Strong understanding of donor relations principles, stewardship strategies, and emerging trends in donor engagement; ability to support initiatives that strengthen donor retention and deepen relationships over time.
• Strategic Thinking & Execution: Ability to contribute to and implement strategic donor relations and stewardship initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders; skilled at translating broader goals into actionable plans.
• Project Management & Planning: Highly organized with excellent project management skills; able to manage multiple priorities, coordinate complex initiatives, and consistently meet deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Donor Engagement & Relationship Management: Proven ability to engage and steward donors thoughtfully across the donor lifecycle; skilled in building trust and maintaining positive relationships with donors, volunteers, and campus partners.
• Communication Proficiency: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; ability to craft clear, compelling, donor-centered communications and connect professionally with diverse constituents.
• Relationship Building & Collaboration: Adept at building and maintaining strong, collaborative relationships across campus and within Advancement to support alignment in donor stewardship and fund management.
• Supervision & Team Collaboration: Ability to provide direction, support, and accountability to team members while contributing to a collaborative, service-oriented team environment.
• Data-Informed Decision Making: Comfortable using data to track stewardship activities, assess effectiveness, and inform strategy; able to identify trends and support continuous improvement.
• Systems & Technical Proficiency: Experience with CRM systems and data management practices; willingness to learn and effectively utilize Slate Advancement; proficient in Google Workspace and shared collaboration tools.
• Commitment to Inclusive Excellence: Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace culture; ability to engage thoughtfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
• Continuous Learning & Growth: Commitment to ongoing professional development and staying current with best practices in donor relations, stewardship, and higher education advancement.
• Alignment with Institutional Mission: Ability to represent and support the mission of Luther College as a residential, Lutheran, liberal arts institution and connect that mission to donor impact.