Assistant/Associate Director of Donor Relations

The Assistant/Associate Director of Donor Relations plays a key role in advancing Trinity College’s donor engagement and stewardship efforts by fostering meaningful connections between alumni, parents, friends, and the College. This position partners with the Director of Donor relations on the production of annual endowed fund reports and other donor communications, ensuring that all materials are accurate, compelling, donor-centered, and delivered in a timely manner. The Assistant/Associate Director also manages the student scholars’ program and supervises student workers, overseeing their contributions to donor stewardship initiatives.

Working closely with the Director of Donor Relations, the Assistant/Associate Director helps develop and execute meaningful stewardship and recognition opportunities that express Trinity’s gratitude and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy, with particular attention to leadership, principal, and endowed fund donors. The position collaborates with colleagues across Advancement and partners throughout the College to identify and implement stewardship strategies that are authentic, impactful, and sustainable while supporting the institution’s broader fundraising goals.
 

• Manage the Trinity Scholars program, including but not limited to working with the Director of Financial Aid to ensure that identified named scholars are appropriately matched with endowed funds.
• Maintain a comprehensive stewardship reporting calendar and oversee project timelines to ensure fulfillment of donor reporting commitments.
• Coordinate the collection of impact information from academic and administrative partners for assigned portfolio of endowed and current use funds and translate complex programmatic information into compelling donor reports and stewardship materials.
• Create and oversee the production of annual reports for assigned portfolio of endowed and current use funds as well as scholarship funds, including financial reports and impact reports; liaise with Office of Financial Aid to gather information on financial aid statistics and other information of interest to scholarship fund donors; work with the Communications Office and/or outside vendors to edit the copy, add photography and design a template that is esthetically pleasing and informative. 
• Review, edit, and approve written communications from scholarship recipients to scholarship donors, ensuring messages are accurate, thoughtful, and reflective of the College’s stewardship standards. Provide guidance to students on donor communications and help facilitate meaningful connections between scholarship recipients and the donors whose generosity supports their educational experience.
• Develop and implement programs, communications, and engagement opportunities that strengthen scholarship recipients’ understanding of philanthropy and its impact on their Trinity experience. Foster meaningful connections between students and scholarship donors through initiatives that encourage gratitude, storytelling, and donor engagement while enhancing the overall scholarship stewardship program.
• Maintain accurate donor, steward, endowed fund, and scholar records within Slate, including names, contact information, and correspondence. Ensure that donor, steward, endowed fund, and named scholar records are properly linked and cross-referenced to support effective stewardship, reporting, and donor engagement efforts. 
• Support the College’s gift acknowledgment process by collaborating with the Director and Donor Relations Coordinator to ensure timely and meaningful donor recognition. Participate in the review and coordination of Presidential, Vice Presidential, Long Walk, In Memory Of, and In Honor Of acknowledgments, and provide coverage as needed during the Donor Relations Coordinator’s absence.
• Audit and maintain the inventory of named spaces, facilities, and recognition opportunities to ensure accurate donor attribution, signage records, and stewardship tracking.
• Partner with Advancement Services, Finance, and campus stakeholders to ensure the accurate administration and stewardship of endowed and restricted funds.
• Partner with the Director of Donor Relations and leadership giving colleagues to design and execute strategic, personalized engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships with high-capacity donors and prospects.
• In partnership with the Director of Donor Relations and Director of Advancement Communications, develop impact and recognition materials and donor stories for website, magazine and other media.
• Monitor and evaluate stewardship practices, recommending process improvements to enhance donor engagement, operational efficiency, and data integrity.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, donor intent, and gift agreement requirements in all stewardship and recognition activities.
• Assist with other projects and strategic initiatives that support the overall goals of donor relations and advancement.
   

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3-5 years of experience 
• Knowledge of advancement operations and donor stewardship. Excellent writing, editing and storytelling skills with the ability to communicate donor impact clearly. Proficiency with donor databases, CRM Systems, Microsoft Office and related reporting tools, Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to improve processes and workflows. Ability to represent the institution with warmth, gratitude and donor centered approach. High level of accuracy, attention to detail, discretion, and professionalism.