Essential Job Duties
The Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Communications is a key strategic member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Advancement team. This role is responsible for designing, executing and continuously enhancing a best-in-class donor stewardship and communications program that reinforces donor connections (or trust) and inspires continued philanthropic support.

This position requires a dynamic blend of communication/engagement strategy, comprehensive project management, expert relationship management and sophisticated data analysis. The ultimate goal is to effectively connect donors to the tangible impact of their philanthropy, strengthen relationships with the College’s major supporters, and inspire a culture of giving across CALS.

I. Strategic Stewardship and Program Leadership (55%)
Lead the development and management of an innovative, strategic and comprehensive donor engagement, recognition and stewardship program.
Develop long-range and short-range plans to grow the stewardship and donor relations program to help support fundraising goals by building strategic and tactical plans for stewarding, cultivating and engaging alumni, friends, donors and potential supporters of CALS.
Provide oversight and management of the annual scholarship reporting in coordination with internal and external constituents.
Continuously evaluate and optimize the stewardship program; implementing best practices and providing strategic recommendations to the advancement team, as well as departments and programs in the College.
Serve as a primary liaison with College departments, central stewardship and external vendors as needed.
Proactively identify gaps and implement strategic changes/suggestions for increased donor relations.
Make recommendations and assist development officers with developing and maintaining individual stewardship plans for top donors /prospects.
Act as a subject matter expert, providing timely and accurate responses to internal partners and donors regarding all aspects of scholarship reporting and stewardship efforts.
Assist with Naming Agreement Process by preparing and submitting all required documentation, meticulously confirming the accuracy of all donor names and terms on the finished recognition products (e.g. signage, printed materials).
II. Donor Communications and Content Creation (45%)
Partner closely with CALS Communications to research, craft and promote compelling, concise content that vividly illustrates the impact of private financial support on students, faculty, and facilities.
Write and edit a variety of high impact stewardship and cultivation materials, including website features, talking points, event scripts, proposals and other priority philanthropic narratives.
Research, write, and edit high-quality acknowledgment letters on behalf of senior leadership, ensuring authenticity and timeliness.
Review and edit donor communications for content accuracy, consistency, and ensure strict adherence to CALS and University brand guidelines.
Develop, manage, and execute a comprehensive annual communications calendar that strategically sequences all recurring advancement communications projects to maximize donor engagement and impact.
Coordinate and align all internal contributors involved in donor communications, serving as the central point and liaison.

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Other Responsibilities
Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree with 3 years of experience related to the area of assignment or and equivalent combination of training and experience.
Demonstrated experience in stewardship, donor relations, or development communications, preferably in a higher education or nonprofit setting.
Other Required Qualifications
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead complex, multi-faceted projects (e.g., annual reporting) to completion.
Experience working with an advancement database (e.g., Advance, Raiser’s Edge) and a comfort with data analysis and cleaning.
Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to serve as a strong liaison to internal and external partners.
A commitment to confidentiality and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
Demonstrated ability to adapt to evolving communications technologies, industry best practices, and emerging stewardship trends, and to proactively apply them to strengthen donor engagement.
A flexible, solutions-oriented working style with a willingness to take initiative, collaborate across teams, and contribute wherever needed in a fast-moving, all-hands environment.
Preferred Qualifications