Associate Director, Donor Recognition , University Development and Alumni Relations

Overview

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty and staff. We are a world-leading institution known for academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. UC Berkeley seeks applicants whose values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

We provide spaces for supportive colleague communities and offer professional development opportunities for full-time staff.

Departmental Overview

University Development and Alumni Relations (UDAR) strengthens Berkeley's excellence through engagement with alums, parents, undergraduate and graduate students, and friends of the University. UDAR handles a range of central activities and services including communications, stewardship, prospect development, and gift management, and provides direction for campus philanthropic advancement strategies in partnership with campus fundraisers. Donor Relations within UDAR advocates for donor interests and manages programs that recognize donors, report on impact, and deepen engagement with the campus.

This Associate Director, Donor Recognition in UDAR is responsible for reaching, serving, and engaging external constituencies—principally donors—through designing, developing, delivering, and administering campus wide donor communications and outreach programs. This role involves complex analysis of high-level data to support donor relations and stewardship activities and priorities. It provides leadership in implementing and adapting new technology to advance efficiencies and scale, and to personalize programs.

It translates constituent needs and priorities into customized programs to strengthen relationships between the campus and its donors.

The First Review Date for this job is: 01/27/2026.

• Donor Recognition Programs: Design, develop, and implement donor communications associated with Donor Relations’ annual, loyal, and lifelong giving recognition programs; collaborate with campus units to engage broad audiences and align with fundraising and stewardship goals.
• Serve internal and external constituents, including campus units and top donors and Trustees; oversee complex donor relations programs and production of audio/visual, written, and visual materials.

• Data, Innovation and Strategy: Plan, execute, and evaluate information and communications programs that strengthen donor engagement; analyze data, prepare reports, and recommend efficiency improvements; manage pledge and reminder programs; collaborate with gift officers to implement stewardship efforts.
• Maintain thorough communication records in the advancement database to support prospect research and campus wide list development.
• Lead design and evaluation of communications to illustrate the impact of donor support and advance fundraising goals; evolve lifelong giving recognition programs for major donors.

• Technological Solutions: Serve as liaison with UDAR teams for advancement data; address database and technology needs; implement and adapt new tools to enhance Donor Relations’ work; identify solutions to automate and scale programs and tailor communications by donor interests.
• Ensure the Donor Relations program stays aligned with industry trends and innovation.

Other duties may be assigned to meet UDAR operational needs.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a large, complex higher education institution, with knowledge of its vision, mission, goals, infrastructure, strategic plans, and current issues.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in philanthropy, including donor and external stakeholder engagement.
• Expert knowledge of building and maintaining relationships with external constituencies to achieve institutional goals.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with strong listening abilities.
• Ability to quickly identify and develop strategies to communicate the institution’s message.
• Ana…