Stewardship Officer

Description

Role:
Stewardship Officer

The Stewardship Officer plays a pivotal role in strengthening donor relationships and supporting the growth of philanthropic support at Heriot-Watt University. Through the delivery of excellent donor care and engagement, the postholder helps ensure donors feel connected to the University’s mission, understand the impact of their support, and enjoy a positive giving experience that encourages long-term and repeat philanthropy.

Working closely with the Donor Relations and Stewardship Manager, the Stewardship Officer will support the development and delivery of a creative, comprehensive, and measurable stewardship programme. This programme will build and sustain meaningful relationships with donors, fulfil stewardship commitments and gift agreement obligations, demonstrate impact, and contribute to the University’s long-term fundraising success.

The role is responsible for coordinating stewardship activities associated with major gifts and grants, including donor communications, impact reporting, data and information gathering, recognition initiatives, and donor engagement activities. In collaboration with fundraising colleagues and key stakeholders across the University, the Stewardship Officer will ensure the effective delivery of stewardship plans, creating personalised and innovative experiences that recognise donor generosity and inspire continued support.

• Support the delivery of the Donor Relations and Stewardship team’s strategic and operational plan.
• Develop, implement and maintain professional, donor-centric and data-informed stewardship systems, procedures and process documentation, ensuring a consistent, efficient and cohesive approach to stewardship activity across the Advancement Operations team and supporting the effective delivery and administration of donor stewardship programmes.
• Support the production and delivery of high-quality donor stewardship reports and impact communications, ensuring donors receive timely and meaningful feedback on the difference their support makes.
• Coordinate the research, writing and editing of the annual Donor Impact Report across print and digital channels, including conducting interviews, gathering case studies and impact data, and liaising with internal stakeholders and external designers to ensure delivery on time and within budget.
• Coordinate the production of tailored biannual scholarship and bursary donor reports and oversee the development of bespoke stewardship reports for funded prizes, scholarships and research projects in accordance with individual donor agreements, ensuring accuracy, quality and a positive donor experience.
• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues and more broadly across the university to produce case studies showcasing donor impact for publication in a variety of channels.
• Assist with donor event speech writing for senior staff.
• Write personal acknowledgement and stewardship letters for signature by executives, the principal, the head of department, or academic staff (as appropriate) within specified time frames.
• Develop, coordinate and communicate donor stewardship plans for a range of donor groups, ensuring all relevant stakeholders including fundraisers, Development colleagues, academic staff and project leads are clear on stewardship objectives, activities and responsibilities. Maintain accurate stewardship plans, records and follow-up actions within Raiser’s Edge, and design and implement tailored stewardship workflows for individual donors, tracking and coordinating a wide range of donor interactions to ensure a consistent, personalised and high-quality donor experience.
• Collaborate with fundraising colleagues to establish and coordinate the development and maintenance of the Giving Circles programme.
• Liaise with fundraisers, project leads, the…