Volunteer Leadership Coordinator

Job Summary

RISD is looking for a Volunteer Leadership Coordinator to join its Institutional Advancement Department. We seek a culturally competent candidate who will thrive in a campus environment that is committed to advancing the principles of social equity and inclusion, environmental and climate justice, and equal access to resources and opportunities.

The Volunteer Leadership Coordinator is responsible for coordinating activities and functions for fundraising volunteer committees including but not limited to Families Association Leadership Council (FALC) and RISD Fund Steering Committee (RFSC) as well as academic department advisory councils at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). This position facilitates correspondence and coordinates meetings and events for committees and volunteer groups. It also partners with frontline gift officers to enhance donor relationships and to integrate ambassador work and individual prospect strategies in alignment with and support of annual and long-term fundraising goals for Institutional Advancement (IA). The Volunteer Leadership Coordinator helps strengthen ties between the academic departments, Institutional Advancement and RISD’s generous alumni by serving as a liaison and actively contributes to RISD’s social equity and inclusion goals. 

Essential Functions

• Delivers exceptional volunteer management for all committee and academic advisory council members, including organizing on and off-campus meetings, facilitating volunteer correspondence, drafting communications, agendas, briefings and presentations. Conducts necessary follow-up after each meeting while ensuring timely and accurate reporting. Track interactions and communications with volunteers in Raiser’s Edge and provide timely updates to IA staff as appropriate.
• Coordinates, provides input to, and executes logistics for in-person and virtual meetings and events for leadership volunteer groups, which includes managing catering requests, event space bookings and any technology needs in partnership with Special Events.
• Identifies and recommends potential faculty speakers for hosted development events. Collect, track and compile interesting and useful news to assist the Donor Relations team in narrative stewardship reporting writing and donor updates.
• Manages the coordination of all donor and volunteer recognition listings; reviews and confirms accuracy of donors and volunteer information to ensure they are recognized appropriately, in partnership with the Donor Relations Team and Advancement Communications Team.
• Identifies and recruits regional leadership donors and/or volunteers to represent RISD at higher education presidential inaugurations on behalf of the President’s Office.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations to refine processes, recruitment strategies and communications materials for all leadership volunteers across Institutional Advancement to ensure consistency across volunteer committees. In support of RISD’s social equity and inclusivity goals, identifies gaps and opportunities for inclusive representation on committees and councils. Initiates proactive outreach to include individuals from a range of backgrounds.
• Explores and utilizes new technology methods, such as videos or web-based platforms, to engage and inform volunteers.
• Coordinates the preparation and planning logistics for volunteer leadership summits
   

Additional Functions:

• Staffs and supports key RISD campus events, including but not limited to RISD Weekend, Founders Day, Commencement + Reunion Weekend and may be asked to attend and/or support academic department-led events, lectures and presentations.
• Performs other related assignments as requested.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Knowledge of, and interest in staying current in, the principles and techniques relevant to donor-centric major gift fundraising.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills, high EQ, and superb first-in-class customer service and communications skills.
• Demonstrated expertise in the use of Microsoft Office, Adobe, CRM/database, and Google Apps (G Suite) and Asana, or similar project management collaboration tools.
• Proven success in the coordinating and executing projects with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Superlative diplomatic and communication skills, including an ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of constituents (individual donors, alumni, business leaders, public figures, college leadership, faculty and staff), within a broad range of cultural environments.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of divisional and institutional colleagues, within an environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities and deadlines.
• Capability to work independently and collaboratively with moderate supervision.
• Ability to travel regionally as requested.
• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of three years of related experience in volunteer management, event management, fundraising, donor relations, communications or a related field. Well-honed writing, editing, research and analytical skills required.

Preferred:

• Experience in higher education or nonprofit stewardship activities preferred.