Director of Stewardship

Overview

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Southwestern University has an immediate opening for a Director of Stewardship. This full-time, 12-month, exempt position reports to the Associate Vice President for Development. The Director will create, implement, and manage a comprehensive, university-wide donor stewardship program, provide leadership and strategic planning for donor stewardship, strengthen existing donor relationships, and cultivate new ones. The role supports a premier donor recognition program to enhance the university’s visibility, impact, and fundraising outcomes.

This position is eligible for the university7s comprehensive benefits program.

• Design, launch, and manage comprehensive stewardship and recognition programs for donors and volunteers at all giving levels.
• Collaborate with the President, senior leadership, faculty, staff, volunteers, and donors to achieve strategic objectives and deliver appropriate messages for stewardship efforts.
• Revise and manage a stewardship communications program, including donor- and volunteer-focused publications that communicate the university’s stewardship programs.
• Support the Director of University Events in developing donor recognition initiatives, including focused stewardship events, endowed funding opportunities, funds requiring donor reports, and naming opportunities.
• Establish and maintain policies, quality standards, and best practices for volunteer and donor recognition and stewardship.
• Research, benchmark, and adopt industry best practices to strengthen the university’s donor relations programs.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive tracking system for donor relations activities across the University.
• Manage the production and distribution of annual stewardship reports to individual donors for ongoing donations, endowed funds such as scholarships and professorships, and major capital gifts, ensuring consistency and quality, including annual roll of donors.
• Build and nurture professional relationships with Alumni and Parent Relations, Major and Annual Giving, Foundation Relations, Advancement Services and Operations, Marketing, and campus partners.
• Work with the Director of Advancement Services on gift acknowledgments and communications, and with the Director of University Events on programs and events.
• Oversee the stewardship budget and manage vendor relationships with custom-design-item suppliers.

• Support and participate in regular development office staff meetings and University special events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience managing stewardship programs in a complex fundraising environment or related experience in project management.
• Ability to lead and manage complex projects independently, including setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and adapting to shifting demands.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with experience supervising staff and volunteers, managing budgets, and collaborating across departments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft strategic, donor-focused content and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strategic and creative thinker with a solid understanding of university advancement operations and donor engagement best practices.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion; commitment to confidentiality and ethical standards.

Resilient, adaptable, and mission-driven, with a strong work ethic and the ability to perform under pressure while maintaining a positive, team-oriented approach.

• Master’s Degree
• More than five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing stewardship programs in a complex fundraising environment or related experience in project management.
• Ability to understand, synthesize, and explain academic information to a wide audience in a clear and concise manner.

Starting annual salary: $61,254
. The final offer for the successful candidate will be commensurate with experience and may exceed the starting salary.