Donor Stewardship Specialist

Founded in 1873 and located in Greensboro, North Carolina, Bennett College is one of only two all‑women’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the nation. Rooted in a tradition of academic excellence and leadership, Bennett empowers women to lead with purpose, integrity, and a commitment to service. The College is committed to fostering a culture of philanthropy that supports transformative education and lifelong sisterhood.

The Donor Stewardship Specialist supports Bennett College’s mission by helping to cultivate and sustain meaningful relationships with donors and supporters. This position focuses on the implementation of donor stewardship activities that ensure timely acknowledgment, recognition, and engagement of donors at all levels. The Specialist will assist in managing gift acknowledgment processes, coordinate stewardship communications and events, and contribute to efforts that demonstrate the impact of philanthropic giving across the College.

They will also serve as the lead administrator for the College’s scholarship and planned giving program within the Office of Institutional Advancement.

The ideal candidate will have exceptional organizational, writing, and relationship‑building skills, along with a strong commitment to fostering donor satisfaction and institutional advancement.

• Coordinate with institutional advancement gift processor to execute the College’s donor acknowledgment process, ensuring prompt, accurate, and personalized thank‑you letters, receipts, and correspondence.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date donor and prospect records within the College’s constituent management database.
• Assist in producing donor impact and stewardship reports in collaboration with the institutional advancement staff.
• Research and prepare background information on donors and prospects to support cultivation and stewardship efforts.
• Support stewardship plans for annual, major, and endowed gift donors by providing administrative and logistical assistance.
• Partner with Communications to identify and highlight donor stories, giving milestones, and impact narratives.

• Assist with the planning and execution of donor stewardship events, including appreciation receptions, scholarship celebrations, and recognition gatherings.
• Coordinate event logistics such as invitations, guest lists, RSVP tracking, and follow‑up communications.
• Provide on‑site support during donor‑related events to ensure positive donor experiences and smooth event flow.

• Develop materials on the College’s scholarship and planned giving programs.
• Assist donors in establishing scholarships and planned giving gifts.
• Support the annual scholarship stewardship process by collecting student profiles, coordinating donor communications, and preparing reports.
• Assist in organizing the annual scholarship appreciation event and related donor‑student engagement opportunities.
• Track endowed funds and restricted scholarship activity and ensure proper recognition of new and continuing scholarship donors.

• Maintain internal tracking systems and documentation for stewardship initiatives and donor recognition programs.
• Generate donor and prospect reports.
• Monitor supplies, correspondence templates, and donor recognition materials.
• Collaborate with Institutional Advancement team members to align stewardship activities with fundraising goals and donor engagement strategies.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support the mission of the College and the Institutional Advancement department.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and follow‑through in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems (preferably Raiser’s Edge).
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team setting.
• Strong customer service orientation and an understanding of donor relations best practices.
• Creative thinker with a proactive approach to improving donor experiences.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for donor‑related events.

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least two (2) years of experience in donor relations, fundraising, marketing, or administrative support within a nonprofit, higher education, or similar environment.

• Experience working in higher education advancement or with a fundraising database (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar CRM).