Director of Alumni and Donor Relations

Job Details

Director of Alumni and Donor Relations

The Director of Alumni and Donor Relations provides strategic leadership for a comprehensive, integrated approach to engaging Empire State University's more than 105,000 alumni worldwide, with a strong emphasis on strengthening lifelong relationships that inspire connection, pride, and philanthropic investment.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Advancement, the Director oversees alumni engagement and donor relations as a unified continuum of engagement, recognizing that the university's alumni are its primary advocates, ambassadors, and donors. The role is responsible for designing and executing innovative engagement strategies that reflect SUNY Empire's online-first academic model, distributed alumni population, and diverse learner experiences.

The Director brings a creative, innovative, and strategic mindset, leveraging storytelling, events, communications, and emerging tools and technologies to build scalable, meaningful engagement - both virtually and in person. The role collaborates closely with Advancement communications, special events, and development teams, and supervises the Coordinator of Donor Relations.

Core Responsibilities

Alumni Engagement Strategy and Programs

• Develop, implement, and assess a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy that reflects the university's mission, strategic priorities, and predominantly online educational model.
• Design meaningful engagement opportunities that go beyond traditional campus-based programming, prioritizing: Virtual and hybrid events and programming, Regional in-person gatherings, Digital engagement such as virtual event series, podcasts, speaker series, and innovative communications
• Proactively serve as a key resource within and outside the university for information on and engagement with SUNY Empire alumni.
• Leverage alumni expertise, lived experience, and professional success to elevate the university's profile and strengthen connections among alumni, students, and the institution.
• Partner with colleagues across Student Success, Academic Affairs, Career Services, Military and Veteran services, and other units to build pipelines for alumni involvement, mentoring, and volunteerism.

Donor Engagement, Relations, and Stewardship

• Build and provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program aligned with the university's fundraising and engagement goals.
• Oversee donor stewardship activities, ensuring that donor engagement strengthens long-term relationships and philanthropic commitment.
• Supervise the Coordinator of Donor Relations and guide the execution of donor-focused initiatives including: Endowed fund stewardship and reporting, Impact reporting for donors at all levels, Meaningful donor communications and recognition
• Collaborate with development, operations, and data teams to ensure donor reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned with best practices.
• Partner with Advancement communications to tell the university's story in compelling ways, translating impact into narratives that inspire deeper engagement and increased investment from alumni and donors.

Communications, Storytelling, and Visibility

• Work closely with Advancement communications to develop integrated alumni and donor communications strategies across digital platforms.
• Ensure consistency, clarity, and creativity in alumni- and donor-focused messaging, including websites, newsletters, special campaigns, and storytelling initiatives.
• Identify and elevate alumni and donor stories that highlight impact, access, student success, and lifelong learning.
• Contribute content ideas and strategic guidance for innovative communications such as podcasts, virtual series, alumni spotlights, and impact narratives.

Events and Experiential Engagement

• Lead the strategic planning and execution of alumni and donor events, ensuring alignment with engagement and cultivation goals.
• Collaborate with Advancement special events staff to design experiences that: Advance relationship-building and stewardship, Incorporate alumni talent and leadership, Are scalable and accessible to a geographically dispersed audience
• Use data and feedback to continually assess and reimagine events, refining or discontinuing activities that no longer meet strategic goals.

Volunteer Leadership and Governance

• Provide staff leadership and strategic support to the Alumni Board, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and advancement goals.
• Recruit, onboard, and engage board members in meaningful volunteer leadership experiences.
• Support the development of Board members as ambassadors, advocates, and philanthropic leaders.
• Apply strong volunteer management practices to ensure effective governance, engagement, and impact.

Data, Assessment, and Innovation

• Oversee practices that ensure accurate alumni and donor data, serving as a key point of connection for data-informed engagement strategies.
• Use CRM systems, analytics, and emerging tools to: Identify engagement trends and opportunities, Inform event planning and communications, Assess outcomes and demonstrate impact
• Champion a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement within alumni and donor engagement functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise the Coordinator of Donor Relations, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.

Job Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressive experience in alumni relations, donor relations, advancement, advancement communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success designing and executing engagement strategies and programs.
• Proven experience with event planning and execution (virtual and in-person).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a strong ability to translate impact into compelling stories.
• Experience managing or supporting volunteers, boards, or advisory groups.
• Strategic, creative, and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Comfort leveraging CRM systems, digital platforms, and data to inform engagement work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in higher education or mission-driven organizations with distributed or online communities.
• Experience integrating alumni engagement and donor relations functions.
• Familiarity with stewardship reporting, endowed fund communications, or donor impact messaging.
• Experience supervising staff.

Special Information

• This position is located in Saratoga Springs, NY.
• Occasional travel may be required to fulfill department and university-wide commitments.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• SUNY Empire provides employees with robust remote and flexible work options to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff in a dispersed work environment.
• This title is listed in Appendix A of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees. Accordingly, individuals appointed to this title are not eligible for permanent appointment.