Manager of Philanthropy and Donor Engagement

About the role

The Manager of Philanthropy and Donor Engagement leads the university’s efforts to build and sustain relationships with donors, alumni, foundations and corporate partners. This role designs cultivation pathways, oversees stewardship, and drives fundraising campaigns to support institutional priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Design and manage cultivation pathways for alumni, individuals, families, foundations and corporate benefactors.
• Segment donor and prospect categories, set engagement priorities and produce intelligence briefs for senior development leadership.
• Identify donor interests and align giving opportunities with institutional projects and priorities.
• Lead stewardship practices, including donor acknowledgment, recognition programs and relationship continuity protocols.
• Coordinate donor meetings, campus visits, engagement events and ensure thorough follow‑up.
• Track and honor donor commitments, restrictions, naming arrangements and stewardship obligations.
• Lead or co‑lead annual, thematic and project‑specific fundraising campaigns.
• Monitor contribution trends, pipeline movement and stewardship completion rates.
• Contribute to donor protocols, campaign planning and periodic philanthropic performance reporting.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Communications, Development, Public Relations, Marketing or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in philanthropy, donor engagement, fundraising or alumni relations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with strong relationship‑building and stakeholder representation abilities.
• Proven event coordination, stewardship execution and follow‑up discipline.
• Ability to engage senior stakeholders with tact, discretion and institutional maturity.
• Experience in a university, foundation or NGO fundraising environment.
• Demonstrated ability to secure funds for institutional initiatives.

Required skills

• Proficiency with donor database management systems.
• Experience using stewardship platforms.
• Knowledge of campaign tracking tools.