Assistant Director, Donor Relations

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/6

Job Summary:

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $60,000 - $64,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

The Assistant Director is a member of Northwestern University's Donor Relations team within Alumni Relations and Development (ARD), helping ensure that major and principal gift donors understand the impact of their philanthropy. This role plays a critical part in stewarding donor relationships through the production and distribution of more than 1,300 customized stewardship reports annually, with a focus on the data, systems, and administrative processes that support this program.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across ARD, the Assistant Director collects, analyzes, and maintains stewardship-related data, develops reporting tools and metrics, and serves as a key quality-control partner to ensure the accuracy and integrity of donor and fund information. Through effective project coordination, data management, and cross-functional collaboration, the role helps ensure donors receive accurate, meaningful, and timely information about the impact of their philanthropy.

Successful candidates will possess strong technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills; a commitment to data integrity; and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy. They will be proactive problem-solvers who enjoy collaborating across teams to support donor stewardship and advance Northwestern's philanthropic mission.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Support the production and distribution of more than 1,300 customized stewardship reports annually, contributing to project planning, tracking, and execution.
• Maintain and optimize donor, fund, and stewardship-related data within Salesforce and other platforms to support stewardship activities and ensure data accuracy.
• Develop and maintain reports, dashboards, and metrics used to monitor project activity, workload, and program performance.
• Extract, analyze, and interpret data from multiple systems, including Salesforce, IBM Cognos Analytics, and the Mythos Platform, to support stewardship reporting, project management, and decision-making.
• Serve as a key quality-control and data integrity partner by reviewing stewardship-related data for accuracy and completeness, identifying discrepancies, and collaborating with colleagues to resolve issues.
• Collaborate with colleagues across ARD to gather, review, and organize information used in donor-facing stewardship materials, including websites, PDFs, financial reports, student profiles, and other impact-reporting collateral.
• Provide onboarding, system support, and troubleshooting assistance to contract writers throughout the stewardship reporting cycle.
• Manage a shared team email account and provide responsive customer service to internal and external stakeholders.

• Provide backup support for donor acknowledgment administrative processes, such as assigning acknowledgment letters and preparing correspondence for university leadership.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 2 years development, nonprofit operations, analytics, or the equivalent experience is required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to identify issues and recommend effective solutions.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

Preferred Qualifications (Education, Experience, Certifications, Skills)

• Experience working in higher education, advancement, fundraising, donor relations, stewardship, or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience with IBM Cognos Analytics, Mythos Platform, Salesforce reporting, or similar reporting and business intelligence platforms.
• Experience analyzing, manipulating, and validating large datasets using Microsoft Excel.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to data integrity and quality control.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, or data visualizations to support decision-making and program management.
• Experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and deadlines.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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