Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors and students to its campus each year. Critics have called Cranbrook “the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America” and in 1989 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu.

The Donor Experience Manager works to manage and foster meaningful donor relationships between the CEC and its constituents, promoting positive attitudes toward giving among current and prospective principal, major, and planned gift donors. This position actively develops and implements short- and long-term stewardship plans, maximizing the ability of the principal and major gifts teams to build quality donor relationships. The position reports to the Director of Advancement Operations and Gift Planning and works in close collaboration with the CEC’s Advancement team, gift officers, and donor relations colleagues within Cranbrook Schools, Academy and Museum, Institute of Science, Center for Collections and Research, and Horizons-Upward Bound. This position plays a vital role in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-level donors and volunteer leadership to ensure the success of Cranbrook’s Advancement program in meeting its fundraising goals and objectives.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Engage Donors in the Impact of their Philanthropy

• Work with Advancement leadership, the communications team, and frontline fundraising staff to discuss, define, and implement an engagement and reporting program that informs donors of the impact of their philanthropy and encourages a continuing relationship with Cranbrook.
• Create and implement annual stewardship plans for the CEC Principal and Major Gifts team, including individualized, long-term plans for specific donors.
• Draft and compile reports to individuals and family foundations on the use of their principal and major gifts and distribute reports utilizing various mediums, including print, email, and other digital reporting tools.
• Direct the process of annual reporting on 300+ endowments.
• Develop and implement a reporting process for current use gifts.
• Manage visits and events by principal, major, and planned gift donors, and prospects to Cranbrook, including arranging behind-the-scenes tours, museum visits, and planning/hosting small donor events.
• Supervise the process to produce high-quality, timely gift acknowledgments by the President and the Chief Advancement Officer, working closely with the Central Advancement Team, Program Area Advancement Teams, and the President’s Office.
• Develop and write cases for support, impact stories, and custom solicitation letters.

Develop and Implement Strategic Donor Recognition Activities

• Implement and manage Cranbrook’s community-wide giving and recognition societies.
• Coordinate signage and donor recognition within Cranbrook Educational Community, including administering signage and recognition standards.
• Maintain and refine protocols for the recognition and stewardship of gifts, including crafting thank you letters, managing the acknowledgment matrix, and tracking named spaces related to campaign efforts.
• Create and manage donor special occasion gifts, such as holiday, birthday, and event takeaway gifts.

Assist with the Management of the Donor Experience Team

• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues across campus to ensure uniform best practices in donor relations and adherence to Cranbrook’s approved gift acceptance and recognition policies, procedures, and
• Work with Community partners in marketing and communications for community-wide donor newsletters, e-blasts, invitations, and announcements.
• Regularly evaluate donor relations and stewardship activities and prepare consistent and accurate financial reports utilizing RE NXT.
• Monitor and utilize the Association of Donor Relations Professionals listserv and other industry resources regularly to inform new trends and opportunities to enhance donor relations and stewardship at Cranbrook.
• Maintain accuracy, confidentiality, and attention to detail in tracking all donor relations activity in RE NXT.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises the Donor Experience Team, including the Donor Experience Coordinator and the Advancement Coordinators in the CEC Advancement Office.

Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in a related field is required, along with at least three years of successful experience in development, donor relations, or donor stewardship; experience in cultural organizations or higher education is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to write effectively for various purposes, including financial reports, acknowledgments, and persuasive writing.
• Candidate must have experience with donors and other high-level individuals, excellent organization, communication, customer service, and interpersonal skills.
• Tact and discretion are required to deal with confidential information, with attention to anonymous donors and other unique donor acknowledgment and stewardship requests.
• Computer proficiency in Word and Excel, PowerPoint, and web-based
• Experience and fluency with CRMs and database management, preferably with Blackbaud: RE NXT.
• Requires demonstrated ability to think and plan strategically and work both independently and as part of a team to determine goals and successfully meet established
• Requires a valid Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory driving record.

This is a full-time position with a starting rate of pay between $68,000 to $73,000/annually based on experience.

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution. We also offer generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, employee discounts, and a unique environment in an educational setting that values collaboration.

For consideration, please submit a resume and cover letter.