Associate Director, Donor Relations and Stewardship

The Associate Director, Donor Relations supports Stetson University by cultivating meaningful relationships with donors and fostering a culture of philanthropy, gratitude, and engagement across the institution. Serving as a member of the Development and Alumni Engagement team, this position develops and implements comprehensive donor relations and stewardship strategies that communicate the impact of philanthropy, strengthen donor engagement, and ensure donor intent is honored. Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations and collaborating with Development and Alumni Engagement staff, academic leadership, Athletics, and community partners, the Associate Director leads stewardship initiatives, acknowledgment programs, donor recognition efforts, scholarship stewardship activities, and donor engagement opportunities. The position provides stewardship support across the DeLand campus, College of Law campuses, the future Tampa Law Center, and Athletics. In alignment with Stetson's Strategic Priorities, the Associate Director, Donor Relations advances a people-centered, relationship-rich culture by fostering lifelong donor engagement, communicating philanthropic impact, and creating meaningful experiences that strengthen the University's mission and future. Start Date: September 1, 2026 Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities Employment duties include, but are not limited to: Donor Stewardship and Impact Reporting Partner with the Director of Donor Relations to develop and implement strategic, multi-year donor stewardship plans. Create personalized stewardship reports and impact communications for scholarships, professorships, endowments, and other donor-supported funds. Produce the University's annual endowment report and other donor impact reports, briefings, and stewardship materials. Collect and synthesize information from campus partners to communicate the outcomes of philanthropic support. Donor Recognition and Acknowledgment Lead and manage the University's donor acknowledgment process. Ensure donor recognition and gratitude communications are timely, accurate, personalized, and consistent with stewardship best practices. Manage memorial and honorary gift recognition processes and related communications. Support development and implementation of donor recognition strategies that encourage long-term engagement and retention. Giving Societies and Naming Opportunities Administer and coordinate lifetime giving society programs and related recognition activities. Maintain and manage institutional naming opportunities and associated records. Coordinate the creation, installation, and maintenance of donor recognition plaques and naming displays. Donor Engagement and Events Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of donor and alumni engagement events, recognition ceremonies, giving society events, and facility dedications. Support activities that deepen donor relationships and demonstrate the impact of donor contributions. Collaborate with campus partners to ensure a high-quality donor experience across all events. Data Management and Strategic Planning Utilize Raiser's Edge and other systems to track donor engagement activities, stewardship milestones, and donor journeys. Analyze donor-related metrics and reporting data to inform stewardship and engagement strategies. Coordinate stewardship efforts across colleges, schools, Athletics, and administrative units to ensure consistency and alignment with institutional goals. Marketing and Communications Partner with the University's marketing team and campus departments to develop stewardship and donor engagement communications. Contribute ideas and content for print, digital, video, and social media platforms that showcase donor impact. Support storytelling initiatives that highlight philanthropy's role in advancing the University's mission. Additional Responsibilities Ensure gifts are administered in accordance with donor intent, University policies, and ethical stewardship practices. Lead implementation of stewardship initiatives that support donor retention and ongoing philanthropic engagement. Perform other duties as assigned to support the goals of Development and Alumni Engagement. Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Demonstrated ability to create meaningful, donor-centered communications and experiences. Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills with alumni, donors, faculty, staff, administrators, volunteers, and community stakeholders. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, and Excel. Ability to manage, analyze, and manipulate complex data and spreadsheets. Experience working with donor databases and reporting systems. Ability to initiate, prioritize, and complete complex projects with minimal supervision. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic-thinking skills. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment and discretion. Commitment to supporting Stetson University's Mission, Values, and culture of inclusive excellence. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Experience in donor relations, stewardship, advancement services, fundraising, communications, higher education, nonprofit administration, or a related field. Experience creating professional communications and reports for diverse audiences. Experience working with databases and data management systems. Desire to join a distinct university community committed to inclusive excellence, kindness, and collaboration, as it seeks to move Forward Together in making our community and world a better place. Ideal Candidate Qualifications Experience developing personalized stewardship strategies for major gift and leadership-level donors. Experience managing scholarship stewardship, donor recognition, or giving society programs. Experience with Raiser's Edge, Banner, Argos, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign. Experience with event planning, marketing, and social media engagement. Ability to evaluate, improve, and re-engineer business processes. Experience conducting database queries, preparing reports, and presenting findings. Demonstrated success coordinating projects across multiple departments and stakeholders. Knowledge of fundraising and donor stewardship best practices in higher education or nonprofit organizations. Work Environment The work environment is a stand-alone house shared with other departments within the Development and Alumni Engagement Division. Work is primarily performed in a professional office setting with regular use of standard office equipment. The position requires collaboration with stakeholders across multiple campuses and departments and may involve attending donor, alumni, and University events during evenings and weekends as needed. Pay Grade 6 Work Authorization Sponsorship Work authorization sponsorship may be available for this position. However, sponsorship is contingent upon the non-applicability of the visa petition fees outlined in the relevant Executive Order signed September 19, 2025. Due to the recent federally-mandated increased financial expense, the university is not in a position to absorb this significantly increased cost of sponsorship for new H-1B petitions at this time. International candidates are encouraged to apply, but should be aware that eligibility for sponsorship will be evaluated in accordance with current U.S. immigration regulations and institutional policies. #J-18808-Ljbffr