Palmer College is looking for a Donor Relations and Communications Specialist!
The Donor Relations and Communications Specialist is a key member of the Advancement and Alumni team who supports fundraising and stewardship objectives, internal and external communications, and events aimed at donors, alumni, and other key constituents. The Donor Relations and Communications Specialist collaborates with the Director of Donor Relations to oversee and execute various initiatives crucial to maintaining and enhancing relationships with donors, alumni, and college partners. This role involves managing communications calendars, crafting donor acknowledgements, coordinating print materials, overseeing vendor relationships, managing recognition programs, supporting digital engagement efforts, and assisting with database management and reporting. Flexibility and a proactive approach to various tasks and projects are essential in this role.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
- Collaborate with the Director of Donor Relations to create and manage an annual communications calendar that includes fundraising appeals, mailings, and events.
- Manage the production of print materials by coordinating schedules, organizing tasks, writing content, performing copy editing, and implementing design updates as required.
- Assist with the production of the Palmer alumni magazine, Palmer Proud, including writing compelling content, conducting thorough editing, and sourcing photography.
- Partner with the digital engagement specialist to develop engaging and impactful content for digital communication channels.
- Assist with drafting gift proposals, including engaging campus partners in providing relevant information and creating collateral materials to support the ask.
- Support donor acknowledgment initiatives by creating personalized and meaningful acknowledgment letters and executing recognition for new donors to show appreciation and strengthen relationships.
- Manage the student thank-you call program, ensuring adherence to program guidelines and timely completion of calls.
- Act as liaison between the department and counterparts in Palmer’s Marketing and Communications department.
- Serve as the department’s point of contact for the preferred printing vendor, ensuring quality control and maintaining effective communication to meet project requirements and deadlines.
- Assist in managing the College Fellows and Alumni Awards program, handling nomination procedures, correspondence, travel coordination, event support, and recording appropriate contact reports in the Advancement database.
- Collaborate with operations staff to generate and analyze reports, ensuring accuracy and completeness of data, and use insights to inform decision-making and optimize processes.
- In partnership with the Director of Donor Relations, regularly review key performance indicators to track progress and adjust strategy as needed.
- Provide assistance to students, alumni, faculty, staff, and/or work study students, as applicable.
- Perform various administrative duties, including effectively managing assigned budget.
- Assist the department staff in planning and implementing goals and objectives as outlined by the Advancement Office.
- Perform all responsibilities in a manner that fully complies with Palmer’s Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action policy.
- Perform other duties as assigned.