Associate Director, Donor Stewardship & Impact

Saint Mary's College; Notre Dame (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Mary’s College seeks an Associate Director of Donor Relations to lead a comprehensive stewardship and recognition program within the Annual Giving and Donor Relations team. You will ensure timely, mission-centered engagement that reflects donor generosity and impact.

The role emphasizes endowment reporting, donor communications, and collaboration with Finance and campus partners. Three to five years in advancement is preferred, with strong storytelling and ethics.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years or more of related professional experience, preferably in development, annual giving, donor relations, fundraising, or higher education advancement.
• Understanding of the donor lifecycle and principles of effective donor stewardship.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive stewardship strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create compelling, donor-centered communications.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and campus partners.
• Ability to exercise sound ethical judgment and uphold donor intent.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Saint Mary’s College.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the preparation and distribution of endowment reports and other fund-specific impact reports in collaboration with Finance, Advancement Services, and campus stakeholders.
• Ensure reports are accurate, clear, engaging, and tailored to donor interests.
• Communicate measurable outcomes and student impact through meaningful donor-centered storytelling.
• Evaluate and enhance reporting formats to improve readability, engagement, and effectiveness.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor stewardship program aligned with Saint Mary’s College’s mission, values, and fundraising priorities.
• Ensure consistent and coordinated stewardship practices across annual giving, major gifts, leadership giving, and endowed funds.
• Establish stewardship standards, timelines, and best practices.
• Ensure donor communications are accurate, timely, personalized, and meaningful.
• Develop strategies that encourage continued engagement and philanthropic support regardless of a donor’s giving level or type.
• Lead college-wide donor recognition efforts, including leadership, lifetime, loyalty, and legacy giving societies.
• Coordinate special donor acknowledgments and recognition opportunities.
• Partner with Advancement Marketing & Communications to integrate donor recognition across print and digital platforms.
• Maintain thoughtful and inclusive recognition practices that reflect donor intent and institutional values.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the College.
• Collaborate with Finance and campus partners to review fund usage and ensure alignment with donor intent.
• Work with Advancement Services to track stewardship activities, donor recognition status, and reporting compliance.
• Use donor feedback, engagement data, and retention metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of stewardship efforts.
• Recommend improvements based on data, donor feedback, and program outcomes.
• Stay current on donor stewardship best practices and trends in higher education advancement.

Skills

Donor relations

Stewardship strategy

Written communications

Verbal communication

Project management

Collaboration

Ethical judgment

Attention to detail

Time management

Tools

Donor databases

Advancement systems

Reporting tools

Job description

Saint Mary’s College seeks an Associate Director of Donor Relations to lead a comprehensive stewardship and recognition program within the Annual Giving and Donor Relations team. You will ensure timely, mission-centered engagement that reflects donor generosity and impact.

The role emphasizes endowment reporting, donor communications, and collaboration with Finance and campus partners. Three to five years in advancement is preferred, with strong storytelling and ethics.