Job Description: Director of Alumni and Donor Relations
Department: Institutional Advancement Office
Location: Interdenominational Theological Center
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Chief Institutional Advancement Officer
Overview:
The Director of Alumni & Donor Relations is responsible for leading ITC’s alumni engagement, donor cultivation, fundraising strategy, and stewardship initiatives. This role builds and strengthens relationships with alumni, individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations to advance ITC’s mission and financial sustainability.
The Director also provides financial oversight of advancement-related funds, ensuring accurate reporting, compliance with donor intent, and collaboration with Finance to maintain sound internal controls.
This position reports to the President/CEO (or VP of Institutional Advancement, if applicable).
Key Responsibilities
Alumni Engagement & Strategy
- Develop and implement a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy
- Maintain accurate alumni database and communication channels
- Plan and execute alumni events, reunions, and networking initiatives
- Increase alumni participation, volunteerism, and giving rates
- Build alumni advisory groups and leadership councils
Donor Development & Fundraising
- Develop and execute annual fundraising plan
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and foundation donors
- Identify and manage major gift prospects
- Prepare donor proposals and impact reports
- Oversee annual giving campaigns and special initiatives
- Strengthen donor retention and engagement strategies
Financial Oversight & Accounting Responsibilities
- Collaborate with Finance to ensure accurate recording of all gifts and pledges
- Monitor restricted and unrestricted advancement funds to ensure compliance with donor intent
- Review monthly fundraising revenue reports and reconcile with accounting records
- Track pledges, payments, and outstanding commitments
- Assist in preparing advancement revenue forecasts and annual budgets
- Ensure proper documentation for audits and grant reporting
- Review and approve donor gift documentation prior to processing
- Maintain financial dashboards for board reporting
- Coordinate with Finance on grant drawdowns and expenditure tracking
Note: This position provides financial oversight and reconciliation responsibilities but does not replace Finance Department accounting functions.
Data Management & Reporting
- Maintain CRM/database integrity (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, etc.)
- Generate monthly, quarterly, and annual advancement performance reports
- Track key performance indicators (KPIs) including donor retention, alumni participation, and fundraising growth
- Present reports to Executive Leadership and Board
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure adherence to ITC’s Gift Acceptance Policy
- Support audit preparation and compliance reviews
- Maintain donor confidentiality and ethical fundraising standards
- Assist in board development and advancement committee support
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 5+ years of experience in development, alumni relations, or advancement
- Experience managing donor databases and fundraising campaigns
- Working knowledge of nonprofit financial processes and reporting
- Strong understanding of donor stewardship and compliance
- Demonstrated success in relationship-building and revenue growth
Preferred Skills
- Experience with CRM systems (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Financial Edge, Quickbooks)
- Knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles
- Grant management experience
- Strong analytical and reporting skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication
Core Competencies
- Relationship Builder
- Strategic Thinker
- Financially Literate
- Date Driven
- Ethical
- Collaborative Leader