At Blackburn College, every role makes a difference. Our faculty and staff are mentors, collaborators, and an essential part of a close-knit campus community dedicated to student success. Whether you're inspiring students in the classroom, supporting them behind the scenes, coaching the next generation, or helping our campus thrive, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day.

Blackburn College is seeking an experienced fundraising and donor relations professional to serve as our Director of Donor Relations and Planned Giving during an exciting period of growth for the College. The Director will help build on this momentum by strengthening donor relationships, enhancing stewardship efforts, and expanding Blackburn’s planned giving program.

Blackburn has experienced a multi-year enrollment surge, including a 19% increase in new freshman students over the prior year and a 39% increase in enrollment since fall 2024. The College also achieved record-breaking fundraising results last year, reflecting the strength and generosity of the Blackburn community.

At the heart of this momentum is Blackburn’s commitment to expanding access, affordability, and opportunity. Thirty-six percent of Blackburn students are first-generation college students, 63% receive Pell Grants, and 40% represent racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

About the Position

Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Director of Donor Relations and Planned Giving will develop and lead a comprehensive donor stewardship program designed to strengthen donor relationships, increase donor retention, and encourage future giving.

The Director will oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs, gift acknowledgments, donor impact reporting, and other initiatives that create meaningful connections between donors and the impact of their support.

The Director will also serve as Blackburn’s primary resource for planned giving, building relationships with planned giving prospects and members of the Heritage Society, Blackburn’s legacy giving society. Through donor engagement, educational outreach, and collaboration with colleagues across Institutional Advancement, the Director will help grow Blackburn’s planned giving program and strengthen the College’s long-term philanthropic future.

Key Responsibilities

Develop donor communications that demonstrate the impact of philanthropic support and Blackburn’s continued momentum.
Oversee gift acknowledgment, donor recognition, stewardship, and impact-reporting programs.
Build and maintain meaningful relationships with donors, planned giving prospects, and Heritage Society members.
Develop marketing and communication strategies that educate alumni and friends about legacy giving opportunities and encourage future giving.
Collaborate with Institutional Advancement colleagues to incorporate planned giving opportunities into donor conversations and cultivation strategies.
Manage stewardship reporting for endowed and restricted funds and collaborate with campus partners to help ensure funds are used according to donor intent.
Monitor donor retention, engagement, and stewardship efforts and identify opportunities for continued improvement.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least three years of direct experience in a nonprofit fundraising environment preferred, particularly experience with donor stewardship or recognition programs.
Excellent written, verbal, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.
Strong organizational and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, take initiative, exercise sound judgment, and work collaboratively with a wide range of constituents.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to quickly learn new software systems; experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge and/or ADAVICO is preferred.
Flexibility to occasionally work evenings and weekends for College and Institutional Advancement events.
Willingness to travel occasionally as needed.
Commitment to Blackburn College’s mission and an appreciation for the transformative impact of a liberal arts education and the College’s nationally recognized Work Program.

Salary Range: $55,000–$65,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

About Blackburn College

Blackburn College is a private, residential liberal arts college located in Carlinville, Illinois. Blackburn is nationally recognized for its student-centered mission, strong sense of community, and distinctive Work Program, which provides students with meaningful leadership and employment experiences as they pursue their degrees.

Blackburn College features a robust benefits package. For additional information, please visit https://blackburn.edu/about/administrative-offices/human-resources/ and click on the Employee Benefits Summary Tab.

Blackburn College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and seeks to build an inclusive community that can engage the interests of a diverse population. We are committed to fostering, cultivating, and sustaining a culture that reflects the diversity of our country, and as such we particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+, veterans, and those with disabilities. Employment-based immigration sponsorship is not offered for this position. Phone calls or walk-ins not accepted. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position has been filled.

Compensation: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Blackburn College is more than a place to work — it’s a community where your work makes an impact.

Located in Carlinville, Illinois, Blackburn is a distinctive four-year liberal arts college known for combining a rigorous, affordable education with our nationally recognized student-managed Work Program. Our unique approach brings work, learning, and leadership together, giving students opportunities to develop skills and experience that extend far beyond the classroom.

At Blackburn, faculty and staff play an important role in creating an environment where students are known, supported, challenged, and encouraged to grow. Whether you're teaching in the classroom, supporting campus operations, coaching student-athletes, or working behind the scenes, every position contributes to the Blackburn experience.

What Makes Blackburn Different?

Student-Centered — Our close-knit campus creates opportunities to build meaningful connections with students and colleagues.

A One-of-a-Kind Work Program — Blackburn is home to a distinctive student-managed Work Program that gives students hands-on experience, responsibility, and leadership opportunities.

A True Campus Community — Faculty, staff, and students work together to support the College and one another.

Opportunity to Make an Impact — At a smaller institution, your ideas, expertise, and contributions are seen and valued.

A Mission That Matters — We are committed to providing an accessible, high-quality education while preparing students for meaningful careers, community engagement, and lifelong learning.

Come build your career at Blackburn College — and help our students build theirs.

(if you already have a resume on Indeed)

Or apply here.

* required fields

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Phone*

Text me updates about my application

Yes No

Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out. Reply HELP for help. See our and Privacy Policy for details.

Location

Address

City

States

ZIP Code

Resume/CV *

Type/Paste Text

Cover Letter

Type/Paste Text

Recent Job Title

Recent Employer

Are you willing and able to commute to our campus?*

Highest level of education*

This position may require you to work certain evenings (for marketing/events) and/or Saturdays. Can you work this schedule?*

U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Information (Completion is voluntary)

You are being given the opportunity to provide the following information in order to help us comply with federal and state Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action record keeping, reporting, and other legal requirements.

Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Disability Status

Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 4/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Veteran Status

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

I was referred to this position by a current employee

Who referred you?