Assistant Director Of Donor Experience

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc (UTFI) invites applications and nominations to fill the position of Assistant Director of Donor Experience for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reporting to the Senior Director of Donor Experience, the Assistant Director of Donor Experience is responsible for managing stewardship and donor relations projects and programs aimed at engaging and stewarding the university’s philanthropic supporters.  

This role will oversee and execute campus level donor experience initiatives, assigned to various segments of the UT Knoxville donor base (central campus or designated colleges/units), and work collaboratively with advancement colleagues across campus to determine effective donor experience strategies.

Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

Donor Relations and Stewardship: Oversee and execute gift acknowledgement processes. Communicate status of donor commitments through a formal reminder strategy. Execute scholarship thank you letters for donor segments. 

Database Management and Reporting: Generate and distribute weekly, monthly and ad hoc donor reports. Maintain up to date gift agreement and stewardee information in CRM (Salesforce). Research and execute donor/program inquiries. Execute endowment reports for donor segments. 

Strategy: Collaborate to ensure campus wide consistency in donor experience efforts. Partner with assigned units to determine needs and manage top donor strategy. Develop and disseminate resources to support donor stewardship. Manage strategy meetings to discuss progress and donor lifecycle need.  

Required Education and Experience 

The candidate who fills the Assistant Director of Donor Experience position is required to have: 

• Bachelor’s degree 
• 3+ years of professional work experience in a people- oriented field, higher education, or advancement field where effective communication 
• Experience working with data, in a database/CRM, or Excel 

A valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record is required due to travel responsibilities of the position. UTFI reserves the right to consider all appropriate circumstances.  In general, any significant driving offense less than 12 months old will eliminate the application from consideration for the position. 

Note - Candidates holding a graduate degree must have at least 1 years of experience. 

Preferred Education and Experience 

In addition to meeting the required qualifications, the preferred candidate will have: 

• Experience in stewardship, donor relations, project management, or a data- focused position 
• Excellent organization skills and ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously 
• Extremely detail oriented and organized 
• Experience working in a database or with large sets of data 
• Excellent writing and communication skills 
• Ability to lead individuals who are not direct reports 
• Project management experience  

Application Process: Priority will be given to applications received on or before October 20th, 2025 via our DASH application system. Applications must include a completed candidate profile, cover letter, and resume. Candidates selected to move forward in the evaluation process will be asked to provide contact information for three professional references. References will not be contacted without explicit permission of the candidate.  

When determining minimum qualifications, only information entered into the candidate profile can be considered. Please ensure your candidate profile is completed in its entirety as it relates to qualifying education/work experience.  

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status. 

Questions about the search may be directed to hr@utfi.org.  

Target Start Date: December 2025 

Benefits: The Foundation’s greatest asset is our team. Foundation employees are eligible for a comprehensive suite of benefits that includes: 

• Generous paid leave, accruing up to 24 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave annually, plus 14 paid holidays and administrative closing days 
• Flexible work arrangements, offering a hybrid schedule to most team members 
• Education benefits for employees and their dependents at UT System campuses 
• Retirement and deferred compensation plans, including 401(k), 403(b), etc.  
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans 
• Employee discounts to attractions, services, and goods 

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The Foundation: The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that serves as the preferred channel for private contributions benefiting students and faculty within the UT System. With a vision of being one of the top-performing advancement organizations in higher education, UTFI is committed to enhancing the educational landscape across the University of Tennessee campuses. 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been advancing knowledge and enriching lives since its founding in 1794. Tennessee’s flagship public research university, UT Knoxville is a diverse community whose shared commitment to discovery, creativity, and education combines with a tradition of service and engagement to carry the Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. UT’s campus—home to more than 36,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff members—is part of the vibrant city of Knoxville, located on the Tennessee River with the Great Smoky Mountains nearby. 

The UT System: The University of Tennessee System is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Pulaski, Martin and the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Institute of Agriculture; and the Institute for Public Service.  

The University of Tennessee Foundation, Inc. is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.