Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations

University of Illinois • Urbana, IL

400d • $65,000 - $74,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is responsible for developing and managing a comprehensive donor-centered stewardship program. This role focuses on creating and improving standards, procedures, and tools to ensure consistent and effective donor engagement, recognition, and reporting activities, fostering long-term relationships between donors and The Grainger College of Engineering.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Three years of administrative experience in advancement, donor relations, or related fields.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in university advancement and donor relations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement processes for donor acknowledgements for key donor categories.
• Create efficient processes using tools for data collection to enhance donor experiences.
• Identify and steward donors to align donor relations efforts with cultivation impact.
• Create and implement opportunities to engage, thank, and retain donors through various communication methods.
• Develop strategic stewardship plans to engage donors, acknowledge gifts, and facilitate volunteerism.
• Analyze target populations for mass stewardship communications.
• Generate creative solutions for stewarding donors to strengthen relationships with the college.
• Implement stewardship connections between donors and fund beneficiaries, including students and faculty.
• Advise on donor recognition in print and web publications in collaboration with Communications.
• Engage in stewardship events such as scholarship receptions and donor appreciation celebrations.
• Collaborate with Central Advancement Team and departmental partners in managing gift funds and reporting back to donors.
• Meet with donors to ensure understanding of their gifts and enhance relationships for continued contributions.
• Manage funds to respect donor intent and college needs, including discussions with major gift officers.
• Develop strategic stewardship plans for key donors in collaboration with major gift officers.
• Occasionally travel to events and conferences to meet with donors and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Central Advancement Stewardship team to develop best practices and communication strategies.
• Develop metrics and workflows for tracking stewardship processes and productivity.

Benefits

• Competitive salary range of $65,000-$74,000 based on qualifications and experience.
• Possibility of fully remote work per the University's Workplace Flexibility policy.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree