Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations

Suffolk University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Suffolk University in Boston seeks Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations to work with the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations to develop a comprehensive stewardship program and keep donors consistently engaged through events, communications, and personal outreach.

This role leads or assists with donor recognition events, prepares reports and publications, crafts personalized videos, and helps communicate the impact of gifts to principal and major

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
• 2-3 years in development/nonprofit settings.
• Experience managing special events and donor communications.
• Strong interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement stewardship programs for principal gifts and major gifts.
• Create donor impact reports and recognition materials.
• Craft personalized donor videos and communications.
• Plan and execute stewardship and donor recognition events.
• Coordinate donor acknowledgments and reports.
• Develop donor relations strategy for Suffolk University.
• Support student scholarship acknowledgment programs.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Project management

Donor relations

Event planning

Nonprofit experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

The Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations works with the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations to develop and implement a comprehensive stewardship and donor relations program that maintains consistent engagement with donors through a variety of events, communications, and personal outreach. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement and Donor Relations works closely with colleagues across the Advancement function to cultivate and build donor relationships and express the University’s gratitude to donors, ensuring that they are appreciated, informed, and engaged. This position plays a key role in leading a stewardship program that successfully communicates to donors at all levels the transformational impact of their support, including assisting with personalized stewardship initiatives for principal and major gift donors. This position serves as project manager for stewardship activities including reports, publications, and a variety of correspondence and video engagement. This position also leads or assists with diverse alumni and donor engagement events and other institutional events, from major donor recognition events and naming dedications to small gatherings with University and Advancement leadership to Commencement and Reunion activities.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Works directly with frontline fundraisers to implement stewardship programs for donors and prospects associated with principal gifts ($1M and above) and major gifts ($50k and above)
• Works with colleagues including the Sr. Director of Advancement Communications to manage the development and creation of donor impact reports, major gift presentations and reports, and other print materials related to donor recognition
• Crafts personalized Thankview videos for major and principal gift donors
• Assists in the planning and implementation of a variety of special stewardship and donor recognition events
• Communicates with donors and builds relationships in support of their stewardship and special initiatives
• In conjunction with other Advancement colleagues, assists with the student scholarship recipient thank you program and annual scholarship fund reporting to all donors with endowed and term funds
• Coordinates other stewardship initiatives as identified such as donor photo albums and framed photos and memorabilia, and a wide range of donor recognition gifts for principal and major gift donors in particular
• Assists with the process related to donor gift acknowledgement letters and related research and communications as required, particularly at the Summa level of $1K+
• Assists in developing donor relations strategy for Suffolk University

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required
• 2-3 years of progressive experience in a development or nonprofit setting
• Experience managing special events
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills being Proven project management, communication, and relationship building experience
• Ability to work independently or in a group setting, interacting with people at all levels of the University and with a variety of campus partners
• Ability to respond quickly to changing University needs and priorities
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment

The Division of Advancement operates on a hybrid schedule, with three days per week in the office and two remote, to ensure a consistent campus presence and support collaboration. Suffolk values in-person engagement, which strengthens relationships across Advancement and the broader campus community and supports effective planning and execution of events and initiatives. Additional in-office presence may be required based on business needs, event schedules, and operational priorities. On remote days, it is expected for employees to be fully available during regular working hours and responsive to colleagues, volunteers, and campus partners. In-office days may occasionally shift to accommodate event preparation and key responsibilities.

The salary range for this role is $46,500.00 to $77,500.00. Salary Transparency Suffolk University provides salary ranges as a good faith estimate of what it reasonably expects to pay for a role at the time the position is posted. The actual salary offered to the selected candidate will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to, the position’s scope and responsibilities, the candidate’s experience, education, training, and applicable legal requirements. The listed pay range reflects base salary only and does not include additional benefits or compensation.

Equal Opportunity Statement Suffolk University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. The University strives to recruit, develop and retain faculty and staff committed to educational excellence, the robust exchange of ideas, and engage in membership in a diverse and inclusive community.

Suffolk University is a private, urban university located in the heart of downtown Boston. Our college green is the Boston Common and we are steps from dozens of historic sites including the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, City Hall and the Massachusetts State House. We have no real boundaries to our campus—Boston and Suffolk blend together. Suffolk has been committed to creating an exceptional learning experience since 1906. Our vision is to be recognized as a dynamic institution that fosters engaged learning, rigorous scholarship, innovative thinking, and community collaboration across disciplines. We will ensure that Suffolk graduates are versatile and prepared for modern society and the new world market. We will provide rich curricula, experiential learning opportunities and professional mentoring through increased collaboration with alumni and community partners. We will recruit, mentor, and support a diverse faculty of teacher-scholars who are passionately committed to preparing our students to be leaders in the global community. We will inspire investment in a Suffolk community that is built on ethical, forward-thinking leadership, teamwork, and cooperation. Here is a message from Suffolk University's President, Marisa Kelly.