The Executive Director of Stewardship and Donor Engagement provides strategic leadership for donor-centered stewardship and engagement efforts in support of the institution鈥檚 academic mission and fundraising priorities. This role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive stewardship program that strengthens long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and other institutional partners.
Reporting to the AVP for Advancement Communications, Events, and Donor Relations, the Executive Director works collaboratively across Advancement, Academic Affairs, and university leadership to ensure donors experience meaningful, personalized engagement and understand the impact of their philanthropy on students, faculty, research, and programs.
Donor Stewardship & Engagement
Manage timely, accurate, and personalized donor acknowledgements and fulfillment of donor recognition and reporting commitments.
Design and implement donor engagement experiences such as impact updates, scholarship recipient interactions, campus events, and recognition societies.
Develop strategies for donor recognition societies across the gift scales, from encouraging annual gifts to serving on leadership groups.
Oversee all recognition vehicles including donor publications, physical signage, and public announcements of transformative gifts.
Impact Reporting & Communications
Oversee stewardship for all philanthropic gifts, including annual, major, principal, endowed, and restricted funds.
Produce compelling impact reports that highlight student success, faculty excellence, and institutional outcomes.
Translate complex academic and financial information into clear, donor-focused narratives that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy.
Oversee stewardship publications, digital content, and annual or endowed fund reports for donors.
Steward endowed funds in compliance with institutional policies and donor intent, in partnership with finance and academic units.
Collaboration & Campus Partnerships
Collaborate closely with major and principal gift officers to support donor cultivation, solicitation, and long-term relationship management.
Serve as a liaison to academic deans, faculty, and campus partners to support stewardship activities and donor engagement.
Advise senior leadership, trustees, and volunteer leaders on donor relations strategy and best practices.
Data, Systems & Assessment
Use donor data and analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship and engagement efforts, including donor retention and satisfaction.
Ensure stewardship practices comply with CASE standards, institutional policies, and ethical fundraising guidelines.
Harvard University
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