Manager, Donor Relations

**Date Posted**:01/16/2025
**Req ID**: 41340
**Faculty/Division**: VP - Division of University Advancement
**Department**: University Development
**Campus**: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
**Position Number**: 00044244

**Description**:
**About us**:
The Division of University Advancement (DUA) aims to sustain and enhance the University of Toronto’s academic mission, leadership, and worldwide impact, by engaging alumni and private sector constituentsmeaningfully in the mission of the University, building mutually beneficial relationships of increasing value and satisfaction over time.

DUA at the University of Toronto is engaged in a transformative agenda deeply rooted in the University’s vision for growth and innovation. We are focused on growing fundraising efforts; enhancing the effectiveness and satisfaction of alumni engagement and programs; building advancement talent capacity within and across divisions; creating an organizationand culture that fosters diversity and inclusiveness.

**Your opportunity**:
Stewardship at DUA is responsible for the University's central stewardship program, and provide support and services to divisional advancement teams, with the goal of maintaining a best-practice, industry-leading stewardship program and team. We hire outstanding people from a variety of backgrounds and currently seek a Manager, Donor Relations & Projects to join our diverse group of talent.

Reporting into the Director, Donor Relations, the Manager, Donor Relations & Projects will manage the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors (CCB) program, the University’s donor recognition society for its principal gift benefactors, including the newly established Laureates of the CCB. In this role, you will manage all aspects of the program, including making recommendations and implementing enhancements to the CCB program and other stewardship programs that support institutional stewardship goals and strategies; planning and executing complex communication and event strategies to engage and celebrate CCB and Laureates members; supporting the creation of bespoke gifts; maintaining business processes relating to the program, including procedures for identifying new members, use of relevant information systems, including ARBOR, DIS, Sharepoint, and iModules. The Manager will work closely with divisional colleagues to ensure strategic alignment with donor engagement strategies, including collaborating on the production and customization of welcome materials for new members. Additionally, you will manage the planning and updating of two intricate donor walls, ensuring records are accurate and up-to-date, and serving as the primarypoint of contact with external vendors.

The Manager will also take on the role of project lead for ongoing donor relations initiatives, driving collaboration and ensuring projects are executed professionally and on schedule. This includes creating detailed timelines, defining clear deliverables, and managing efforts seamlessly across divisional and central partners. We are seeking a skilled collaborator with exceptional diplomatic tact and the ability to influence without authority.

**Your responsibilities will include**:

- Developing overall project design
- Planning and implementing project phases
- Developing project schedules including milestones, critical path, timelines, deliverables and reporting
- Developing and implementing plans to support donor management and stewardship strategies and/or activities
- Providing detailed information for the development of donor relations and stewardship programs
- Assessing needs and contributing to the development and implementation of plans for prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation and recognition
- Developing and implementing donor engagement plans that support strategic objectives
- Analyzing complex giving and donor trends/patterns and making strategic recommendations to senior University officials

**Essential Qualifications**:

- Bachelor's Degree or acceptable combination of equivalent experience.
- Six to seven years years of experience with a proven track record of achievement and success within a donor relations and/or stewardship environment
- Demonstrated project management experience involving multiple stakeholders, successfully delivering medium to large scale projects.
- Experience in evaluating processes and recommending enhancements to align with industry best practices and improve operational efficiency.
- Experience developing complex multi-deliverable project timelines.
- Experience in coordinating and facilitating meetings, including project meetings with stakeholders to facilitate approval processes.
- Demonstrated experience of providing exceptional stewardship and engagement to donors, including for an institution's top benefactors.
- Demonstrated experience with recognition societies, and programs.
- Direct experience working with senior stakeholders, including staff and volunteers.
- Direct experience planning