Darnell Hines Jr. has been recently appointed director of stewardship in the University of Rochester's advancement division.
Hines comes to Rochester from The Ohio State University, where he was director of donor relations and stewardship in the Moritz College of Law. In that position, he created a program that helped increase both the number of annual fund donors and the size of their contributions. He oversaw the law school's gift acknowledgements and publications, including stewardship reports on the use of endowed and non-endowed funds. Hines also has extensive experience in special events, leadership giving societies, and the creation of individualized stewardship plans.
"In the advancement division, we seek to engage our donors in the excitement of guiding our University's future," said Senior Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer James D. Thompson. "Recognizing the contributions of our donors through excellent stewardship is vital. I know Darnell Hines will make important contributions to our growing organization by applying best practices from his area of specialization."
At Ohio State, before joining the law school team, Hines served as coordinator of enrollment services, implementing admissions policies and leading the committee that read applications.
Previously, Hines worked as membership and development services assistant at the Reading Recovery Council of North America. Members of this international, nonprofit organization help low-achieving children read at their grade level. Among other activities, Hines managed gift acknowledgements, traveled to national and regional conferences to recruit members, and increased advertising revenue at the Journal of Reading Recovery by 50 percent.
Hines said, "I'm thrilled to be at the University of Rochester and involved in a dynamic shift in fundraising strategies that is truly donor-centered. Working in cooperation with a re-energized advancement staff is thoroughly exciting and challenging. I look forward to collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to build a national-caliber stewardship program."
Hines has been a presenter at a number of professional conferences, such as the 2005 CASE Conference for Donor Relations Professionals, where he spoke on the topic of "Stewardship as a New Position." He also chaired "Stewardship Omnibus," the Association of Donor Relations Professionals' 2006 Midwestern Regional Conference. Hines earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Ohio State.