Donor Experience & Stewardship Specialist

Duke Clinical Research Institute

Durham (NC)

On-site

USD 60,000 - 90,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Duke Athletics is seeking a Donor Stewardship & Engagement Specialist to cultivate relationships with supporters and convey the impact of philanthropy across Athletics, Advancement, and University partners.

Join the Iron Dukes team to lead stewardship initiatives, design personalized donor touchpoints, provide impact reporting, and coordinate recognition programs, events, and exclusive experiences that strengthen lifelong giving.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Two years of experience in fundraising, alumni relations, public relations, student engagement, program administration, or a related field.
Strong written, verbal, organizational, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement stewardship strategies for annual, leadership, major gift, and principal gift donors.
Create personalized engagement opportunities that deepen donor relationships and support long-term retention.
Partner with development officers to design customized stewardship plans and meaningful donor touchpoints.
Research and implement innovative stewardship practices that enhance the donor experience.
Oversee recognition initiatives for giving societies, affinity groups, endowed funds, capital projects, and sport-specific programs.
Coordinate donor acknowledgments, recognition opportunities, and benefit fulfillment activities.
Lead milestone recognition efforts, appreciation initiatives, and naming opportunity stewardship programs.
Plan and execute stewardship-focused events, hospitality experiences, scholarship celebrations, facility dedications, and VIP engagement activities.
Collaborate with coaches, Athletics staff, and campus partners to create memorable donor interactions.
Support exclusive access opportunities, facility tours, and other high-impact donor experiences.
Oversee the creation and distribution of donor impact reports, stewardship materials, and personalized updates.
Gather compelling stories, student-athlete highlights, and program achievements that showcase the impact of philanthropic support.
Manage reporting obligations for endowed funds and scholarship programs to ensure meaningful donor engagement.
Maintain accurate stewardship and engagement records within donor management systems.
Conduct audits and data quality reviews to ensure consistency and integrity.
Generate reports that support donor segmentation, engagement strategies, and informed decision-making.