Director of Donor Relations - Harvey Mudd College

Another Source’s client, Harvey Mudd College, is recruiting a Director of Donor Relations to join their team in Claremont, California. You will have the opportunity to work a hybrid schedule, 3 days onsite and 2 days remotely. 

Here’s a little about Harvey Mudd College: 

Harvey Mudd College (HMC) is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Part of The Claremont Colleges consortium, HMC offers the best of both worlds—a close-knit, highly collaborative academic environment paired with the resources and opportunities of a larger university ecosystem. Known for its rigorous curriculum, strong return on investment, and exceptional career outcomes, Harvey Mudd consistently ranks among the top colleges in the country. 

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1 and a mission centered on producing leaders who understand the impact of their work on society, HMC is in an exciting phase of growth and momentum. The College is currently in the quiet phase of a capital campaign, making this an especially compelling time to join and contribute to its future. 

Learn more: https://www.hmc.edu/about/facts/ 

About this role: 

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations and Campaigns, the Director of Donor Relations is a strategic leader responsible for architecting a world-class donor experience. 

This role bridges the gap between operations and front-facing engagement. As the College targets ambitious growth (targeting $25M+ annually), the Director will design the systems, data-driven workflows, and personalized stewardship frameworks necessary to sustain a high-velocity fundraising program. This role will lead the transition from traditional stewardship to a comprehensive donor experience model, ensuring every supporter feels the impact of their investment in Harvey Mudd College's students and faculty. 

Anticipated annual hiring range: $135,000–$145,000 

How you will spend your time 

Principal Donor Stewardship & Relationship Management 

• Develop and execute individualized stewardship plans for the College's most significant donors at the $1M+ level, ensuring each donor experiences a highly personalized and meaningful connection to Harvey Mudd College.  

• Manage a portfolio of principal, major, and legacy donors in stewardship phases of the donor lifecycle through donor visits, campus meetings, virtual briefings, and strategic outreach.  

• Serve as the primary institutional relationship manager for select donors whose commitments have been fulfilled or are in active stewardship.  

• Design customized stewardship experiences connecting donors directly to the impact of their giving through faculty engagement, student interactions, research updates, campus visits, and special programs.  

• Partner closely with Philanthropic Advisors to ensure seamless transitions between cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and renewed investment.  

• Coordinate personalized engagement for select principal donors and families across the College.  

Strategic Stewardship Planning & Donor Experience 

• Lead the College's comprehensive stewardship strategy across annual, major, principal, and planned giving donors.  

• Develop individualized stewardship roadmaps for top donors in collaboration with academic departments, leadership, trustees, students, and alumni.  

• Create signature stewardship experiences that showcase Harvey Mudd's distinctive culture and philanthropic impact.  

• Evaluate and enhance donor recognition programs, giving societies, and engagement opportunities.  

• Oversee acknowledgment strategies that ensure timely, personalized donor recognition.  

• Lead stewardship events and donor experiences that deepen long-term engagement. 

Campaign, Capital Projects & Naming Strategy 

• Partner with Advancement leadership on stewardship and recognition strategies supporting campaign initiatives, endowed programs, capital projects, and transformational gifts.  

• Develop stewardship frameworks, naming opportunity guidelines, and donor recognition strategies.  

• Oversee stewardship commitments associated with naming agreements and major gifts.  

• Collaborate with campus partners on dedication ceremonies, milestone celebrations, donor briefings, and campaign-related engagement opportunities.  

Principal Gift Strategy & Pipeline Development 

• Serve on the College's prospect strategy team, providing stewardship insights that support fundraising priorities.  

• Monitor donor engagement to identify opportunities for renewed giving, increased investment, planned gifts, and campaign participation.  

• Develop stewardship-to-cultivation transition plans that position donors for future solicitations.  

• Advise Advancement leadership on donor retention, donor lifetime value, and principal donor engagement strategies.  

Endowment, Scholarship & Impact Stewardship 

• Lead the College's endowment and fund stewardship program.  

• Oversee annual stewardship reporting for endowed funds, scholarships, faculty positions, programs, and special initiatives.  

• Partner with Advancement Services, Finance, Academic Affairs, and campus stakeholders to ensure donor intent is honored.  

• Utilize stewardship systems and reporting tools to monitor engagement, reporting, and fund utilization.  

• Oversee scholarship stewardship, including student engagement opportunities and signature donor events.  

Memorial, Tribute & Legacy Stewardship 

• Provide strategic oversight of memorial, tribute, and legacy stewardship programs.  

• Develop stewardship plans for memorial funds, tribute scholarships, and endowed funds.  

• Guide institutional strategies that celebrate donor and alumni legacies.  

• Partner with Academic Affairs, Alumni and Family Engagement, and Advancement Communications to ensure coordinated stewardship.  

• Advise leadership on opportunities to deepen relationships with families and donors for future philanthropic engagement.  

Stewardship Analytics, Compliance & Leadership 

• Develop and manage stewardship frameworks supporting donor engagement, retention, accountability, and campaign readiness.  

• Partner with Advancement Services to oversee stewardship systems, reporting infrastructure, analytics, and donor relations technologies.  

• Establish key performance indicators and dashboards measuring stewardship effectiveness.  

• Monitor stewardship obligations associated with restricted gifts, naming agreements, scholarships, faculty positions, and campaign commitments.  

• Evaluate emerging stewardship practices and recommend innovations.  

• Develop engagement strategies for the President, Vice President for Advancement, trustees, faculty leaders, and institutional partners.  

• Prepare customized donor briefings, stewardship plans, impact reports, and strategic communications.  

• Build a campus-wide culture of stewardship through collaboration with faculty, administrators, and frontline fundraisers.  

• Serve as a strategic advisor to Philanthropic Advisors and College leadership.  

• Supervise and mentor the Assistant Director of Donor Relations.  

• Represent Harvey Mudd College at donor meetings, campaign events, and stewardship gatherings.  

Culture of Philanthropy 

• Support the Office of College Advancement's objective to cultivate and sustain a robust culture of philanthropy.  

• Reinforce that every gift supports people and programs across campus while promoting hospitality, generosity, and donor engagement.  

Campus Collaboration 

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with the President's Office, Dean of Faculty Office, Admission, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Financial Affairs, academic departments, and Career Services.  

Minimum Qualifications 

• 7–10+ years of progressive advancement experience, including at least five years in a leadership role focused on donor relations, advancement operations, or high-level stewardship.  

• Proven success scaling stewardship programs from manual processes to sophisticated, system-driven donor journeys.  

• Deep experience with CRM systems such as Salesforce, Blackbaud, FundMiner, or similar platforms, including endowment tracking and reporting.  

• Appreciation for Harvey Mudd College's rigorous academic environment and the ability to communicate the value of a liberal arts-based STEM education.  

• Exceptional writing, presentation, and donor communication skills.  

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us. 

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