Associate Director of Donor Relations

The RAND Corporation is seeking an Associate Director of Donor Relations to support RAND Development’s fundraising objectives. Working with the RAND Development team, the Associate Director of Donor Relations will work closely with the donor relations team and major giving team to help facilitate numerous projects including donor recognition, gift reporting, events, and donor communications. This position reports to the Senior Executive Director, Development Operations. The successful candidate will be highly detailed oriented, able to plan and execute projects independently and comfortable engaging with donors. 

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Help the Director of Donor Relations develop and implement a donor relations strategy

• Manage day-to-day donor relations tasks including facilitating gift acknowledgment, website updates, mailings, publication alerts, reporting schedules. 

• Proactively collaborate with the major giving team to create stewardship reports, donor engagement plans, video content, and personalized donor communications. 

• Work with the Director of Donor Relations and foundations team to help create and implement stewardship plans for foundation grants and gifts.

• Manage tools, templates, and content for major giving and foundations team to use in building stewardship reports.

• Partner with annual giving and alumni relations on mass stewardship plans. 

• Plan and coordinate large virtual events for engaging annual donors and small in-person events for stewarding major donors.  

• Coordinate with internal partners to ensure proper administration of donor funded projects and activities. 

• Execute annual endowment stewardship reports project and donor public recognition project. 

• Assist Director of Donor Relations with planning and writing of donor communications, reports, donor recognition pieces, thank you letters. 

• Manage donor relations communications lists, database tracking for donor relations, communications schedules, event logistics, and department deadlines. 

• Other special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Interest in developing a career in the field of fundraising;

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills to interact effectively and diplomatically with donors and staff;

• Demonstrate strong problem-solving skills, resourcefulness, curiosity, openness to learning and flexibility;

• Affinity for technology and computers and understanding of exporting and analyzing data, list generation/review and mail merges with ability and eagerness to quickly learn software and systems;

• Detail oriented with the ability to plan, organize and work on multiple projects and report to multiple people simultaneously; make effective timely decisions and meet deadlines under general guidance and supervision in a dynamic and ever-changing environment;

• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events upon request;

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office products;

• Must be able to pass a background check.

Preferred: 

• Experience using a CRM or donor database; 

• Event planning experience.

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree required 

Experience

1-2 years of relevant experience required

Location

Santa Monica, CA

Diversity at RAND

Diversity, equity, and inclusivity are essential operating principles at RAND. We are committed to maintaining a collegial environment that respects the contributions and dignity of all staff, where individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. This commitment is guided by an organization-wide framework for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and paired with significant investments to sustain and center these principles in leadership, research, and community and stakeholder engagement. An advisory council comprised of staff at all levels provides critical feedback and perspective on the organization's diversity, equity, and inclusion plans and activities. Employee Resource Groups are staff-driven grassroots communities that seek to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at RAND by facilitating community, connection, and a greater sense of belonging and well-being among colleagues. In our recruitment and retention efforts, we seek unique backgrounds, original views, and diversity in academic training, work experience, and ideological outlook.

Equal Opportunity Employer: race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/vet