MANAGER, DONOR RELATIONS

Are you interested in helping to create a Brighter World?

McMaster University fuels curiosity, inquiry and discovery. Every day, we push the boundaries of knowledge through our world-class, interdisciplinary research and our ground-breaking approaches to teaching and learning. Our students, researchers and staff are among the best and brightest.  

University Advancement at McMaster University is an integrated department working collaboratively with McMaster’s Faculties and units across campus. These areas coordinate their activities and work as a team to build relationships, reputation, and resources on behalf of the University.

As one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, McMaster is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and employment equity in the workplace. We encourage qualified candidates to apply from equity seeking groups such as women, racialized/visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability, persons who identify in the LGBTQ2S+ community and others who reflect the diversity of Canadian society.

Job Summary:

The Manager, Donor Relations is a leader of donor relations and engagement initatives. Reporting to the Director, Donor Relations in University Advancement (UA), the Manager plays a collaborative role in the strategic development of these activities, as well as leading the operational implementation in support of their objectives and the overall institutional mission.

Donor Relations involves a comprehensive effort to ensure that donors experience high-quality interactions with McMaster that foster long-term engagement, ideally leading to further investment. It also includes ensuring accountabilities and obligations to our donors are met and done so in a donor-centric way.

The Manager is a leader in advancement priorities designed to build and maintain positive relationships with key University donors, champions, alumni, and friends. The Manager, Donor Relations, is accountable for supporting the strategic planning, and leading the organizing and executing of a variety of engagement priorities and donor relations in support of University and University Advancement strategic goals, to build and enhance relationships, reputation and resources.

The Manager works to develop a consistent philosophy and practices around advancement priorities and donor relations of significant size and scope (e.g., recognition, donor relations, alumni, etc.) across University Advancement that are funder/stakeholder centered and informed by best practices, ensures strategic and coordinated engagement of University leaders as appropriate, and participates in a community of practice for others doing similar advancement work across the University. The Manager plays a crucial role in advancing the University’s commitment to supporting students and student initiatives by effectively engaging and stewarding donors who contribute to these efforts.  The Manager will be proactive in working with university partners to assess their needs and to develop strategies for the successful execution, evaluation and follow up on all

The Manager will be proactive in working with UA leaders to assess their needs and to develop strategies for the successful execution, evaluation and follow up on all Faculty advancement priorities of significant size and scope. These initiatives will support faculty-led priorities that engage, cultivate or steward key stakeholders to UA. The Manager may also lead key engagement priorities and events for areas with a growth strategy.

The Manager will provide leadership support for the development and implementation of engagement and donor relations priorities for a portfolio of alumni, funders and champions; provide effective and consistent advice to campus partners; address process and policy changes; resource planning and ensure key performance indicators are met while ensuring strong working relationships with internal and external University partners.

