Kathryn Munro
Associate Vice President, Arts & Sciences Development
Dartmouth College

Background Info:

1. Can you tell us about your career trajectory? How did you come into donor relations as a career?

In my senior year at the University of Toronto (U of T), I was connected to the alumni relations office which needed administrative help with their annual reunion. This was before online registration was a thing, so I spent a lot of time stuffing invitations in the mailroom, doing data entry, and answering phone calls. 

This led to an interest in planning events and working with data. And I learned that I was able to quickly build rapport with alumni and donors. That early experience kick-started a pretty varied 25-year advancement career — from events to alumni relations, to principal gifts, to recognition and stewardship, to fundraising leadership — at both U of T and now at Dartmouth, where donor relations has been the through-line. 

2. What influenced your interest in and passion for donor relations? 
I see donor relations as the absolute heart of any good development program. Without it, fundraising can feel disconnected and strictly about dollars raised. Donor relations adds humanity, compassion, and purpose into the important philanthropy work. I love the creativity it affords, while also valuing the need to be data-driven and thorough. 

3. What lessons, words of advice/inspiration would you like to pass on to other donor relations professionals?

Donor relations isn’t an afterthought. Get yourselves to the table early when new priorities are being developed, when new gift conversations are happening. The donors and your institutions are better served when donor relations professionals are involved from the start. 

4. Can you talk about a specific donor engagement or stewardship activity that makes you feel like you are providing the best experience for donors? 
Because Dartmouth is tucked away in rural New Hampshire, the student experience is very immersive. We’ve done a really good job of creating moments for donors to reconnect with that visceral feeling through our events and communications, reminding them of their experience and how they can create that feeling for today’s students. 

Connection to ADRP: 

1. When did you become an ADRP member? 

In 2018, when I began my role as executive director of recognition and stewardship at Dartmouth.

2. Why is ADRP membership important to you? 

Opportunities for learning from peers, networking, and presenting.

3. ADRP is universally recognized as the authority on donor engagement for the philanthropy profession. In your own words, how does ADRP serve you in the form of professional development?

I had a lot to learn about donor relations when I started my role at Dartmouth. ADRP was my go-to source for information on best practices and gave me the confidence to help educate my colleagues across the division. I volunteered for the annual international conference for a couple of years and had the opportunity to present a few times. As my career progresses to fundraising leadership, I will continue to rely on all that ADRP has to offer.