Assistant Director, Stewardship Reporting

University of Denver•Denver, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship, the Assistant Director, Stewardship Reporting serves as the strategic lead for donor impact reporting across the University. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving a comprehensive stewardship reporting program that demonstrates philanthropic impact, fulfills donor expectations, and strengthens long-term donor relationships. The Assistant Director oversees the production of stewardship reports supporting endowed, current-use, and milestone-funded priorities across the University. This includes annual endowment reports, endowed chair and professorship reporting, broad-based current-use fund reporting, non-scholarship milestone reporting, and customized impact reports for top-tier donors identified annually by Advancement leadership. As a key partner to the Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship, Advancement leadership, frontline fundraisers, academic units, and campus stakeholders, the Assistant Director provides strategic consultation, project leadership, and best-practice guidance related to stewardship reporting and donor communications. The role exercises significant autonomy in establishing reporting standards, managing reporting workflows, and driving continuous improvement initiatives that enhance the donor experience. Success in this role requires exceptional project management skills, strong written communication abilities, relationship-building expertise, and the ability to coordinate complex projects involving multiple stakeholders across the institution. The ideal candidate is collaborative, analytical, donor-centered, and highly organized, with experience managing large-scale projects and translating complex information into compelling donor-facing communications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
4-7 years of experience, including at least 3 years of related or transferrable professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education or a similarly complex nonprofit environment
Experience working within a university or similarly complex nonprofit environment including working with donors and/or high-profile constituents

Responsibilities

Lead the University's stewardship reporting strategy and annual reporting program.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive stewardship reporting calendar and production schedule.
Establish standards, templates, timelines, and best practices for stewardship reporting across the institution.
Manage reporting workflows involving schools, colleges, centers, institutes, and administrative units.
Identify opportunities to improve reporting quality, efficiency, consistency, and donor experience.
Serve as the University's primary resource and subject matter expert for stewardship reporting strategy and implementation.
Develop tools, training materials, and guidance that support reporting excellence across Advancement.
Lead the development and production of customized impact reports for top-tier donors identified annually by Advancement leadership.
Manage the University's annual endowment reporting process.
Oversee reporting for endowed chairs and professorships in partnership with deans, faculty, and academic leadership.
Coordinate broad-fund reporting efforts, including: Endowment reports, Current-use fund reports, Non-scholarship milestone reports.
Partner with campus stakeholders to collect, analyze, and translate impact information into compelling donor-focused reports and narratives.
Ensure donor reporting commitments and obligations are completed accurately and on schedule.
Manage quality control processes for stewardship reports and related donor communications.
Develop compelling written content that effectively communicates donor impact.
Support stewardship communications that advance donor retention and engagement objectives.
Partner with Advancement Communications and other colleagues to ensure consistency in donor messaging.
Recommend innovative approaches to demonstrating impact and stewarding donors.
Integrate stewardship reporting into broader donor engagement and recognition strategies.
Serve as a strategic partner and consultant to frontline fundraisers regarding stewardship reporting needs and donor expectations.
Advise academic and administrative partners on reporting requirements and best practices.
Provide guidance related to stewardship planning for newly established funds, endowments, and donor-funded initiatives.
Build strong working relationships with campus partners to facilitate effective storytelling and information gathering.
Conduct training and educational sessions for Advancement colleagues on stewardship reporting standards and practices.
Maintain reporting inventories, project plans, and production schedules.
Track completion of reporting obligations and stewardship commitments.
Monitor program performance and recommend process improvements.
Utilize Advancement systems and technology to improve reporting effectiveness and operational efficiency.
Serve as an active and collaborative partner to all central and unit-based Advancement functions and campus colleagues.
Foster strategic, effective, and collaborative advancement practices.
Model One DU leadership and support institutional priorities.
Promote a culture of donor-centered philanthropy, stewardship, and engagement.