Associate Director, Donor Relations
Inside Higher Ed, Atlanta, GA, United States
ABOUT UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT
Georgia State University Advancement works to further Georgia State’s status as a national leader in student success, research and innovation, and cultural impact. By connecting with alumni, engaging donors, and increasing philanthropic support for students and scholars, we’re helping to transform lives and build our global community. The University Advancement Division furthers the university and its mission through several departments, including Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Alumni Relations, and the Georgia State University Foundation.
Description These are exciting times at the University Advancement. We are growing, and we are thrilled that you are interested in being a part of our team. We are surrounded by individuals empowered to use their expertise and talents to achieve our mission to identify, cultivate, and steward donors. Are you ready for us? Are you seeking an opportunity with purpose and direction? If you are, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We hire great people from a wide variety of educational, career, and personal backgrounds, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it makes us a stronger team.
WHAT YOU WILL DO The Associate Director of Donor Relations plays a strategic leadership role within the Office of Advancement, responsible for designing, executing, and overseeing comprehensive stewardship and donor engagement programs that recognize, honor, and cultivate philanthropic support university-wide. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, the Associate Director works collaboratively with development officers, university leadership, and campus partners to ensure an exceptional donor experience and strengthen long‑term relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations, with a particular emphasis on Georgia State University’s top donors.
Job Duties Program Leadership and Strategy
Leads the planning, management, and execution of programs designed to enhance and strengthen Georgia State’s relationships with donors and significant philanthropic prospects.
Develops and maintains a university‑wide donor recognition framework, including acknowledgment standards, impact reporting schedules, and engagement touchpoints.
Designs and implements stewardship strategies that ensure personalized, mission‑driven engagement of the university’s top donors and campaign supporters.
Consults with Advancement AVPs, development officers, college/unit leadership and university leadership to execute customized stewardship plans for principal gift and campaign donors.
University‑wide Stewardship Activities
Creates and manages a university‑wide scholarship stewardship program, with a focus on personalized engagement, recognition, and impact reporting for top scholarship donors.
Serves as a central resource for development officers and college/unit partners to align donor relations practices across the university.
Collaborates with faculty, academic leadership, and program staff to source compelling programmatic outcomes and student stories for stewardship purposes.
Develops and manages the division‑wide donor acknowledgment processes to ensure accuracy, personalization, and timeliness, particularly for leadership donors and campaign donors.
Partners with Advancement Communications to create high‑quality stewardship materials, including impact reports, videos, and donor spotlights.
Donor Impact Reporting
Leads the development and execution of a tier‑based Impact Reporting program, working collaboratively with gift officers to ensure strategic and personalized stewardship.
Designs customized impact reports and communications for top donors, including principal gift donors, scholarship donors, and campaign supporters.
Tracks and analyzes key performance indicators related to stewardship engagement and reporting effectiveness.
High‑Level Donor Events
Plans and supports donor engagement activities tied to high‑level giving, including those related to Presidents Society, the comprehensive campaign, and endowed scholarship donors.
Works with senior advancement leadership to ensure meaningful donor recognition moments are integrated into presidential and university events.
Represents the Office of Advancement at key donor events, strengthening relationships through direct engagement. Serves as liaison with the President’s office and Cabinet members for top‑tier and personalized events, including attending private Presidential events, creating specialized event briefs, and coordinating logistics.
Other
Supervises and mentors donor relations student workers as assigned.
Manages stewardship projects and budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with strategic priorities.
Ensures data integrity in donor records related to stewardship and recognition programs, in collaboration with Gifts & Records, Prospect Development, and Advancement IT.
Participates actively in departmental planning, goal setting, and professional development activities.
Individuals will also be required to work nights and weekends, when necessary, travel (via plane, train, or car) at least 15% of the time within and outside of the state of Georgia.
This job description is not intended to be all‑inclusive. It is understood that the employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties if requested by the supervisor. Job descriptions are reviewed periodically and may be revised if deemed necessary.
Qualifications Minimum Hiring Standards
Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in solicitation of gifts up to $25,000; or a combination of education and related experience.