Job Description

• Model a culture of collaboration, integration and service to support the University’s core research and academic missions
• In collaboration with their supervisor and other senior leaders, support the strategic development and lead the execution and evaluation of engagement priorities and donor relations initiatives for a diverse group of stakeholders
• Provides operational leadership to the overall implementation of funder, community, champion, and volunteer engagement priorities and donor relations
• Work with University Advancement senior leadership to support and facilitate the development of strategic engagement and donor relations plans aligned with and stemming directly from strategic priorities, and provide subject matter expertise and consultation for advancement donor relations
• Provide advice and support to the front-line development team members, as well as University partners, to support the creation of new awards and funds that support McMaster students and student initiatives, including drafting and facilitating approval of proposed award terms of reference and reviewing proposals.
• Support the front-line development team with coordination of donor meetings with relevant reports and information pertaining to the Donor’s gift.
• Collaborates with McMaster’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion office and Legal services to review and evaluate the relevance and effectiveness of new and existing supports for students leading to new gifts
• Working closely with University partners, provide the accurate, relevant and impactful information to steward and engage Donors. Work in close alignment with Donor Relations and other areas of University Advancement to support the success of the operation’s annual goals as well as Advancement’s mission and strategic goals, through the delivery of engagement  activities.
• Be a part of a high-performance team that is committed to fulfilling the vision, goals and priorities necessary to achieve the short and long-term goals
• Develop and implement donor relations plans (e.g. strategy, engagement and stewardship) for donors who support McMaster students
• Provide leadership and direction in collaboration with their supervisor and other senior leaders on creation, coordination and implementation of a diverse range of priorities and initiatives for McMaster donors to ensure a consistency in practice across the University
• Act as a subject matter expert during all decision-making processes that impact operationalizing key engagement priorities and donor relations
• Working collaboratively with UA, develop and implement engagement and donor relations best practices expected of a world-class University
• Consult, advise and direct on best practices and is positioned as an expert in how to execute and ensure an outstanding stakeholder experience
• Assist with planning, organizing and executing a variety of high-profile local, national and international advancement and university events (in-person or virtual as required), in support of Faculty and University Advancement strategic goals, to build reputation, increase revenue or deepen engagement with the University
• Execute strategies that create awareness for university priorities and to help promote McMaster as a world-class university through local, national and international celebrations, events, and programs
• Collaborate on idea generation and consultation for all Faculty donor relations or engagement events; support the strategic and creative vision for signature events with the desired outcome to further the goals and strategies of the initiative
• Proactive in keeping current and having a significant depth of knowledge of priorities in both research and teaching and apply this knowledge in aligning the engagement interests and needs of key stakeholders.
• Represent the University with the team at all relevant community, University events
• Collaborate with various stakeholders across campus, in all Faculties and units, as well with the President's Office
• Design and implement tools to evaluate events and programs, internally and externally; review findings and prepares recommendations for future delivery
• Maintain accurate funder and friend profiles and program information in the University's database in a timely, accurate and appropriate manner
• Work with colleagues across campus to help develop stewardship communications including donor invitations, web presence and content, social media content, and general communications.
• Work in conjunction with University Advancement’s senior leaders to establish goals and objectives including annual professional development plans to support a culture of continuous improvement and readiness for change

Qualifications:

Education:

• A University degree
• A McMaster degree is an asset

Experience:

• Minimum 6 years relevant experience
• Proven track record of success in engaging and recognizing senior-level individuals, preferably within the post- secondary system
• Experience in planning and supporting bespoke donor engagement opportunities (both in-person and virtual) 
• Experience as part of a team of high-performing, stakeholder-centred professionals
• Strong volunteer management experience
• Post-secondary experience in advancement, events and/or volunteer management is considered an asset

Knowledge/Skills:

• Vision, and the ability to think strategically with a creative and entrepreneurial mindset
• Superior skills in critical analysis, judgement, decision-making, building effective relationships, and communications (oral, facilitation and written);
• High level of initiative, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent judgement and discretion
• Ability to work in fast-paced, stressful situations
• Deep understanding of the mission of a research-intensive university and priorities
• Superior skills in volunteer and budget management, event planning, with strong project management abilities
• High level of comfort and credibility working with senior academic leaders, as well as funders and volunteers
• Ability to work at the highest strategic levels, to gain and maintain the trust of senior academic leadership and supporters and take strategy and move it through to tactics and action
• Ability to navigate and be effective within a complex organization that values collaboration in addition to individuality and creativity
• Superior interpersonal skills;
• Stakeholder-centred and goal-oriented with a reputation for integrity and transparency   Competencies to understanding the philanthropic landscape
• Strong computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office 365) and relational donor databases (e.g. Ellucian Advance Web)

Must be knowledgeable about:

• University Advancement policies and procedures
• McMaster University policies and guidelines  
• Volunteer management
• Event planning/management
• Leadership Effectiveness: McMaster’s core leadership capabilities are designed to nurture employee engagement through best people practices. All leaders will demonstrate these Leadership Capabilities by: Taking a Strategic Approach; Communicating and Collaborating; Developing People; Investing in Relationships; Championing Change and Innovation; and Driving Results.