Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations

Lindenwood University • Saint Charles, MO

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations at Lindenwood University is an important partner in the strategic management of the university's relationships with its donors. The director leads the development and execution of a short-term and long-range stewardship and donor relations program, inclusive of acknowledgment processes, stewardship plans, a centralized stewardship program, impact and fund reporting, donor engagement opportunities, and donor recognition programs. By creating and improving standards, procedures, and tools, this position ensures a comprehensive, strategic, data-driven, and donor-centered stewardship program that fosters and sustains long-term, meaningful relationships with the university.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of three years of stewardship, donor relationship, advancement, or similar experience
• Demonstrated marketing or communications experience
• Experience in a higher education or not-for-profit environment
• Proficiency with project management preferred
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM preferred
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Demonstrated ability to effectively build relationships and alliances with internal and external audiences
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Knowledge of the field’s best and current concepts, practices, and procedures
• Skilled in providing attention to detail
• Empathetic listener with corresponding excellence in verbal and written communication
• Ability to maintain accuracy under time pressure with multiple priorities and deadlines
• Ability to provide discretion with confidential information

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with project management
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or similar CRM

Responsibilities

• Oversees all aspects of donor recognition, acknowledgment, and stewardship of philanthropic gifts designed to strengthen retention and long-term investment
• Develops and executes strategic comprehensive stewardship plans to engage current and prospective donors and cultivate future gifts
• Meets regularly with advancement colleagues to discuss gift mechanics, confirm donor intent, and foster long-term philanthropic relationships
• Identifies target populations for mass communications while partnering with major gift officers to generate personalized, creative stewardship solutions for key pipeline and principal donors
• Facilitates meaningful, direct connections between donors and fund beneficiaries, such as scholarship recipients and faculty appointees, through specialized communications and in-person engagements
• Directs donor-centric events, including scholarship receptions, exclusive donor engagement events, and donor appreciation celebrations
• Collaborates with communications to center our donors in University storytelling, highlighting donor impact in print, video, social media, online, and at events
• Audits and manages gift funds to ensure strict alignment with both donor intent and institutional priorities, facilitating in-person meetings as needed with donors, major gift officers, and academic leaders to negotiate, formalize, and document fund amendments as necessary
• Establishes efficient workflows, performance metrics, data tracking, and reporting utilizing Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT to continuously track stewardship productivity, support campaign targets, and evaluate donor engagement
• Collaborates continuously with central advancement teams, department heads, and front-line fundraisers to determine and implement industry best practices across the division
• Travels to regional events, conferences, and donor meetings as necessary, which may include occasional evening and weekend engagements
• Performs other relevant duties assigned to advance the strategic goals of the division
• Champions a culture of donor-centered service excellence by delivering timely, accurate, and personalized responses to all donor inquiries and internal stakeholder requests
• Maintains the highest standard of discretion, integrity, and professionalism when handling sensitive donor profiles, financial data, and confidential materials
• Anticipates the needs of university leadership, major gift officers, and external constituents to ensure a seamless and exceptional donor experience across all touchpoints
• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Advises division leaders on donor relations and stewardship
• Collaborates with advancement colleagues to ensure excellent stewardship and donor relations that results in a growth of philanthropic investments in the institution
• Provides leadership to campus constituents on current, effective stewardship and donor relations best practices
• Job may require other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only)
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only)
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1)
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director