Description

Title: Alumni Relations Manager

Reports to: Director of Annual Giving & Events

Organization Overview:

Steppingstone prepares students from marginalized communities to access, navigate, and graduate from college through two initiatives, the Steppingstone Scholars Program and the National Partnership for Educational Access. The Steppingstone Scholars Program is a direct-service program in Boston that provides academic, social-emotional, and college-readiness services to students, called Scholars, beginning as early as fifth grade and continuing all the way through college graduation. The Steppingstone Scholars Program consists of five components: Admissions, the Academy, Middle School Success, High School Success, and College Success. The National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA) is a membership association that connects the people, practices, and innovations essential for eliminating barriers to educational access and college and career success for historically marginalized students. 

Advancement Team Overview:

The Advancement Team at Steppingstone is responsible for raising $5M annually through events, direct mail appeals, a Day of Giving, a major gifts program, corporate and foundation grants, and various other revenue streams. The team partners with the Board of Directors, Board of Ambassadors, Board of Young Professionals, as well as the Alumni Council to reach our fundraising goals and create awareness around our programs. Approximately 75% of Steppingstone’s revenue comes from individuals, and the organization is currently in the planning stages of a comprehensive annual fund and endowment Campaign. This is an exciting time to join our team!

Position Overview:

Steppingstone seeks a skilled relationship builder to join our team! The Manager of Alumni Relations will be responsible for the development and implementation of a multifaceted engagement and stewardship strategy to actively involve Alumni in Steppingstone’s mission. There are currently more than 1,200 Steppingstone Alumni and more are added each year. As an integral part of the Advancement Team, this person will be a highly successful collaborator, facilitator, communicator, and implementer. As Steppingstong builds out career readiness initiatives, this position will also work with programs to facilitate connections between Alumni and current Scholars. The Manager of Alumni Relations will include developing and implementing a comprehensive alumni fundraising strategy, curating engaging events, crafting effective stewardship plans, and fostering an active volunteer network. This position will also manage Steppingstone’s Alumni Council and collaborate with the Board of Young Professionals, helping them to plan and reach their respective yearly fundraising and engagement goals.

Start Date:

Salary: $59,000 - $64,000

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Alumni Engagement & Communication 

• Develop and implement an Alumni engagement program in support of Steppingstone’s mission and the goals of the Advancement Team. Primary aspects include building strong connectivity between Alumni and the organization, as well as with each other
• Plan and execute special events, including but not limited to the Annual Alumni Reunion, Alumni career panels, and Alumni fundraising campaigns
• Develop and execute a strategic Alumni fundraising plan to maximize philanthropic support from our alumni network
• Act as staff liaison to Steppingstone’s 30 member Alumni Council, including managing and hosting several meetings during the course of a year, recruiting new members, and supporting members’ outreach efforts to their respective classes 
• In collaboration with the Communications team, prepare and send all Alumni communications including monthly newsletters, sample emails for fundraising initiatives, appeal letters and emails, and social media communications
• Work closely with the College Services team to identify and welcome new Alumni and support other program departments, as needed
• Recruit Alumni to serve as Mentors; encourage and monitor participation
• Reach out to Alumni via email, phone, and in-person meetings to foster connections and stay up-to-date on life updates and accomplishments.
• Conduct research on Alumni contact information and professions, to ensure the database is current and relevant.
• Record and update Alumni contact information promptly and accurately in the organization’s database.
• Maintain LinkedIn page

Requirements

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Strong relationship management skills
• Solid organizational and time-management abilities
• Proactive thinker and excellent communicator 

Education and Work Experience

• Two to three years of work experience (nonprofit preferred) and/or a bachelor's degree.
• Prior fundraising experience preferred but not required

To Apply: Please input your resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position, and how you learned about this position. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Employee Benefits:

• Generous paid time off 
• 15 days PTO
• 5 wellness days
• 12.5 holidays
• 2 weeks paid office closure
• Health, Dental and Vision coverage
• Life, Short-Term and Long-Term disability insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition & Professional Development reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health and Dependent Care
• Pre-tax Transportation Plan (Transit & Parking)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Membership to the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA)

Steppingstone Core Values

Power of One

• We honor every voice and believe we are strongest when we work together.
• We recognize, respect, and nurture the fullness and complexity of each member of our community.
• We believe in the power of belonging and seek to create a welcoming and inclusive culture.

Walk the Walk

• We partner with every Scholar and family, supporting them holistically throughout their own educational journey.
• We work with a clear and measurable purpose, using data to drive collective decision-making and challenge assumptions.
• We create spaces for difficult conversations to transform our thinking and move us forward.

Embrace Growth

• We strive to operate as an anti-racist organization and commit to continuous learning and action in the service of this goal.
• We provide opportunities for everyone in our community to flourish and reach their full potential.
• We make time for reflection, learn from past experiences, and take initiative in response to changing needs and new ideas.

A candidate will be found unsuitable for employment with Steppingstone and automatically disqualified if they use threatening language or behavior either written, verbal, or physical during any phase of the interview process.

The Steppingstone Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any individual, employee, or application for employment on the basis of race, color, marital status, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or handicap, as defined by law.