Director, Donor Relations

About University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation

Established in 2003, the University of Massachusetts Amherst Foundation (UMAF), a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, exists to raise philanthropic funds in support of the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s mission and highest aspirations. Located on the Amherst campus and wholly dedicated to supporting the University’s mission, UMAF is a separately governed nonprofit organization with its own health, wellness, and retirement benefits. UMAF serves the University of Massachusetts Amherst community by serving as a best practices resource for fundraising strategy and implementation.

About the role

The Director, Donor Relations will play a critical role in the development, implementation, and management of a comprehensive stewardship system that appropriately and consistently promotes interactions with and recognition of donors. In addition, the Director, Donor Relations will be responsible for collaborating with senior leaders and key stakeholders as the content and policy expert for stewardship-related matters, especially gift agreements, fund compliance, endowment reports, and naming opportunities.

Your impact will be significant. This position is instrumental in building, leading, and motivating donor relations professionals. You will operationalize innovative donor relations models, use technology to its fullest, and measure outcomes to strengthen our continuum of donor engagement.

Location : This is a full-time hybrid position and is open to employees in select US states: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire.

What you'll do

Collaboration with External Stakeholders (45%)

• Collaborate with development officers and university partners to develop endowment and current use gift agreements.
• Review and approve restricted major- and principal-level gift proposals to ensure resulting gifts are legal, practical, awardable and follow established policies. Consult with and counsel gift officers regarding establishing endowments and other named funds.
• Establish and implement training program for UMAF team to educate and provide guidance on named gifts standards and protocols.
• Act as primary liaison between the UMAF and UMass Foundation for endowed gift agreements, fund compliance, and named gifts.

Endowment Reporting and Compliance (30%)

• With creativity and innovation, develop and oversee the production of stewardship reports, including, but not limited to annual endowment impact and financial reports.
• Conduct periodic audits of philanthropic funds across the university. Collaborate with university partners, support efforts to ensure endowment income and current-use spending is timely and in accordance with the intent of the donor.
• Respond to inquiries regarding stewardship and endowment fund compliance issues and concerns.
• Benchmark best practices across the industry in stewardship and fund compliance practices.

Named Gift Compliance (15%)

• Work with the Senior Director, Donor Relations to create and provide oversight for standards and protocols for all named gifts.
• Collaborate with development officers and university partners to ensure all named gifts follow appropriate approval processes and procedures.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

• UMAF is building and growing, and this position will support those efforts with other duties and projects as assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• More than five years of development experience in donor relations and stewardship, preferably in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles and practices of philanthropy, particularly in higher education and/or institutionally-related foundations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.
• High degree of integrity, demonstrating respect for individuals at every level of an organization.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team, particularly multiple organizational teams.
• Ability to effectively represent UMAF.
• Sense of humor and life balance; an optimistic personality with a dedication to the highest standards of professionalism.
• Knowledge of fundraising database software, with a preference for Salesforce and/or Ellucian Advance.
• Champions a diverse culture where opinions are welcomed and valued and the ability to effectively work and interact respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Data-driven decision-maker with attention to detail and follow-through.
• Ability to create operational efficiencies and optimize the use of resources.
• Possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel and work evenings and weekends occasionally.

Note: We’re passionate about building a diverse team. If your experience is close, but not an exact match, please consider applying. Experience comes in many forms, and skills are transferable. We know that diverse teams make better decisions and deliver better results, which is why we’re committed to adding new perspectives and encourage everyone to apply.

BENEFITS

• 20 vacation days, 12 holidays, 12 sick days, 5 personal days, and 2 office closure days.
• 4-day summer work week.
• 401(k) plan. You contribute 5% and receive a 10% match.
• Health insurance packages for medical, dental, and vision.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave to use within 1 year of childbirth. An additional 6 weeks available for the birthing parent. Part-time work for full-time pay for the first 4 weeks post parental leave.
• Learn more about our benefits.

Proposed Annual Salary Range:
$83,000 - $93,000

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At the UMass Amherst Foundation, we understand the value that diversity, equity, and inclusion bring to our workplace, our constituents, and our community. View our DEI Statement here

We welcome and value diversity in all its forms and recognize that a diverse and inclusive team strengthens our work and advances our mission. We recognize that the benefits of a diverse team are fully realized when people of all races, gender identities, ages, ethnicities, cultural heritages and nationalities; educational backgrounds; religious and political beliefs; sexual orientations; abilities; and socioeconomic and veteran status are valued, respected, and included at every level. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact [email protected] to request accommodation.

OUR VALUES

UMAF is committed to building a team with these shared values:

Connection • Build meaningful relationships rooted in trust, respect, and belonging.

Courage • Show up with integrity, embrace challenges, and lead through uncertainty.

Curiosity • Commit to learning—for yourself and others—and create a culture where

everyone can thrive.

Questions regarding the position or anything else related to careers with UMAF may be directed to the People & Culture team at [email protected]