Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship

Position: Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship. Campus

Title:

Assistant Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship. State

Job Title:

Assistant Director. Department:
Institutional Advancement. Job Code: HA6600. FLSA Status:
Exempt. Funding: TBD. Bargaining Unit: APA. Job Type: Full-time Permanent. Timeframe: 52 Weeks.

Shift: Monday–Friday 9:00am–5:00pm (evening and weekend work may be required). Regular Days Off:
Saturday and Sunday.

Location:

Westfield, MA.

The Assistant Director of Stewardship and Scholarships will play a significant role in developing, creating and nurturing a culture of philanthropic support at Westfield State University. The primary responsibilities are to build donor trust through consistent and meaningful contact from the University; continue cultivation of past and current major donors to enhance and steward their relationship with the University; develop and implement strategies for effective and timely acknowledgement, recognition and stewardship of alumni, donors, and other key stakeholders;

serve as a primary support to the Blackbaud Award Management online scholarship system including assisting students and reviewer groups.

• Manage and direct a creative, strategic and proactive donor stewardship program, designed to foster and strengthen long-term relationships and consistently promote increased engagement and recognition of donors at all levels. Proactively suggest, develop and implement donor stewardship initiatives and programs to steward donors.
• Manage the stewardship of scholarship donors and proactively engage scholarship students in the acknowledgement and recognition of their scholarship donors.
• Work with the Vice President, Executive Director, Alumni Director, Annual Fund Coordinator and Major Gifts Officers to steward donors via targeted communications, including correspondence, emails and social media and personal contacts.
• Serve as the primary support to the Blackbaud Award Management online scholarship portal, updating online scholarship presence and ensuring ease of use for students, faculty, staff and reviewers.
• Manage the scholarship award process in conjunction with the Westfield State Foundation scholarship committee, the University Financial Aid office, donors and other scholarship committees. Ensure timely availability of scholarship applications, processing, and distribution to committees to ensure a smooth award process.
• Develop appropriate personalized correspondence in support of directors of development and gift officers per direction.
• Oversee the planning and execution of donor-focused events, including recognition ceremonies and receptions that deepen donor engagement.
• Create effective working relationships with faculty, staff and students to achieve fundraising opportunities.
• Develop and assess policies and procedures across the University for a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program.
• Support the stewardship responsibilities of the advancement staff by assisting in establishing and coordinating individualized stewardship plans for donors.
• Collaborate with advancement staff to prepare letters, invitation lists, program materials and remarks, and to arrange donor awards and recognitions.
• Perform special assignments or duties as directed by the Executive Director of University Advancement.
• Attend University and Foundation events and meetings. Evening and weekend work may be required. Represent the University at campus and community events.

• A bachelor’s degree is required with a minimum of three to five years’ experience in higher education (or a comparably complex organization) in development, stewardship, advancement services or related field.
• Strong understanding of 501(c)(3) organizations, budgets and finances and overall non-profit management.
• Knowledge and ability to create, execute, support, and oversee carefully orchestrated cultivation events and programs for the University’s major donors.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Previous experience interacting with donors and donor opportunities is mandatory.
• Ability to…