Director, Stewardship

University of Louisville•Louisville, KY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Stewardship serves as a strategic leader responsible for designing, strengthening, and advancing a comprehensive stewardship program. This role focuses on delivering compelling impact reporting, developing thoughtful donor recognition strategies, and ensuring transparent, meaningful communication. The Director ensures that donors at all levels clearly understand the purpose, outcomes, and lasting impact of their philanthropy. By collaborating closely with campus and organizational partners, this position delivers high-quality stewardship experiences that reinforce donor trust, deepen engagement, and inspire continued philanthropic investment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field and eight (8) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills with strong attention to detail.
Proven ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
Demonstrated leadership and team‑management experience.
Strong understanding of donor behavior, fundraising principles, and philanthropic culture.
Familiarity with CRM and donor management systems
Experience with data visualization, digital communications, or creative production.
Understanding of Endowment management and financial reporting concepts.
Strategic thinking and problem‑solving
Collaboration and relationship‑building
Clear, compelling written and verbal communication
Creativity and innovation
Commitment to donor-centric service
Project and team management skills.

Nice To Haves

8+ years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, advancement communications, or related work.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of high-quality stewardship materials, including donor stories, impact highlights, videos, digital content, and special reports.
Establish and champion best-in-class acknowledgment practices to ensure timely, meaningful, and consistent expressions of gratitude across all units.
Collaborate with campus partners to deliver a unified, high-quality donor experience across colleges, departments, and programs.
Design and manage comprehensive donor recognition programs and customized recognition for major donors.
Supervise donor relations staff responsible for acknowledgments, donor experience enhancements, and donor portal improvements.
Partner with the philanthropy team to support donor cultivation through tailored engagement opportunities, briefing materials, and stewardship plans.
Coordinate strategic outreach, milestone recognition, and engagement opportunities aligned with donor interests.
Lead continuous improvement of donor relations processes, workflows, and outcomes.
Oversee the development and delivery of comprehensive endowment and impact reports that clearly communicate the use and outcomes of donor-supported funds.
Partner with finance, academic units, and program leaders to gather accurate data and compelling narratives, ensuring consistency and transparency.
Collaborate with PAE Communications to produce impact-focused materials, including reports, donor stories, and digital content.
Establish reporting frameworks, templates, and standards to support timely and meaningful communication for both endowed and current-use gifts.
Integrate data visualization, metrics, and storytelling techniques to enhance clarity, engagement, and donor understanding.
Oversee the development, review, and execution of charitable gift agreements to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with donor intent and institutional priorities.
Partner with stewardship and donor relations teams to ensure gift agreement terms are fulfilled, including reporting, recognition, and ongoing donor engagement commitments.
Design and oversee a cohesive donor recognition program encompassing physical installations, digital platforms, achievement societies, and milestone acknowledgments.
Ensure all recognition activities align with institutional values, brand standards, and donor expectations.
Advise leadership on naming opportunities, recognition policies, and institutional guidelines.
Serve as a strategic partner to PAE senior leadership, development officers, and academic units on donor engagement and stewardship strategy.
Work closely with campus leaders to ensure consistent and timely endowment reporting, acknowledgment practices, and transparent donor communications.
Partner with PAE communications team to ensure unified messaging and brand alignment.
Build strong relationships with faculty and staff to identify compelling stories of donor impact.
Manage project pipelines, production schedules, and annual stewardship cycles to ensure timely and high‑quality deliverables.
Maintain systems to track stewardship commitments, recognition obligations, and reporting deliverables.
Leverage benchmarking and industry trends to innovate and enhance stewardship practices and donor engagement experiences.
Oversee budgets and vendor relationships related to recognition displays, publications, digital tools, and other stewardship assets.