Job DescriptionThe Senior Director, Donor Recognition & Stewardship is responsible for leading and managing all donor recognition activities for Hoag Hospital Foundation (HHF), ensuring donor commitments are fulfilled accurately, consistently, and in accordance with gift agreements. The role also partners closely on stewardship efforts to support donor engagement and long-term relationships.
This position reports to the Vice President of Donor Relations and works in close collaboration with the Director of Donor Stewardship (no direct reporting relationship), as well as Foundation colleagues and Hoag Health System stakeholders.
ResponsibilitiesEssential ResponsibilitiesDonor Recognition Strategy and Leadership- Provide enterprise-wide leadership for donor recognition initiatives, ensuring alignment with HHF fundraising priorities, campaigns, and organizational values.
- Collaborate with the Vice President of Donor Relations and Director of Donor Stewardship to align donor recognition activities with stewardship strategies and donor engagement goals.
- Serve as the primary Foundation liaison for donor recognition matters with Hoag Health System partners, ensuring clear communication and shared accountability for donor commitments.
Donor Recognition & Signage- Oversee all donor recognition programs, including the planning, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of donor signage throughout the Hoag enterprise.
- Ensure donor recognition is accurate, timely, visually appropriate, and consistent with brand and organizational standards.
- Establish and maintain processes to monitor signage accuracy and recognition fulfillment.
- Define strategy and requirements for recognition systems and tools, including:
- Naming opportunity tracking systems
- Recognition inventory databases
- Workflow and approval processes
- Partner with the Director, Recognition to implement and operationalize systems
- Ensure tools support transparency for gift officers and scalability for campaigns
Recognition Inventory & Campaign Alignment- Own and manage the centralized recognition inventory, including naming opportunities and recognition assets
- Partner with campaign leadership and development officers to align recognition opportunities with fundraising priorities
- Ensure accurate mapping of donor intent, gift level, and recognition value
- Oversee long-term planning of recognition assets across capital and comprehensive campaigns
Naming Opportunities & Gift Agreement Fulfillment- Provide oversight of the naming opportunity inventory across the Hoag enterprise, ensuring opportunities are appropriately valued, documented, and tracked.
- Maintain accountability for fulfillment of all donor recognition and naming commitments in accordance with executed gift agreements.
- Guide the development of donor proposals and recognition materials, including naming language, renderings, gift level requirements, and installation timelines, in coordination with internal partners.
Stewardship Collaboration- Partner with the Director of Donor Stewardship to ensure donor recognition efforts support broader stewardship plans and enhance the overall donor experience.
- Provide input and coordination on stewardship initiatives where donor recognition plays a role in demonstrating impact and appreciation.
Benchmarking & Best Practices- Benchmark donor recognition and stewardship practices against peer institutions and industry standards.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and recommend enhancements to ensure HHF programs remain current and effective.
- Ensure donor recognition activities comply with applicable regulations, ethical standards, and industry best practices.
Events & Donor Engagement- Provide strategic guidance for donor recognition and stewardship-related events, ensuring alignment with donor recognition objectives and Foundation priorities.
Collaboration & Communication- Work collaboratively with the Vice President of Donor Relations, Director of Donor
Stewardship, and Foundation colleagues to ensure consistent donor messaging, coordinated outreach, and alignment across donor relations activities. - Directly manage the Director, Donor Recognition
- Set priorities, performance expectations, and strategic direction for recognition execution
- Ensure alignment between strategy (Senior Director) and operational delivery (Director)
QualificationsQualificationsEducation and Experience
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
- 10+ years of experience in fundraising, donor relations/recognition or related field
- Professionalism and diplomacy to work effectively with internal and external constituents.
- Experience managing teams and leading cross-functional initiatives
- Strong understanding of campaign structure and naming opportunity strategy
- Proven ability to design scalable systems and operational frameworks
- Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- High attention to detail and ability to manage complex, sensitive donor relationships
