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Associate Director, Donor Relations

Inside Higher Ed, Palo Alto, CA, United States


Office of Development, Redwood City, California.

Schedule: Hybrid preferred, 2-3 days in office.

To be considered for this role, please submit writing samples with your cover letter and resume.

Stanford Medicine

is a world‑class academic medical institution comprised of Stanford University School of Medicine, a research‑intensive medical school, and Stanford Health Care, a regional hospital system that is nationally recognized for quality patient care and leading‑edge technology.

Medical Center Development

is seeking an

Associate Director of Donor Relations . If you are a mission‑driven team member with a passion for philanthropy, strong writing skills, and an interest in science and medicine, this might be the job for you.

Job Purpose The Associate Director, Donor Relations, is a position that will take an active role in developing, managing, and implementing donor relations engagement strategies for donors who support Stanford Medicine.

The mission of the MCD donor relations team is to connect donors to the joy of their giving and to the impact of their gift with the purpose of maximizing philanthropy and long‑term engagement with Stanford Medicine.

Donor relations officers act as active, involved partners with gift officers in setting donor relations strategies and carrying them out.

This is a highly collaborative team looking for a colleague who is motivated, positive, and passionate about medical advancement.

This position requires a detail‑oriented project manager and skilled writer who can manage competing priorities with organization, efficiency, and professionalism, while also being able to write concise letters and reports.

Success in this position depends on the ability to work in concert with others, while focusing resources to move complex stewardship deliverables to completion on schedule.

In This Role You Will

Participate in defining donor relations strategy for school of medicine donors in adherence to the university’s donor relations guidelines.

Develop and implement plans to provide comprehensive reporting to qualifying donors.

Research, plan, develop, and execute high profile reporting on complex topics, including written content, digital content, or video.

Develop, write, and edit supplementary stewardship materials (i.e. custom acknowledgment letters, stewardship briefs, cover letters, and other related materials) that align with school/unit stewardship plans and strategic priorities.

Assist in writing and production of general stewardship correspondence, including writing custom acknowledgment letters for the highest level of donors.

Establish and maintain strong partnerships with gift officers in order to maximize engagement for their portfolios of donors.

Build a complete understanding of each donor’s involvement in giving activity.

Execute fiduciary responsibility to ensure that gifts are awarded and utilized in accordance with donor expectations and university policy in a timely manner.

Resolve discrepancies and »escalate when needed.

Develop and maintain strong tracking mechanisms for projects.

Communicate donor relations plans across the organization and/or school, department, and with partner teams.

Maintain open channels of communication with donor relations colleagues across the university.

Assess donor relations opportunities and track donor relations trends.

Recommend donor relations improvements based on findings.

Manage vendors/consultants on specific projects and may oversee key vendor and consultant relationships.

Assist in writing and production of general donor correspondence.

Compile and manage data using multiple financial and reporting systems.

Maintain the Donor Relations App in CARD including updating activity assignments, recipients, stewardees, and other relevant details, after each project and in conjunction with new updates.

To Be Successful In This Role You Will Bring

Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to edit high‑level correspondence and articulate progress and impact in writing that is understandable and meaningful to various constituencies.

Demonstrated strong project management and fund compliance skills.

Demonstrated experience using multiple data management systems to pull information to create coherent reports.

Strong client service orientation and attention to detail.

Ability to quickly understand and remember details about donors and projects.

Excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism to interact with a wide range of people at different levels of an organization, both within and outside the Office of Development.

Proven ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple priorities, with competing deadlines.

Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision‑making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.

Physical Requirements

Frequently stand/walk, sit, perform desk‑based computer tasks, and use a telephone.

Occasionally grasp forcefully, use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.

Working Conditions

May require working flexible hours, including nights and weekends.

Pay Range The expected pay range for this position is $108,365 - $117,923 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire.

The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.

The Cardinal at Work website https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees.

Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

Why Stanford Is For You

Freedom to grow.

We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course.

Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.

A caring culture.

We provide superb retirement plans, generous time‑off, and family care resources.

A healthier you.

Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world‑class exercise facilities.

We also provide excellent health care benefits.

Discovery and fun.

Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.

Enviable resources.

Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities.

Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility.

Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Additional Information

Schedule: Full‑time

Job Code: 4322

Employee Status: Regular

Grade: H

Requisition ID: 108339

Work Arrangement: Hybrid Eligible

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