College/Business Unit University Advancement
Location Atlanta Campus
Job Posting 03/03/26, 12:00:00 AM
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Georgia State University Advancement works to further Georgia State’s status as a national leader in student success, research and innovation, and cultural impact. By connecting with alumni, engaging donors, and increasing philanthropic support for students and scholars, we’re helping to transform lives and build our global community. The University Advancement Division furthers the university and its mission through several departments, including Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Alumni Relations, and the Georgia State University Foundation.
Description These are exciting times at the University Advancement. We are growing, and we are thrilled that you are interested in being a part of our team. We are surrounded by individuals empowered to use their expertise and talents to achieve our mission to identify, cultivate, and steward donors. Are you ready for us? Are you seeking an opportunity with purpose and direction? If you are, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We hire great people from a wide variety of educational, career, and personal backgrounds, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it makes us a stronger team.
WHAT YOU WILL DO The Associate Director of Donor Relations plays a strategic leadership role within the Office of Advancement, responsible for designing, executing, and overseeing comprehensive stewardship and donor engagement programs that recognize, honor, and cultivate philanthropic support university-wide. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, the Associate Director works collaboratively with development officers, university leadership, and campus partners to ensure an exceptional donor experience and strengthen long‑term relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, and foundations, with a particular emphasis on Georgia State University’s top donors.
Job Duties Program Leadership and Strategy
Leads the planning, management, and execution of programs designed to enhance and strengthen Georgia State’s relationships with donors and significant philanthropic prospects.
Develops and maintains a university‑wide donor recognition framework, including acknowledgment standards, impact reporting schedules, and engagement touchpoints.
Designs and implements stewardship strategies that ensure personalized, mission‑driven engagement of the university’s top donors and campaign supporters.
Consults with Advancement AVPs, development officers, college/unit leadership and university leadership to execute customized stewardship plans for principal gift and campaign donors.
University‑wide Stewardship Activities
Creates and manages a university‑wide scholarship stewardship program, with a focus on personalized engagement, recognition, and impact reporting for top scholarship donors.
Serves as a central resource for development officers and college/unit partners to align donor relations practices across the university.
Collaborates with faculty, academic leadership, and program staff to source compelling programmatic outcomes and student stories for stewardship purposes.
Develops and manages the division‑wide donor acknowledgment processes to ensure accuracy, personalization, and timeliness, particularly for leadership donors and campaign donors.
Partners with Advancement Communications to create high‑quality stewardship materials, including impact reports, videos, and donor spotlights.
Donor Impact Reporting
Leads the development and execution of a tier‑based Impact Reporting program, working collaboratively with gift officers to ensure strategic and personalized stewardship.
Designs customized impact reports and communications for top donors, including principal gift donors, scholarship donors, and campaign supporters.
Tracks and analyzes key performance indicators related to stewardship engagement and reporting effectiveness.
High‑Level Donor Events
Plans and supports donor engagement activities tied to high‑level giving, including those related to Presidents Society, the comprehensive campaign, and endowed scholarship donors.
Works with senior advancement leadership to ensure meaningful donor recognition moments are integrated into presidential and university events.
Represents the Office of Advancement at key donor events, strengthening relationships through direct engagement. Serves as liaison with the President’s office and Cabinet members for top‑tier and personalized events, including attending private Presidential events, creating specialized event briefs, and coordinating logistics.
Other
Supervises and mentors donor relations student workers as assigned.
Manages stewardship projects and budgets, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with strategic priorities.
Ensures data integrity in donor records related to stewardship and recognition programs, in collaboration with Gifts & Records, Prospect Development, and Advancement IT.
Participates actively in departmental planning, goal setting, and professional development activities.
Individuals will also be required to work nights and weekends, when necessary, travel (via plane, train, or car) at least 15% of the time within and outside of the state of Georgia.
This job description is not intended to be all‑inclusive. It is understood that the employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties if requested by the supervisor. Job descriptions are reviewed periodically and may be revised if deemed necessary.
Qualifications Minimum Hiring Standards
Bachelor’s degree and two years of experience in solicitation of gifts up to $25,000; or a combination of education and related experience.
College/Business Unit University Advancement
Location Atlanta Campus
Job Posting 03/03/26, 12:00:00 AM
#J-18808-Ljbffr