Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) has built a global reputation based on its immersive and innovative management programs. We provide students a transformative leadership experience, pushing the boundaries of knowledge with faculty research, and offering a portfolio of entrepreneurial and non-degree programs that deliver global impact like no other. We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in service of our mission of developing innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who change lives, change organizations, and change the world. We invite you to be part of this mission.
The Director of Donor Relations and Development Communications in the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) seeks an Associate Director, Donor Experience. The Associate Director will work with key stakeholders in the GSB and university Office of Development to engage and steward the business school’s principal gift donors in a dynamic environment. The Associate Director leads the creation and implementation of programs, collateral, and communications to elevate principal gift donor relations activities.
Your primary responsibilities include:
- Lead donor relations strategy for principal gifts donors by working closely with key stakeholders across GSB Development and the central university Office of Development (OOD) to strategically design, create, and implement detailed top-donor stewardship plans, including mapping out reporting, touchpoints, and events over short-term and longer-term timelines for GSB principal gift donors.
- Act as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership (GSB Principal Gifts, GSB Dean’s office, GSB faculty leaders, University Principal Gifts, OOD leaders). Develop and implement related and complementary stewardship touchpoints and engagement strategies for multi-generational alumni/donor families, emerging philanthropic leaders, and, when helpful, principally-rated constituents who are currently giving at the major gifts level. Identify opportunities for above-and-beyond touchpoints, celebrations, and collateral to engage and inspire the GSB’s most generous donors.
- Lead the research, development, and production of highly customized and compelling stewardship reports – via incorporating the GSB Dean’s voice and input, inspiring storytelling, in-depth interviews with GSB faculty and students, and interactive features – and utilizing additional design and writing expertise when necessary.
- Lead, manage and implement programs that streamline and elevate principal gift reporting and donor engagement.
- Manage relationships and collaborate with key GSB internal stakeholders.
- Direct the creation, scaling, execution, and management of a Principal Gifts campaign donor cohort, including overseeing the related collateral and programming, as part of the GSB’s second century.
- Optimize use of university database for alumni/donor records, systems, and internal GSB processes for planning and record-keeping to develop, track, and analyze progress and results of Principal Gifts donor relations activities to guide decision-making.
- Source, assess, and contract with freelance vendors as needed (writers, graphic designers, videographers, event planners, etc.).
To be successful in this position, you will bring:
- Bachelor’s degree and seven years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
- Ability to understand and articulate how donor relations supports and advances the broader fundraising agenda.
- Demonstrated project management skills.
- Strong client service orientation and attention to detail.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, and professionalism to interact with a wide range of people at different levels of an organization.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to edit high-level correspondence.
- Demonstrated experience leading project teams.
- Proven ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple priorities, with competing deadlines.
- Must be able to find and interpret relevant information.
- Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.
- Ability to work a hybrid schedule.
- May require working flexible hours, including nights and weekends.
In addition, preferred requirements include:
- Demonstrated success leveraging leadership and influence skills to strategically motivate constituencies towards fundraising goals is highly preferred.
- Excellent planning, organizational and analytical skills are highly preferred.
- Demonstrated success in navigating ambiguity is highly desired.
- Subject matter expertise related to Stanford processes, systems, and academic mission preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to manage financial data and systems preferred.
- The ability to apply innovative approaches to problem-solving is highly desirable.
How to Apply
We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button. To be considered, please submit a cover letter and résumé along with your online application.
Why Stanford is for You
Stanford’s dedicated 16,000 staff come from diverse educational and career backgrounds. We are a collaborative environment that thrives on innovation and continuous improvement. At Stanford, we seek talent committed to excellence, driven to impact the future of our legacy, and improve lives on a global sphere. We provide competitive salaries, excellent health care and retirement plans, and a generous vacation policy, including additional time off during our winter closure.
