Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship

Florida Atlantic University; Boca Raton (FL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefit packages

State retirement options

PSLF program

Paid time off

Job summary

Florida Atlantic University seeks a creative and motivated Advancement professional to join a donor-centered team as Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship. The role designs comprehensive acknowledgment and stewardship programs for major and leadership gifts across the university.

You will define donor journeys, develop personalized reports and communications, expand recognition opportunities, and collaborate with Foundation leadership to align materials with University messaging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of experience in development, stewardship, events, and/or communications; experience directly supporting donor relations preferred.
• Ability to implement fundraising best practices while adapting for the uniqueness of the donor or program; experience in complex, multi-faceted organizations preferred.
• Regarded as a trusted expert internally in the field of donor relations and stewardship.
• Demonstrated success in managing a team towards achieving organizational goals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize responsibilities effectively.
• Collaborative team-player willing to work across departments to achieve the best possible results.
• Proficiency in using standard computer applications, including word-processing, spreadsheet, CRM software, calendaring, email, and online applications, and a working knowledge of social media.
• Raiser's Edge experience is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a comprehensive donor relations program, including donor journeys at established giving levels, impact/ stewardship reports, and digital assets.
• Develop targeted recognition opportunities for established donor levels and align donor messaging across the university.

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Position Summary

Florida Atlantic University seeks a creative and motivated Advancement professional to fill a critical role on a relationship-focused, results-oriented, donor-centered advancement team. The Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship role requires a creative, thoughtful fundraising professional to design a comprehensive, meaningful acknowledgment and stewardship program for major and leadership gifts across the university.

Summary of Responsibilities

Design and implement a comprehensive donor relations program, including:

• Define optimal donor journeys at established giving levels.
• Create tools to facilitate meaningful and personalized donor experiences, including impact and stewardship reports, digital assets, etc.
• Implement a robust acknowledgment and stewardship program.
• Develop targeted recognition opportunities for established donor levels.
• Develop the voice for Florida Atlantic donor messaging, providing regular communication to the advancement team about University-wide milestones and happenings and ensuring the team receives updated presentation materials and email content.
• Work collaboratively and effectively with Foundation leadership and advancement team members to create and implement individualized stewardship plans for major prospects; serve as a trusted advisor across the university programs to develop, manage and execute stewardship programs for donors.
• Help train and educate Advancement and University staff on industry best practices in donor relations; work closely with staff across the University to instill and reinforce a culture of philanthropy.
• Work collaboratively with the advancement communications team to develop corresponding materials; ensure all donor-facing materials align with overarching University communications and that materials complement and elevate donor stewardship.
• Coordinate with the Director of Events and the Office of the President to ensure Foundation-wide event strategy aligns with the donor stewardship and communications calendars.
• Expand and manage the acknowledgment process, ensuring gifts are thanked by the appropriate individual(s) in a timely manner and recorded in the database.
• Continuously assess and adjust stewardship strategy as necessary to exceed donor expectations.
• Manage and develop an effective team, providing effective communication, leadership by example, guidance and resources to staff; evaluate staff performance regularly and ensure staff team is appropriately and effectively supported.
• Regularly report department performance, needs, and opportunities to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations with quarterly updates to the AVP Schools and Units, AVP Strategic Philanthropy, and as needed, the VP of Institutional Advancement.

Get creative, design stewardship and communications strategies that excite and engage our community across Colleges and programs!

Successful Candidate Will Have the Following Characteristics

Collaborative, goal-oriented, strategic, and highly motivated working style. The ability to demonstrate leadership, take initiative, problem-solve, act independently and as a member of a team, successfully collaborate, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and prioritize. The ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, good judgment, maturity, and personal integrity. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, and ability to craft compelling language to demonstrate program value and impact and to communicate and collaborate effectively with a diverse campus community including senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students, as well as donors, prospects, alumni, and community leaders. Ability to use tact and diplomacy to handle a broad range of high-level and sensitive situations with diverse personalities, and the ability to adeptly respond to challenges. Able to work beyond traditional work hours and on occasional holidays. Ability to travel as needed and adjust working hours to meet requirements of special tasks and events. Ability to translate academia-speak to diverse audiences.

FAU Benefits and Perks

If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers:

• Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more.
• State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
• State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Sick Leave Pool Program.
• Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion).
• Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day
• Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment.
• For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).

For details on FAU's amazing offers visit us at https://www.fau.edu/hr/benefits/index.php

Explore Living in Palm Beach County

The goal is to provide local employers and new employees in the area a comprehensive guide with places to live. View it here: Discover Housing Resources in Palm Beach County | BDB Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of experience in development, stewardship, events, and/or communications; experience directly supporting donor relations preferred.
• Ability to implement fundraising best practices while adapting for the uniqueness of the donor or program; experience in complex, multi-faceted organizations preferred.
• Regarded as a trusted expert internally in the field of donor relations and stewardship.
• Demonstrated success in managing a team towards achieving organizational goals.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize responsibilities effectively.
• Collaborative team-player willing to work across departments to achieve the best possible results.
• Proficiency in using standard computer applications, including word-processing, spreadsheet, CRM software, calendaring, email, and online applications, and a working knowledge of social media.
• Raiser's Edge experience is helpful.

Salary

$100,000 - $120,000.

Contract Type

Annually Administrative, Managerial and Professional (AMP) FLSA Exempt.

College or Department

Division of Institutional Advancement

Location

Boca Raton

Work Days and Hours

Monday - Friday.

Position Requirements

This position will require travel and/or work outside of standard business days and hours related to donor activities and engagement.

Application Deadline

2026-10-17

About FAU

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY IS WHERE TOMORROW BEGINS. As a nationally recognized Carnegie R1 research institution and one of only 13 universities nationwide to also hold Carnegie designations for Opportunity and Community Engagement, Florida Atlantic is advancing discovery, driving economic growth, and preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly changing world. As South Florida's Hometown University, Florida Atlantic serves as a destination for learning, culture, athletics, and community engagement. Through NCAA Division I athletics, world-class performing arts and cultural events, public lectures, gallery exhibitions, environmental education programs, and one of the nation's largest Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, Florida Atlantic welcomes thousands of residents, visitors, and learners to its campuses each year. From inspiring environmental education programs to providing enriching experiences for retirees, professionals, families, and sports fans, Florida Atlantic is deeply connected to the communities it serves. Through these experiences and partnerships, the university helps strengthen the region's cultural vitality, workforce, economy and quality of life.

Equal Opportunity

Florida Atlantic University is an equal access/equal opportunity employer that complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination.

Contact

For more information, visit www.fau.edu.