OPT Donor Relations Officer Jobs
Donor Relations Officer jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in nonprofit management, communications, or public administration. These roles involve managing donor portfolios, writing stewardship reports, and coordinating fundraising campaigns, all activities that directly apply academic training and satisfy OPT employment requirements.
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Location
SAINT LOUIS, MO 63105
Scheduled Hours
37.5
Position Summary
The Assistant Director of Donor Experiences primarily reports to the Senior Associate Director of Donor Experiences. This position will manage our Chancellor hosted sporting events, including briefing packets and will support our leadership initiatives, donor experiences and programing.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Plans and implements sporting events (Cardinals, St. Louis City and Blues) hosted by Chancellor Martin. This includes collaboration with SEUC, PST and fundraising teams to, as well as coordination with the Chancellor’s office.
- Leads creation of comprehensive briefing materials to prepare the Chancellor, Executive Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, Provost and senior advancement colleagues for all sporting events.
- Provides assistance to the Principal Gifts Donor Experiences team with event-related activities including but not limited to reserving event space, overseeing data for invitation lists, coordinating and supervising mail house projects, creating timelines, establishing logistical plans, securing speakers, creating seating plans, printed materials and event talking points.
- Supports the university’s leadership initiatives, including Philanthropy Forward, Harris Awards and Frick Initiatives.
- Assists the Principal Gifts team in implementing highly-personalized donor engagement, cultivation, and stewardship strategies.
- On-site event logistical support.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
- Normal office environment
- Ability to travel to various on- and off-campus locations
Physical Effort
- Typically sitting at a desk or table
- Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
Equipment
- Office equipment
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
Relevant Experience (2 Years)
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with and appreciation for the mission of Advancement Programs and the activities of the department.
- A desire to play a meaningful role in the University’s community and to share in the community’s commitment to education and research.
- Ability to work successfully with administration, faculty, alumni, parents and volunteers as appropriate.
- Ability to work effectively in a complex organization.
- A desire and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across development offices, as well as independently.
This position is located in St. Louis, MO and the targeted hiring range for this position is $49,700 - $58,000.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Certifications /Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Communication, Detail-Oriented, Email Software, Graphic Design, Interpersonal Interactions, Interpersonal Relationships, Learning Quickly, Listening Comprehension, Microsoft Office, Multitasking, Organizing, Professional Integrity, Project Management, Relationship Building, Salesforce (Software), Task Organization, Task-Oriented, Time Prioritization
Grade
G10
Salary Range
$49,700.00 - $82,100.00 / Annually
The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Personal
- Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
- Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
- Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
- WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
Wellness
- Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
Family
- We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We’ve got you covered.
- WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Donor Relations Officer
Frame your degree as directly relevant
Nonprofit management, communications, public policy, and social work degrees map clearly to Donor Relations Officer roles. In your cover letter, connect your specific coursework to stewardship, donor engagement, or fundraising operations explicitly.
Raise OPT early, not at the offer stage
Mention your authorization in the second or third conversation, before an offer is extended. Framing it as a brief administrative step with no cost to the employer prevents it from becoming a last-minute obstacle.
Emphasize relationship management skills with data
Donor relations is measurable work. Quantify your experience: donor retention rates you supported, gift acknowledgment turnaround times, or portfolio sizes you managed. Concrete numbers reduce uncertainty for hiring managers unfamiliar with international candidates.
Get familiar with common CRM platforms before applying
Proficiency in Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack, Raiser's Edge, or similar donor management systems makes you a stronger candidate. Many nonprofits list CRM experience as required, and demonstrating it removes a common screening barrier.
Use STEM OPT extension eligibility as a planning tool
If your degree qualifies for the 24-month STEM extension, communicate that to employers. It extends your authorized work period significantly, giving nonprofit employers more time to evaluate sponsorship before your status requires action.
Donor Relations Officer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Donor Relations Officer on F-1 OPT?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your field of study. Degrees in nonprofit management, communications, public administration, or social work typically satisfy this requirement. You must have a job offer before your OPT start date and ensure your role aligns with what you reported to your DSO.
Do nonprofit employers sponsor international students for H-1B visas from a Donor Relations Officer role?
Some do, particularly larger nonprofits, university development offices, and hospital foundations with established HR processes. Sponsorship is less common at small community organizations. Researching an employer's history with work authorization before applying saves time. Migrate Mate surfaces OPT-friendly Donor Relations Officer roles where sponsorship is more likely.
Does a Donor Relations Officer role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Only if your underlying degree is in a STEM-designated field, such as data analytics, information systems, or a related discipline. Most traditional Donor Relations Officer hires come from humanities or social science backgrounds, which are not STEM-designated. Check your degree's CIP code against the DHS STEM OPT extension list to confirm eligibility before counting on the extra 24 months.
What should I do if my OPT expires before a nonprofit can complete H-1B sponsorship?
If you qualify for the STEM extension, file the application at least 90 days before your OPT end date to maintain work authorization during processing. If you don't qualify for STEM, explore whether your employer can support a cap-exempt H-1B through a qualifying nonprofit or educational institution affiliation, which bypasses the annual lottery entirely.
How do I find Donor Relations Officer jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Standard job boards don't filter for OPT work authorization, which means significant time spent on roles that won't consider international students. Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Donor Relations Officer positions at employers open to candidates on work authorization, so you can focus on applications with a realistic path forward.