Associate Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship

Job Summary:

Reporting to and partnering with the Assistant Vice President for Advancement Services and Donor Relations, the Associate Director of Donor Relations is a strategic and hands-on professional responsible for implementing and managing comprehensive donor relations and stewardship initiatives across Morgan State University.

This role functions as a change agent, leading innovative stewardship efforts, managing high-level projects, and collaborating across the organization to ensure donors are recognized, engaged, and informed of the impact of their philanthropy. The Associate Director does not have direct reports but works closely with Development officers, Foundation staff, Advancement Services, and academic partners to ensure seamless execution of donor relations programs.

The Associate Director is responsible for managing day-to-day donor stewardship, producing communications and reports, coordinating recognition events, and overseeing scholarship and program fund stewardship.

Job Duties:

Strategic Stewardship and Donor Engagement
- Develops and executes donor relations and stewardship initiatives aligned with University fundraising priorities.
- Serves as a change agent to enhance donor recognition, engagement, and stewardship practices.
- Collaborates with gift officers to create customized stewardship plans for donors and prospects.
- Builds and maintains strong cross-functional relationships to support consistent donor engagement and communications.

Donor Communications and Reporting
- Drafts, edits, and manages donor communications, including acknowledgment letters, impact reports, and personalized updates.
- Partners with the Advancement Communications team to ensure consistent messaging and brand alignment.
- Produces accurate endowment and scholarship fund reports for donors in collaboration with Foundation Operations and campus partners.

Scholarship and Program Fund Stewardship
- Coordinates the awarding and reporting of scholarships and designated program funds to ensure alignment with donor intent and institutional priorities.
- Collects and compiles student and program stories for inclusion in donor reports.
- Provides guidance and support to Development officers and other campus stakeholders on fund stewardship practices.

Events and Recognition
- Coordinates and implements donor recognition events, dedications, and other stewardship-related activities in collaboration with Advancement colleagues.
- Develops innovative strategies to enhance donor experiences and demonstrate the impact of giving.

Data Management and Process Improvement
- Maintains accurate donor records and stewardship tracking in the CRM system.
- Monitors, tracks, and reports on donor engagement and stewardship activities.
- Identifies and recommends improvements to processes to enhance operational efficiency and donor experience.

Requirements:

Education: A Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Business, Marketing, or related field required.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, advancement, or related nonprofit/higher education role is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Demonstrated ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on project management.
- Strong writing, editing, and communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail.
- Experience with donor database systems and stewardship tracking tools preferred.
- Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and represent the University professionally.