Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship

Responsibilities

The Director Donor Relations and Stewardship provides leadership, vision and strategic planning for donor stewardship initiatives by building a comprehensive donor recognition program to cultivate meaningful relationships with donors and ensure exceptional stewardship across all levels of giving. This position plans and executes stewardship and cultivation initiatives and events, donor outreach and communications, donor recognition, acknowledgements, and stewardship plan reports.

Key Responsibilities:

• Stewardship Communications—Oversees and manages the development of impact reports, stewardship letters, annual donor reports, fund reports, etc. that are sent to donors. Works with Marketing & Communications team to create compelling donor-focused content, stories, and digital experiences. Ensures reporting and naming accuracy is in alignment with donor intent. Implements best practices in donor acknowledgement letters, receipts, and thank you letters.
• Donor Recognition & Engagement—Oversees donor recognition programs, including naming opportunities, giving societies, donor walls, and special acknowledgments. Manages customized stewardship plans for major donors, annual giving donors, and corporate/foundation partners. Leads stewardship-related events including but not limited to the annual Wade Mountz Society reception, lunch and learns, dedication and ribbon‑cutting ceremonies, and other recognition activities. Manages quarterly donor dinners with clinical topics in alignment with clinical leadership to promote and advance innovation in care.
  
  Directs giving societies to build stronger, deeper relationships with our donors, and also creates giving society marketing plan (collateral materials, social media posts, etc.) to increase donor awareness while managing end‑of‑year recognition and giving to all donors.
• Strategic Leadership & Program Management—Develops and executes multi‑year donor relations and stewardship strategy that targets all levels of giving and aligns with organizational fundraising objectives. Leads the creation of innovative stewardship programs and projects that enhance donor engagement and retention. Ensures consistent, high‑quality touchpoints across the donor lifecycle, from first gift to legacy giving. Works closely with Foundation staff, collaborates and reports on all donor relations and stewardship activities.

Norton Healthcare is a leading not‑for‑profit hospital and health care system serving adult and pediatric patients across Greater Louisville, Southern Indiana, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. The system has six hospitals in Louisville—including Norton Children’s Hospital, a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center and the region’s only full‑service, freestanding, dedicated pediatric hospital—and three hospitals in Southern Indiana.

With nearly 24,000 employees, over 1,750 employed medical providers and more than 3,000 total providers on its medical staff, Norton Healthcare is Louisville’s second largest employer. It provides care at more than 480 locations throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The six Louisville hospitals have a combined total of 1,907 licensed beds, and the Southern Indiana hospitals have 347 licensed beds. Services include inpatient and outpatient general care as well as specialty care in heart, neuroscience, cancer, orthopedics, women’s health and pediatrics.

The system also includes 10 outpatient centers, 20 Norton Immediate Care Center locations and an expanded telehealth program. A strong research program provides access to clinical trials in a wide range of areas.

The Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation raises funds to support programs, equipment, facilities, clinical research, advocacy, and education for Norton Children’s Hospital, the only freestanding pediatric hospital in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

Norton Children’s Hospital is Kentucky and Southern Indiana’s only full‑service, freestanding pediatric hospital with pediatric and adolescent specialists and subspecialists representing more than 35 areas of focused clinical care. Located in downtown Louisville,…