Manager, Stewardship

Title: Manager, Stewardship

Classification: Exempt

Smile Train is changing the world one smile at a time. Our goal is to transform every person's life impacted by a cleft lip or palate. We train and support local doctors and medical professionals to provide beneficiaries with free, life‑changing comprehensive cleft treatment. Our sustainable model has allowed us to support over 2 million surgeries in 80+ countries and we’re just starting.

We are truly changing the world one smile at a time.

Smile Train is looking for exceptional people to join a worldwide team of dedicated, passionate professionals. Our team is comprised of creative and highly motivated individuals working to make a positive impact. Join us!

The Manager, Stewardship at Smile Train will lead strategic donor engagement initiatives to strengthen relationships and drive long‑term philanthropic support. This role is responsible for designing and implementing comprehensive stewardship strategies across all giving levels, creating impactful donor communications, and managing bi‑annual impact reporting. The Manager will collaborate closely with Development, Communications, and Program teams to deliver personalized donor experiences, oversee data integrity in Salesforce, and analyze performance metrics to inform future strategies.

This full‑time, hybrid position based in New York City (in office 2× per week) requires strong project management skills, CRM proficiency, and a deep understanding of the donor lifecycle.

• Serve as a strategic partner across the Development team, leading donor engagement initiatives that support Smile Train’s work and revenue goals.
• Design and execute stewardship strategies that align with the donor lifecycle and enhance retention across all giving levels and revenue streams—including Major Gifts, Mid‑Level Giving, Planned Giving, and Corporate & Foundation partnerships.
• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive stewardship strategies tailored to donor segments and giving levels.
• Collaborate with Development team leads to build personalized stewardship plans for high‑value donors, including major gift prospects and planned giving supporters.
• Create donor‑centric materials and experiences that celebrate philanthropy and deepen donor connection to Smile Train’s impact.
• Develop and manage the production of bi‑annual impact reports and customized donor communications.
• Partner with Communications and Direct Marketing teams to ensure consistent, targeted messaging across all high‑value audiences.
• Oversee the creation of cultivation content (donor letters, blogs, donor stories) that reflects Smile Train’s impact and values.
• Utilize Asana and Salesforce to manage stewardship workflows, timelines, and donor touchpoints.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the database team to ensure data integrity and accurate tracking of stewardship activities.
• Analyze performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship efforts and inform future strategy.
• Support donor cultivation events by managing pre‑ and post‑event communications, logistics, and onsite engagement.
• Coordinate with internal teams to deliver seamless donor experiences across virtual and in‑person events.
• Work closely with Major Gifts, Mid‑Level, Planned Giving, and Corporate/Foundation teams to align stewardship with fundraising goals.
• Maintain and execute stewardship benefits grid to ensure donors receive appropriate recognition and engagement based on giving level.
• Identify new opportunities for donor engagement, including personalized outreach, site visits, and storytelling initiatives.

• Exceptional communication skills—both written and verbal—with the ability to craft compelling donor narratives and impact‑driven messaging.
• Advanced project management expertise, with a demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi‑stakeholder initiatives from concept to execution.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Asana (or other project management tools), with strong organizational and time‑management skills.
• Robust CRM experience, preferably with Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge,…