Donor Stewardship and Engagement Specialist

Work Arrangement:
On-Site

Requisition Number: 275704

Regular or Temporary:
Regular

Location:

Durham, NC, US, 27710

Date:
Oct 9, 2026

At Duke Athletics, we believe our greatest strength comes from the unique experiences, perspectives, and talents of our people. Guided by our values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery, and excellence, we are committed to creating an environment where every member of our community feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to thrive.

As the Donor Stewardship & Engagement Specialist
, you will play a key role in cultivating meaningful relationships with the generous supporters who help advance the mission of Duke Athletics. Working collaboratively across Athletics, Advancement, and University partners, you will help ensure donors experience the impact of their philanthropy through thoughtful engagement, recognition, and stewardship.

If you are passionate about relationship-building, strategic communication, and creating exceptional donor experiences, we invite you to bring your talents to Duke.

Join the Iron Dukes team and lead innovative stewardship initiatives that strengthen donor connections and inspire lasting philanthropic support. In this highly collaborative role, you will help shape the donor experience, elevate engagement opportunities, and create meaningful moments that connect supporters to Duke Athletics' mission and student-athlete success.

• Develop and implement comprehensive stewardship strategies for annual, leadership, major gift, and principal gift donors.
• Create personalized engagement opportunities that deepen donor relationships and support long-term retention.
• Partner with development officers to design customized stewardship plans and meaningful donor touchpoints.
• Research and implement innovative stewardship practices that enhance the donor experience.

• Oversee recognition initiatives for giving societies, affinity groups, endowed funds, capital projects, and sport-specific programs.
• Coordinate donor acknowledgments, recognition opportunities, and benefit fulfillment activities.
• Lead milestone recognition efforts, appreciation initiatives, and naming opportunity stewardship programs.

• Plan and execute stewardship-focused events, hospitality experiences, scholarship celebrations, facility dedications, and VIP engagement activities.
• Collaborate with coaches, Athletics staff, and campus partners to create memorable donor interactions.
• Support exclusive access opportunities, facility tours, and other high-impact donor experiences.

• Oversee the creation and distribution of donor impact reports, stewardship materials, and personalized updates.
• Gather compelling stories, student-athlete highlights, and program achievements that showcase the impact of philanthropic support.
• Manage reporting obligations for endowed funds and scholarship programs to ensure meaningful donor engagement.
• Maintain accurate stewardship and engagement records within donor management systems.
• Conduct audits and data quality reviews to ensure consistency and integrity.
• Generate reports that support donor segmentation, engagement strategies, and informed decision‑making.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements that increase efficiency and enhance the donor experience.

• Partner with communications teams to develop stewardship-focused communications, including newsletters, impact stories, annual reports, and donor correspondence.
• Manage stewardship communication calendars and ensure messaging aligns with Duke Athletics priorities and brand standards.
• Support communications related to donor societies, stewardship initiatives, and special engagement opportunities.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Two years of experience in fundraising, alumni relations, public relations, student engagement, program administration, or a related field.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and analytical skills.

• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in donor relations, stewardship, advancement, higher education, athletics fundraising, or nonprofit philanthropy.
• Demonstrated success leading donor engagement and…