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"Associate Director of Donor Relations"

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Associate Director of Donor Relations

Associate Director

May 1, 2026

Location

Redwood City Office

Stanford Medicine

Type

Full-time Hybrid

Salary

$108,365 - $117,923 per annum

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree + 3 years relevant experience
Exceptional verbal/written communication
Strong project management & fund compliance
Data management systems experience
Interpersonal skills & client service orientation
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Associate Director of Donor Relations

Job Purpose

The Associate Director, Donor Relations, is a position that will take an active role in developing, managing, and implementing donor relations engagement strategies for donors who support Stanford Medicine.

The mission of the MCD donor relations team is to connect donors to the joy of their giving and to the impact of their gift with the purpose of maximizing philanthropy and long‐term engagement with Stanford Medicine. Donor relations officers act as active, involved partners with gift officers in setting donor relations strategies and carrying them out.
This is a highly collaborative team looking for a colleague who is motivated, positive, and passionate about medical advancement.

This position requires a detail-oriented project manager and skilled writer who can manage competing priorities with organization, efficiency, and professionalism, while also being able to write concise letters and reports. Success in this position depends on the ability to work in concert with others, while focusing resources to move complex stewardship deliverables to completion on schedule.

In this role you will:

  • Participate in defining donor relations strategy for school of medicine donors in adherence to the university’s donor relations guidelines.
  • Develop and implement plans to provide comprehensive reporting to qualifying donors
  • Research, plan, develop, and execute high profile reporting on complex topics, including written content, digital content, or video.
  • Develop, write, and edit supplementary stewardship materials (i.e. custom acknowledgment letters, stewardship briefs, cover letters, and other related materials) that align with school/unit stewardship plans and strategic priorities.
  • Assist in writing and production of general stewardship correspondence, including writing custom acknowledgment letters for the highest level of donors.
  • Establish and maintain strong partnerships with gift officers in order to maximize engagement for their portfolios of donors. Build a complete understanding of each donor’s involvement in giving activity.
  • Execute fiduciary responsibility to ensure that gifts are awarded and utilized in accordance with donor expectations and university policy in a timely manner. Resolve discrepancies and escalate when needed.
  • Develop and maintain strong tracking mechanisms for projects.
  • Communicate donor relations plans across the organization and/or school, department, and with partner teams. Maintain open channels of communication with donor relations colleagues across the university.
  • Assess donor relations opportunities and track donor relations trends. Recommend donor relations improvements based on findings.
  • Manage vendors/consultants on specific projects and may oversee key vendor and consultant relationships.
  • Assist in writing and production of general donor correspondence.
  • Compile and manage data using multiple financial and reporting systems.
  • Maintain the Donor Relations App in CARD including updating activity assignments, recipients, stewardees, and other relevant details, after each project and in conjunction with new updates.

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

To be successful in this role you will bring:

  • Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience or a combination of education and relevant experience.
  • Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to edit high-level correspondence and articulate progress and impact in writing that is understandable and meaningful to various constituencies.
  • Demonstrated strong project management and fund compliance skills.
  • Demonstrated experience using multiple data management systems to pull information to create coherent reports.
  • Strong client service orientation and attention to detail. Ability to quickly understand and remember details about donors and projects.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism to interact with a wide range of people at different levels of an organization, both within and outside the Office of Development.
  • Proven ability to effectively and efficiently manage multiple priorities, with competing deadlines.
  • Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision-making and in handling confidential and sensitive material.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Frequently stand/walk, sit, perform desk-based computer tasks, and use a telephone.
  • Occasionally grasp forcefully, use a telephone, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

May require working flexible hours, including nights and weekends.

To be considered for this role, please submit writing samples with your cover letter and resume.

Main Work Location: Redwood City Office

Schedule: Hybrid preferred, 2-3 days in office

The expected pay range for this position is $108,365- $117,923 per annum.

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Frequently Asked Questions

📚What qualifications are required for Associate Director of Donor Relations at Stanford Medicine?

To succeed, candidates need a Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience in donor relations, project management, or fundraising. Key skills include exceptional verbal and written communication, proficiency with data management systems, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities. Review administration jobs for similar roles or higher ed career advice to prepare your application.

📋What are the main responsibilities in this Donor Relations role?

You will develop and implement donor relations strategies, create comprehensive stewardship reports and materials like acknowledgment letters, partner with gift officers, manage projects and vendors, ensure fiduciary compliance, and track donor trends. Focus on high-profile reporting for Stanford Medicine donors. Explore higher ed admin jobs for more opportunities.

📝How do I apply for this Stanford Medicine job?

Submit your resume, cover letter, and writing samples showcasing high-level correspondence. Applications are due by May 1, 2026. Use our free resume template and free cover letter template to strengthen your submission for this Redwood City hybrid role.

💰What is the salary, location, and work schedule?

The salary range is $108,365 - $117,923 per annum. Location is Redwood City Office with a hybrid schedule preferred (2-3 days in office), potentially including flexible hours, nights, or weekends. Check university salaries for benchmarks in development and fundraising roles.

Are there physical requirements or other conditions?

Frequently involves sitting, desk tasks, and phone use; occasionally lifting up to 40 lbs. May require flexible hours. Success demands attention to detail, confidentiality, and collaboration across Stanford teams. Visit higher ed jobs for similar positions.

What skills make me stand out for Donor Relations at Stanford?

Highlight project management, stewardship experience, writing for donors, and familiarity with financial systems like CARD. Strong partnerships with gift officers and trend analysis are key. Get tips from employer branding secrets.
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