Assistant Director of Donor Relations - Scholarship Stewardship (HR title: Donor Relations Specialist II)
Southern Methodist University Inc

Job Info

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Description

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body.

DEA comprises the offices of Office of the Senior Vice President, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Development Services, Program Services and Donor Relations, Marketing and Communications, Principal and Major Gifts, and School and Project Development.

SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fundraising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.

About the Position:

The Assistant Director of Donor Relations, Scholarship Stewardship reports to the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship.

The position will be responsible for managing stewardship of annual and endowed student support donors. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: manage and create programs to increase scholarship donor stewardship for both endowed and annual scholarships; assist with scholarship fund compliance; endowed scholarship report review; endowed scholarship gift agreement review; liaising with Financial Aid and school financial officers in support of scholarship creation, stewardship and compliance; assisting with student philanthropy initiatives; obtaining and proofing student impact stories and donor communications; advocating for a cohesive, university-wide scholarship stewardship program; and serving as a campus-wide subject matter expert on all scholarships and awards for students.

Essential Functions:

• Stewardship: Assist with planning, preparation, and production of annual scholarship endowment reports; manage and execute student scholarship stewardship communications and initiatives in partnership with appropriate staff, manage Easterwood scholarship selection committee; develop/execute annual scholarship stewardship program.
  
• Fund Compliance: Lead compliance efforts for student scholarships and awards, work with appropriate university staff to improve fund utilization; communicate fund spending requirements to account holders; work with team members to develop and implement an ongoing compliance program for all endowments, focusing on student scholarships first; advise on spending integrity, fund restrictions, etc.
  
• Other Stewardship Activity: Serve as a resource for scholarship questions and concerns; assist the Director with donor recognition, acknowledgment and ongoing stewardship, including appropriate print and digital recognition, and additional projects and donor events in collaboration with DEA colleagues; conduct research/benchmarking to incorporate best practices and innovations into work; field requests for fund research and documentation and advise on donor intent; assist the Director in ensuring gift and endowment funds are administered in accordance with donor restrictions, University policy and industry standards; collaborate on donor-centric strategy, messages and content; and provide appropriate web and print updates.
  
• Information Management: Assist in the maintenance of accurate scholarship records within all databases and reporting tools, assist in maintenance of accurate records of scholarship compliance within all databases and tools and other paper and/or electronic files; conduct research and communicate scholarship compliance issues and fund updates to appropriate staff; track progress of scholarship compliance and resolutions.
  
• Other Responsibilities: Serve as restricted student support (endowed and annual) liaison to: donors and beneficiaries; DEA leadership, fundraisers and staff; Provost Office and President's Scholars Program; Treasurer's Office and Controller; Business and Finance; VP of Student Affairs; academic leadership and faculty including program/center/institute directors; other duties as assigned.
  
• Position requires occasional evening and/or weekend work for events and student philanthropy initiatives
  

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree is required. Master's degree preferred.

A minimum of three years of work experience in a position requiring strong project and data management skills is required. Experience in fundraising, development, non-profit and/or higher education setting, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University is required. Must also have the ability to forge strong working relationships and represent the University positively to external constituents and key leaders across campus. A high degree of professionalism is essential.

Candidate must demonstrate strong writing, editing, and proofreading skills. Must also have a basic knowledge of accounting principles. Strong research and analytical skills are essential.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning. and time management skills. Demonstrated track record of resourcefulness, good judgement, and creativity, desired.

Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and Access. Must also have a strong grasp on using databases to effectively manage data and build reports. Must also have a strong technical aptitude and the ability to quickly learn new softwares. Experience with and/or a working knowledge of donor-centric CRM software systems, Blackbaud and/or PeopleSoft Financials, preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time
• Bend
• Reach above shoulders
  
• Carry/lift 25lbs
• Handle objects (dexterity)

Deadline to Apply:

December 5, 2024

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by November 25, 2024.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

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