Assistant Director, Stewardship

Job Summary

Michigan Medicine is a groundbreaking organization that relies on philanthropy for many of its initiatives. The Office of Development raises an average of $250 million annually, enabling the organization to drive transformational change. The assistant director of stewardship collaborates with gift officers and core services teams to deliver strategic, innovative stewardship touches that engage donors, recognize their contributions, and inform them about the impact of their gifts on Michigan Medicine.

• Acknowledgements and Data Management (50%)
  • Prepare weekly acknowledgement mailings, including data correction, verification, mail merge, and interaction with the print/mail vendor; track and follow up.
  • Prepare weekly executive acknowledgement mailings, drafting letters for multiple executives, gathering approvals, mailing, tracking, and follow up.
  • Collaborate with the associate director of stewardship to update acknowledgement templates (design and copy) three times per year and the mail‑house vendor contract every two years.
  • Deliver additional stewardship data projects, correct and verify data, respond to partner questions, and ensure clear communication and timeliness.
• Stewardship Communications (30%)
  • Draft customized letters for donors and stakeholders, including cover letters, condolence letters, and other donor communications.
  • Provide donors with consistent, timely, and informative impact reports.
  • Collaborate with gift officers and departments to gather information, interview faculty and staff, and translate scientific information into compelling storytelling.
  • Write 1–2 impact report drafts per month, synthesize stakeholder edits, and produce the final product in Adobe InDesign.
  • Act as a project manager for schedules, draft delivery, report production, donor delivery, and documentation.
• Donor Recognition Projects (15%)
  • Implement and maintain donor recognition programs, including first‑time donor, recurring, loyal donors, Giving Blueday, and other initiatives.
  • Execute donor recognition projects, printing materials, hand‑signing, collating, mailing, and conducting thank‑you calls.
• Communication and Collaboration (5%)
  • Communicate with internal and external stakeholders about office policy, stewardship team requirements, deadlines, and projects.
  • Respond to questions or concerns and take appropriate action to resolve issues.
  • Collaborate with team members to continuously improve stewardship programs.
  • Develop strong working relationships with internal and external constituencies.
  • Work independently to set priorities, meet deadlines, and manage shifting priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least three years of related experience.
• Strong writing skills, including the ability to convey gratitude and translate science into engaging storytelling.
• Detail‑oriented and results‑oriented with the ability to manage large amounts of data accurately.
• Proven discretion and confidentiality.
• Reliable internet access.

• Bachelor's degree in English or writing preferred.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize, take initiative, and meet changing deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Drive, Asana, and Adobe Creative Cloud (Acrobat Pro, InDesign).
• Familiarity with development reporting systems.

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on the first day.
• 2:1 match on retirement savings.

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.