Assistant Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid leave package

Tuition remission for employees and/or

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Office ofPhilanthropy seeks a Stewardship Officer to lead donor relations, recognition programs, and strategic stewardship initiatives that strengthen long-term philanthropic engagement. This role ensures a best-in-class donor experience aligned with CASE standards and institutional priorities.

The Stewardship Officer manages donor communications, reporting, and recognition activities, coordinating events and collaboration with USM institutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Five years of philanthropy experience, including donor stewardship.
• Experience with principal gifts and gift administration.

Responsibilities

• Lead donor stewardship and recognition programs.
• Develop stewardship plans for principal gifts and endowed funds.
• Plan high-profile donor events.
• Collaborate with USM institutions on stewardship strategies.
• Produce donor communications and impact reports.
• Maintain stewardship policies and compliance.

Skills

Donor relations

Stewardship strategy

Communication

Event planning

Research

CRM systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM software

Job description

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Office ofPhilanthropy seeks a Stewardship Officer to lead donorrelations, recognition programs, and strategic stewardshipinitiatives that strengthen long-term philanthropic engagement.This role ensures that UMB delivers a best-in-class donorexperience aligned with national CASE standards and institutionalpriorities. This position reports to the Principal Gift Officer ofthe University of Maryland Baltimore Central Philanthropy.

The Stewardship Officer manages donor communications, reporting,and recognition activities, while coordinating special events,place-based initiatives, and gift focused collaboration with University System of Maryland (USM) institutions. The positionrequires strong judgment, exceptional communication skills, and theability to manage high visibility projects. The role also plays akey part in supporting principal gift strategy by identifying,researching, and tracking high-capacity prospects whose engagementmay advance UMB's top philanthropic priorities.

The Stewardship Officer also supports stewardship and reportingactivities associated with the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund(MEIF), a State of Maryland matching program that leverages privatephilanthropic support to establish endowed research positions andadvance scientific and technical research excellence acrossMaryland higher education institutions.

Benefits

• UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development, along with additional exciting perks that employees can take advantage of.
• retirementprogram (pension or optional retirement plan/ORP) that must beselected and is effective on your date of hire.
• Exempt regularstaff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4weeks of vacation accrued each year, 15 paid holidays, 3 personalleave, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive healthinsurance; professional learning and development programs; tuitionremission for employees and their dependents at any UniversitySystem of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules andteleworking options (if applicable per job).

UMB is a public university and constituent institution of theUniversity System of Maryland. All employees are expected to workprimarily physically within the State of Maryland.

Essential Functions

• Lead UMB's high-level donor stewardship and recognitionprograms, ensuring alignment with national best practices.
• Develop and implement stewardship plans for principal gift donors,endowed funds, and major philanthropic partners.
• Plan and executehigh-profile donor stewardship and recognition events.
• Support stewardship components of place-based philanthropic initiatives that emphasize UMB's impact on Baltimore and Maryland.
• Collaborate with other institutions in the University System ofMaryland (USM) and the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) on shared stewardship strategies and multi-institution donor recognition.
• Produce donor communications, including impactreports, acknowledgments, and donor stories.
• Maintain stewardship policies, naming guidelines, and compliance with State of Marylandand USM standards.
• Track donor engagement metrics and prepare reports to inform fundraising strategy.
• Partner with developmentofficers, leadership, and communications teams to ensure consistent donor centered messaging.
• Conduct proactive research to identify emerging principal giftprospects, including analysis of giving patterns, engagementindicators, and capacity data.
• Prepare briefing materials, donor profiles, and strategicinsights to support the Principal Gift Officer's cultivation andsolicitation activities.
• Monitor stewardship interactions for principal level donors tosurface opportunities for deeper engagement or strategicintervention.
• Coordinate stewardship, reporting, recognition, and donorcommunications for Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund(MEIF)-supported endowed professorships, research chairs, andrelated research initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree.

Experience

Five (5) years progressively building abackground in the various philanthropic functions, including atleast two (2) years in donor data maintenance, donor support orstewardship, gift administration, or advancement services.

Preferred Experience

Higher education or nonprofitexperience.

Experience working with principal-gift donors ( $1M+).

Supervisory Experience

One (1) year of experience providingwork coordination, training, or supervision of others.

Other

Except for qualifications established by law,additional related experience and formal education in which one hasgained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for fullperformance of the work of the job class may be substituted for theeducation or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with30 undergraduate college credits being equivalent to one year ofrelated experience. In instances where specific education and/orexperience is required only directly related education and/orexperience may be substituted.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of donor relations, stewardship strategy, and CASEstandards.
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills.
• Experience planning and executing complex special events.
• Understanding of place-based philanthropy and community engageddonor strategies.
• Ability to collaborate across USM institutionsand navigate system level policies.
• Proficiency with CRM systemsand donor databases.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability towork with senior leadership and donors.
• Ability to managemultiple projects with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Commitment to confidentiality and ethical informationhandling.

Ability to analyze donor data, synthesize research findings, andidentify indicators of principal level philanthropicpotential.

Familiarity with prospect research tools, wealth screeningplatforms, and data driven fundraising practices. Ability togather, synthesize, and communicate research, academic, andprogrammatic outcomes for donor stewardship and impact reportingpurposes, including support for endowed research programs andMEIF-funded initiatives.

Hiring Range

Hiring Range: $100,000 - $111,000, commensurate with educationand experience

UMB is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workforceand is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. Allqualified applicants will receive consideration for employmentwithout regard to race, color, religion, age, ancestry or nationalorigin, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation,gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical ormental disability, marital status, protected veteran's status, orany other legally protected classification.

If you anticipate needing a reasonable accommodation for adisability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), duringany part of the employment process, please submit a UMB Job Applicant Accommodation Request . Youmay also contact [e-mail] Please note thatonly inquiries concerning an ADA request for reasonableaccommodation will be responded to from this email address.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore prohibits sex discriminationin any education program or activity that it operates. Individualsmay report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. Read the UMB Notice of Non-Discrimination for moreinformation.