Philanthropy and Engagement - Assistant Director of Donor Engagement

Overview

The Assistant Director of Donor Engagement is responsible for the administration and stewardship of intentional, meaningful, and personalized donor engagement. Supervised by the Director of Donor Engagement, the Assistant Director implements donor engagement plans, develops stewardship strategies for various donor types, and coordinates donor engagement events. This role also has responsibilities that require collaboration with academic departments, annual giving, senior philanthropy advisors, and the President’s and Provost’s Offices to ensure donor intent is honored and that donors receive personalized stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

• Produce yearly impact reports for funds, including but not limited to the Hope Fund, Anchored Tuition, Spring Break Immersion Trips, SEED, current Restricted Discretionary Funds and for Current Restricted gifts with donors.
• Work with the annual giving team to create, plan, and implement behavior-based donor engagement plans for all donors, prioritizing leadership, first-time, planned-giving, recurring, giving days and young alumni.
• Hire, train, manage and mentor the donor engagement student workers to help implement behavior-based donor stewardship.
• Responsible for the administration of donor engagement stewardship through current platforms (e.g., Slate, Pledgemine, and Thankview systems).
• Coordinate logistical and programmatic aspects of the following events and programs: Encore Events, Scholarship Luncheons, and the Spirit of Hope Luncheon, including Academic Departments, Athletics, and Program events. Will include attendance at these events on weekends and at night.
• Work collaboratively with the peer Assistant Director of Donor Engagement to support the Endowed Scholarship Program, including assigning need-based scholarships and coordinating with departments.
• Responsible for the implementation of donor engagement plans, which include building relationships through special acknowledgments, coordinating donor visits, donor recognition (signage, gifts, requests), anniversaries, and celebrations through virtual, phone and in-person interactions. Will include attendance at these events on weekends and at night.
• Ensure accurate, timely documentation of all relationship management activities in the College’s CRM, including call notes, strategy steps and related documentation.
• Collaborate with Alumni Engagement and Family Engagement colleagues on administrative, programming, and event planning and logistics. Will include attendance at these events on weekends and at night.
• Represent Hope College at donor events and engage effectively with diverse constituencies.
• Engage with peer institutions to stay informed on best practices for donor relations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree (education, hospitality, communications, or a related field preferred) with at least one year of experience working in an office setting required (education, hospitality, communications, or a related field preferred)
• 5+ years of donor engagement experience in donor stewardship, event coordination, data management or a related field
• Donor engagement experience in developing data-driven strategies, best practices, and managing segmented audiences
• Project management experience, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a strong attention to detail, accuracy and follow-through
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel), Google Suite and CRM/email marketing platforms (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Slate, MailChimp)

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to manage relationships with diverse individuals and groups
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal teams and external stakeholders and maintain positive professional relationships
• Internally driven and self-motivated towards excellence and innovation
• Enthusiasm for building relationships and fostering connections between Hope College and its constituents

Posted: 2026-05-30