Assistant Director, Stewardship & Donor Relations Communications

Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Worcester Polytechnic Institute seeks an Assistant Director to shepherd stewardship reporting and donor communications. You will translate complex university initiatives into compelling stories, blending narrative craft with data to deepen donor engagement.

You’ll collaborate with campus partners and frontline fundraisers to create reports that demonstrate impact and sustain philanthropy. The role emphasizes relationship building, content strategy, and collaboration across Development

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• 3-5 years of experience in journalism, communications, higher education, or related field.
• Exceptional research, writing, and editing skills.
• Ability to distill complex information for a non-technical audience.
• Strong organizational skills and deadline discipline.

Responsibilities

• Stewardship Reporting (55%): Write impact reports, blend storytelling with data, and customize content for donors.
• Stewardship Communications (15%): Draft donor-focused communications for societies and campaigns.
• Relationship Building (15%): Partner with gift officers and campus stakeholders to ensure accuracy and impact.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration (15%): Support donor engagement projects and maintain content calendars.

Skills

Storytelling

Editing

Research

Interpersonal communication

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Assistant Director, Stewardship & Donor Relations Communications

Worcester

Development & Communications Strategy

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations, the Assistant Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations, serves as the stewardship writer and content strategist for stewardship reporting and communications, translating complex academic, research, student, and institutional initiatives into meaningful stories that deepen donor engagement and inspire continued investment in WPI. Blending narrative storytelling with data, the Assistant Director works closely with campus stakeholders and frontline fundraisers to create compelling reports for the university's most generous donors. This role is critical to completing the Beyond These Towers campaign with strong donor retention and positioning WPI for sustained philanthropic success.

Job Description

Stewardship Reporting (55%)

• Write compelling impact reports that demonstrate how donor investments advance WPI's mission, blending narrative storytelling with data points that demonstrate tangible results. Develop highly customized, donor-specific content designed to fulfill stewardship commitments, strengthen donor relationships, and communicate the measurable outcomes of philanthropic support.
• Ensure messaging is authentic, personalized, and aligns with the broader university narrative.
• Ensure all content is thoroughly researched and accurate, well-written and edited. Seek input and vet materials with appropriate campus stakeholders and university leadership when needed.
• Partner with key stakeholders across campus to gather stories of impact and data for stewardship reporting. Analyze data for key insights to highlight. Interview faculty, students, and other individuals as needed.
• Develop a deep knowledge of the portfolio of funds and subject areas.

Stewardship Communications (15%)

• Draft stewardship communications for WPI's giving societies and other funds, time-limited campaigns, or fundraising efforts according to communications plans.
• Identify relevant stories, events, or other touchpoints that gift officers might share with donors to demonstrate impact.

Relationship Building (15%)

• Build strong relationships with gift officers assigned to donors whose funds are within scope of work. Serve as a content matter expert on these funds.
• Build strong relationships with key partners such as academic leaders, faculty, researchers, students, university administrators, gift officers, and development communications colleagues to create communications that demonstrate accountability, transparency, gratitude, and transformative impact.

Cross-Functional Collaboration (15%)

• Work with colleagues in Development Communications and Strategy to support donor engagement initiatives by:
  • Collaborating on donor-focused storytelling projects.
  • Contributing impact content for annual reports and philanthropy publications.
  • Supporting donor engagement campaigns through impact narratives.
  • Developing stewardship-focused messaging for events and donor experiences.
  • Maintaining editorial calendars and content planning processes related to donor stewardship communications.

Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree.
• 3-5 years of experience in journalism, communications, higher education, or a related field.
• Exceptional research, writing, and editing skills.
• Experience with narrative storytelling and incorporating data and other elements to tell a story.
• Excellent organizational skills with a track record of setting priorities, managing multiple responsibilities, and meeting deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize and distill complex and/or technical information for a non-technical audience.
• Ability to work well as a member of a team and to collaborate effectively with colleagues in other university departments.
• Ability to apply good judgment; tact and discretion are required to deal with highly confidential information.

Preferred

• Experience in a comprehensive campaign environment.
• Understanding of STEM education and research university context.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Familiarity with donor database/CRM systems.
• Familiarity with fund management, endowments, and other common giving vehicles.

Key Competencies

• Relationship Builder: Partners effectively with gift officers, campus colleagues, faculty, and administrators.
• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy, personalization, and timeliness in all donor communications.
• Project Management: Highly organized and detail-oriented with the ability to manage competing deadlines while distilling complex financial information.
• Confidentiality: Maintains a high degree of confidentiality and discretion when dealing with sensitive university or donor information.
• Systems Thinker: Identifies opportunities to develop workflows and align business practices to effectively store and access information.

Salary Grade 7: $62,500 – $70,000 per year (depending on experience)

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.

Compensation at WPI

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.