External Relations at the University of Virginia (UVA) is seeking a highly qualified candidate to fill the role of Assistant Director for Donor Relations, Fralin. The University of Virginia has a strong and reputable advancement community, boasting effective, results-oriented, and resourceful professionals. Our community comprises a robust central advancement organization, 12 University schools, and more than 25 University-related programs. We offer a wide variety of career opportunities, as well as an outstanding environment for professional growth and development.

Position Summary

The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia seeks an Assistant Director for Donor Relations to join its dynamic advancement team. This position will be a vital member of The Fralin’s Advancement Team and will play a key role in supporting the upcoming Center for the Arts campaign. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Assistant Director for Donor Relations will manage acknowledgment of donors and recognition programs, consult and provide content for publications, and prepare communications on behalf of The Fralin.

The Assistant Director will have the opportunity to write and edit content for donor correspondence, newsletters, reporting, and other related assets. The role will be responsible for creating briefing documents and agendas for meetings with key internal and external stakeholders, including donors and UVA leadership.

Other key contributions will include: developing and managing new customized stewardship and financial reporting processes for select current-use donors and members participating in different programs; creating original customized stewardship strategies for The Fralin’s most generous benefactors, including individualized donor recognition experiences / events for significant contributors and the greater UVA Arts community; and organizing the endowment fund stewardship process, coordinating with central advancement and Fralin staff to produce customized endowment reports.

Responsibilities

• Draft, edit, and finalize written materials for donor communications, newsletters, reports, and other advancement assets.

• Prepare briefing materials, agendas, and talking points for meetings with donors, UVA leadership, and key internal stakeholders.

• Design and implement customized stewardship and financial reporting processes for select current‑use donors and program participants.

• Develop individualized stewardship strategies and recognition experiences for major benefactors, including tailored events and engagement opportunities.

• Coordinate endowment stewardship activities, working with central advancement and Fralin staff to produce customized endowment reports.

• Manage logistics and timelines for stewardship deliverables to ensure timely, accurate, and personalized donor communications.

• Track and evaluate stewardship efforts to identify opportunities for improved donor engagement and reporting.

• Utilize CRM and other University databases to maintain donor and fund records.

• Utilize membership software for constituent management and engagement.

• Monitor and analyze donor, member, and student data with a meticulous eye for detail.

• Manage lists and segmentation strategy for outreach to donors and members.

• Manage production of printed materials, including list building, mail merges, proofing and printing, mailing, and tracking, and coordinate with marketing staff accordingly.

• Execute sophisticated events at the museum, on Grounds, and in the community, to recognize, educate, and steward donors and prospects of The Fralin, nurturing enduring relationships by maintaining their institutional interest and involvement, coordinating with the Director.

• Assist with events managed by the Events Experience team. Attend in-person and virtual meetings and/or events.

• Manage member and donor acknowledgment processes, including writing thank you letters and other acknowledgment materials, pulling gift reports, determining method of acknowledgment, preparing cards or letters, executing method of delivery.

• Assist with membership and annual giving program management, including overseeing related marketing and communications, related event planning, and benefit fulfillment.

• Initiate stewardship visits for new membership and annual fund gifts.

• Participate in the review of stewardship policies and procedures, identifying opportunities for increased efficiency and innovation in stewardship protocols.

• Coordinate with museum finance, central gift processing, and accounting, and the Senior VP for Advancement’s office on gift receipt and tracking, proposals, and gift agreements.

• Manage travel events for the Director and advancement team, identifying key markets for the events and traveling to and managing event logistics in each city.

• Maintain accurate and efficient tracking of activities in the donor database, which may include entering event data, contact reports, tracking affiliations, among other tasks.

• Collaborate with colleagues across Grounds to ensure best practices are implemented and to foster a sense of community among development colleagues in the various unit and foundation offices by attending across-grounds meetings and communities of practice.

• Act as the point of contact for Development intern schedules and assist with project management.

• Other responsibilities may include filing reimbursements, reconciling travel and expense card statements, scheduling donor visits and meetings, and other limited clerical tasks.

• Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate possesses excellent interpersonal skills, emphasizing collaboration, teamwork, and a solution-oriented mindset, with exceptional oral and written communication abilities to convey information clearly across diverse audiences. They demonstrate a strong customer service orientation, ensuring client satisfaction, and are proficient in administrative procedures with a solid understanding of office operations. With exceptional organizational skills, keen attention to detail, and efficiency, they engage professionally with donors, volunteers, and stakeholders, maintaining confidentiality and discretion with sensitive information. Their strong critical thinking skills enable effective problem-solving, and they adeptly prioritize tasks while adapting to shifting responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree.

• Experience: At least three years of related work experience

• Must be available for occasional evening and weekend availability for events and programming

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education advancement.

• Exceptional attention to detail, with strong organizational and communication abilities

• Proven proficiency in both written and verbal communication

• Solid foundation in art and art history, with a broad understanding of the contemporary art world

• Demonstrated ability to assess and prioritize tasks effectively

• Capable of working independently while contributing collaboratively within a team environment

• Thrives in fast-paced settings and is effective under shifting demands.

• Demonstrated ability to proactively support and communicate with leadership to align goals and priorities

• Skilled at analyzing challenges and proposing actionable, results-driven solutions

• Experience using data and marketing platforms, including CRM systems and tools like Salesforce and Marketing Cloud

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Salary Range

• The anticipated hiring range is $55K - $60K / year, commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is an exempt-level, benefited position. Learn more about UVA benefits.

• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.

• UVA Advancement offers a flexible and hybrid workplace. All team members must have access to and maintain a secure home office environment with high-speed internet service and work collaboratively with others using a variety of technologies and tools.

• While this role offers hybrid flexibility, it is primarily based in the museum’s collaborative office environment.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin after November 13, 2025.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.

• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship now or in the future.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0078004. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents will not receive full consideration.

Internal applicants: Apply through your Workday profile by searching “Find Jobs.”

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA’s third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For additional information about the position, please contact Sandi Hall, Senior Associate Director for Staff Success at eym5wh@virginia.edu.

• For questions about the application process, please contact Jon Freeman, HR Recruitment Specialist at jf2sw@virginia.edu

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.