Director of Donor & Alumni Relations

The mission of Pierce College is to create quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world. The Pierce College District is committed to being an anti-racist institution; to truly be anti-racist we must work deliberately to eliminate barriers that have prevented the most promising and capable students from entering and thriving in college. 

Reporting to the Executive Director of Pierce College District, the Director for Donor & Alumni Relations will coordinate and implement a comprehensive donor cultivation, stewardship, communication, and recognition plan, and create and oversee all aspects of the Alumni Program. The Donor & Alumni Relations Director oversees the annual giving and alumni programs, and helps plan and execute foundation events. This position works closely with the Executive Director and foundation staff to cultivate donor relationships, event sponsorships, and initiates contacts and communications to secure potential new gifts. This position requires regular and consistent attendance. 
 

About the District

Pierce College is a high-performing, mission-driven, data-informed, student-focused district committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. For 55 years, Pierce College has developed a national reputation for academic excellence and support services to ensure student success. The district is proud of the many awards and recognitions it has received. Pierce College is an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction and was the 2017 recipient of their prestigious Leah Meyer Austin Award, given for measurable improvements in student outcomes.

Named as a Top 5 Finalist and a Rising Star for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom was recognized for exceptional achievements in student learning, certificate and degree completion while in community college and after transferring to a four-year institution, employment and earnings rates after graduation, and access for and success of minority and low-income students. Pierce College District was named as a Top 10 finalist for the 2021 Aspen Prize and a Top 25 for 2023.

Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom

Located on a beautiful 140-acre site adjacent to a 340-acre community, recreational park, and Waughop Lake. 

Pierce College at Puyallup

Located on an expansive site with 125-acres of wooded land including modern facilities and beautiful hideaways.

Pierce College at JBLM

Located at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord military sites, serving many of our military and active duty families serving our country. 

Our colleges enjoy a strong presence in the communities in which they serve and participate in numerous partnerships with business, community, government, and educational organizations.

Essential Functions

The Director for Donor & Alumni Relations will perform their duties while actively supporting Pierce College's integrated institutional values and core themes in the advancement of the Pierce College Foundation including, but not limited to: 

• Actively advance Pierce College's goals for equity and inclusion to provide access and support for our diverse community of learners.  
• Contribute to an engaged and supportive team with shared accountability for the equitable success of international students.
• Participate in committees and task forces to ensure collaboration on reducing barriers and advancing equitable access, opportunity, and success.  
• The following represents a variety of the responsibilities assigned to the person in this position. The examples represent typical work but are not intended to be inclusive of all duties required for this position. 
  
  Strategic Planning: 
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director on creating and implementing a long-term strategic work plan for the Foundation Department, including goals, data-driven performance measures, and board and volunteer engagement.
  • Lead planning and implementation efforts for alumni relations, annual giving, and special events.
  Donor Relations & Fundraising:
  • Manage all aspects of annual giving: employee giving campaigns, direct mail appeals, special events, donor communications and calls to action. 
  • Meet Pierce College Foundation's (PCF) short-term and long-range fundraising goals, such as increasing funds in scholarships, basic needs or general unrestricted funds.
  • Develop and coordinate PCF communications and engagement plan, including print, electronic media, web outreach, social media and events aimed at alumni and donors, in coordination with the MarCom team.
  • Create and coordinate donor relations touch points throughout the year.
  Foundation Events:
  • Partner with District Event Manager and Executive Director to create, plan and organize Foundation events.
  • Initiate and coordinate the promotion of Foundation events, and secure Foundation event sponsorships.
  • Collaborate with College departments and advise on best practices and most effective way to work with the Foundation to fundraise for programs and activities.
  • Work with Fiscal Services office on any cash handling, fiscal processes needed for fundraising events.  
  Alumni Relations: 
  • Oversee Distinguished Alumni and create robust Alumni Program. 
  • Develop and coordinate alumni communications and engagement plan, including print, electronic media, web outreach, social media and events aimed at alumni, in partnership with the MarCom team.
  • Serve as the primary connection between alumni and the College, and collaborate with College department staff for interest-based alumni engagements.
  Donor Stewardship: 
  • Maintain ongoing relationships by initiating and responding to individual donors, corporations and businesses, Foundation trustees, Pierce College Administrators, community organizations and foundations. 
  • Provide regular and consistent communication with donors, including impact reports on their gifts and updates about the College.
  • Other duties as assigned.