Executive Director, Donor Relations

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Executive Director of Donor Relations leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive system-wide stewardship program supporting Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation. Reporting to the Vice President of Strategic Programs, this position provides the expertise to advance the mission, interests and priorities of Hackensack Meridian Health by directing a program that improves donor retention and fosters trust and loyalty among our donors while tracking, reporting and recommending best practices around donor stewardship efforts. The Executive Director works in close collaboration with the site foundation leadership and hospital/care transformation leadership.

A day in the life of a Executive Director of Donor Relations at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

• Sets vision, goals and strategies for a comprehensive donor relations program to achieve annual goals for donor retention and other donor relations metrics that support the fundraising efforts of Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation.
• Designs, builds and directs a donor-centered and mission-driven donor relations program that strategically targets all levels of giving for Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, from conceptualization to implementation to assessment. This includes system-wide donor acknowledgements processes, recognition, stewardship reporting, engagement and other donor relations activities.
• Creates and recommends system-wide standards and best practices in donor relations to nurture engagement with donors and prospective donors.
• Leads the Donor Relations department, which currently includes a director of donor relations, a manager of donor relations, two (2) donor relations coordinators, and donor relations interns and volunteers.
• Oversees principal and major gift donor stewardship, including custom stewardship reports and individual stewardship plans to strengthen donor relationships with the organization.
• Drives additional major gifts through targeted principal and major gift donor stewardship activities.
• Develops and manages system-wide donor relations policies and procedures for recognition.
• Directs individual recognition, campaign recognition and special recognition projects, including digital recognition.
• Develops, maintains and oversees gift agreement process, including development of templates, review/approval and managing follow-up inquiries regarding special conditions.
• Tracks, measures, and analyzes donor retention and engagement metrics to establish priorities and make informed decisions about future direction of stewardship activities.
• Partners with Special Events team on donor appreciation and stewardship events, with a focus on individual donor events.
• Maintains strategic relationships and ongoing communication with Executive Directors and Development Officers for each of the hospital foundations, as well as system leadership, hospital leadership and appropriate site staff, board members, committee chairs and members and other key constituents.
• Strategizes with the Foundation Communications Department to ensure that foundation communication demonstrates donor-centered impact to the organization.
• Develops and manages the Donor Relations department budget annually and collaborates with individual hospital foundations to develop budget allocations for donor relations activities.
• Has the authority to review and negotiate contracts and invoices with all donor relations vendors.
• Serves as the liaison with the risk and legal team for all donor relations contracts.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in related field from four-year university or college.
• Masters level degree or specialized certification in related field.
• Ten or more years of experience in donor relations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong experience in developing and leading a comprehensive donor relations program.
• Management experience and skills in coaching and guiding team members.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Experience in a healthcare setting at a large multi-hospital system.
• Experience working with Raisers' Edge and RE NXT.
• Experience working with the legal and finance departments. 

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!