Director of Stewardship

• This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent plus 10 years of professional experience to include 3 years of supervisory experience

• Advanced degree preferred or bachelor's degree and 10 years of related higher education experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience related to sales, marketing, development, business administration, higher education, project management, or relationship management.
• Experience in higher education donor relations preferred.
• Ability to establish the trust of colleagues and build strong relationships with key faculty/staff.
• Ability to respond to donors' needs and concerns in a kind and professional way.
• Ability to generate creative ideas and solutions for donor stewardship, recognition, and acknowledgements, as well as to maintain positive relationships with donors.

• Self-starter and highly motivated.
• Personnel management skills.
• Collaborative style combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment.
• Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail and confident, strong verbal communication.
• Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible.
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations.
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects.
• Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines.
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university business and confidential donor and prospect information.
• Skilled in using Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Creative thinker with the ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas.

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting is expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

• Work in a standard office environment
• Work evenings and weekends as necessary
• Travel in and out of state as necessary
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multitask
• Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

• Serve as the senior leader for all stewardship initiatives, providing strategic direction and operational oversight with limited day-to-day supervision.
• Act as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Senior Director, helping shape overall donor engagement strategy and priorities.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop stewardship staff, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Oversee stewardship workflows, timelines, and quality control to ensure consistent execution across multiple programs and audiences.
• Identify opportunities to modernize, streamline, and elevate stewardship practices using data, technology, and best practices.
• Oversee stewardship efforts, including, but not limited to:
  
  
  • Presidents Club Stewardship
  • Presidential Acknowledgements
  • Tribute Notifications
  • Impact Reporting
    
    
    • Financial endowment reports
    • Endowed faculty impact reports
    • Scholarship gratitude and impact reports
    • Cumulative impact books and special recognition
    
    
    
    
    
  • Annual Giving and Alumni Stewardship
  • Scholarship Stewardship
  
  
  
  

• Provide leadership for Team Stewardship, convening and engaging stewardship professionals across campus.
  
  
  • In conjunction with the Stewardship Coordinator, execute quarterly Team Stewardship meetings
  
  
  
  
  
• Facilitate collaboration, idea sharing, and alignment of stewardship practices university-wide.
• Strengthen cross-campus partnerships to ensure consistent messaging, shared standards, and collective success.

• Serve as the primary leader for all Cumulative Giving Societies programs and recognition.
• Enhance and expand CGS stewardship by:
• Broadening recognition strategies
• Elevating donor experiences
• Identifying new engagement and appreciation opportunities
• Ensure CGS recognition reflects donors' lifetime commitment and reinforces long-term loyalty.
• Partner with DAR colleagues to align CGS stewardship with fundraising and engagement goals.

• Foster a collaborative fundraising culture campus-wide by coordinating logistics for quarterly meetings.
• Represent the Senior Director in their absence with supervisory responsibility and with providing direction and response from the Office of Donor Relations and Stewardship.
• Provide additional support to donor relations and stewardship opportunities where needed.