Stewardship and Recognition Manager

SDState Alumni & Foundation; Brookings (SD); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The SDSU Alumni & Foundation in Brookings, South Dakota seeks a Stewardship and Recognition Manager to support fundraising success by developing donor acknowledgement, recognition, and impact reporting. You will coordinate writings, design communications, and steward touchpoints in collaboration with university partners.

This service-oriented role requires strong writing, interpersonal skills, and the ability to manage multiple donor-facing projects with discretion and professionalism.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree preferred; relevant experience recommended.
• Minimum three years in communications, marketing, admin support, customer service, or graphic design.
• Excellent writing for multiple audiences and channels.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate donor correspondence including acknowledgements and presidential letters.
• Draft, design, and manage donor stewardship communications (letters, emails, postcards).
• Oversee stewardship calendar, reports, and giving society communications.
• Develop impact reports and donor summaries communicating philanthropy impact.
• Manage donor recognition content and CRM-driven updates across programs.
• Perform other duties as needed to support fundraising goals.

Skills

Donor stewardship

Communications writing

CRM familiarity

Project coordination

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Education

Associate's or bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM system

MS Word

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Position Summary

The Stewardship and Recognition Manager provides strategic and creative support for the organization’s fundraising success through the development and execution of donor stewardship and recognition operations. This role executes the coordination, writing, and design of communications and processes related to donor acknowledgement, recognition, and impact reporting while ensuring consistent, effective, and thoughtful stewardship for all touchpoints. This is a service-oriented role that collaborates with internal team members and university partners to support positive and meaningful donor engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship

• Coordinate the organizational correspondence process for all gifts received, including acknowledgements and presidential thank you letters on behalf of university leadership.
• Draft, design, and manage donor stewardship and recognition communications including letters, emails, postcards, and other donor-facing materials.
• Manage the annual organizational stewardship and recognition calendar, including annual giving reports, endowed faculty annual summaries, and all giving society communications while collaborating with internal team members in the creation and execution.
• Develop and execute impact reports, donor giving summaries, and stewardship materials that communicate the impact of philanthropy and support donor engagement and stewardship efforts.
• Manage annual impact summaries, storytelling content, and stewardship reporting for principal and endowed faculty gifts in collaboration with internal team members and university partners.

Donor Recognition

• Manage regular communications and recognition materials for members of the organization’s giving societies and donor recognition programs, including Loyal Blue, Sylvan Circle, and Lifetime Giving Societies.
• Draft and edit donor biographies, recognition narratives, and related content for key stewardship events and initiatives including University Leadership Honors, Celebration of Philanthropy, donor signage, and other recognition opportunities.
• Track donor recognition signage and related content, including interior and exterior signs, donor walls, naming displays, and other recognition vehicles, while proactively prompting reviews and updates utilizing the organization’s CRM system.
• Evaluate and monitor the qualifications of donor recognition through our giving societies.

Other Duties

• Other duties may be assigned to meet the organization’s needs.

Education and Previous Experience

Associate or bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required. At least three years of professional experience in a related field (such as communications, marketing, administrative support, customer service, or graphic design) is recommended.

Additional Qualifications

• Highly effective writing skills for multiple audiences and channels.
• A high level of interpersonal skills, both in person and by phone, to handle sensitive and confidential situations with varied internal and external constituencies.
• Customer service skills requiring clear communication in person, on the phone, and in writing are essential.
• A high level of integrity, including ability to treat confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to be organized and resourceful to locate and compile information and accomplish projects with minimal supervision.
• Consistent attention to detail in composing and proofing materials, establishing priorities, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative team environment with professional demeanor, self-reliance, and resourcefulness.
• Dependability and punctuality.
• High energy, positive attitude, and high degree of initiative.
• Proficient experience using the most recent versions of computer software applications including word processing, spreadsheets, database and presentation software (i.e. MSWord, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).

Typical Physical Demands

Requires sitting, standing, bending, reaching, and some lifting. Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office machines such as computers, fax machines, calculators, the telephone, and other office and/or clerical equipment. Requires normal range of hearing and vision.

Employee Statement of Understanding

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Regular attendance is required in this job. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship. The SDSU Alumni & Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the South Dakota State University Alumni & Foundation

The South Dakota State University (SDSU) Alumni & Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The Alumni & Foundation strives to engage alumni, friends and business partners with SDSU through events, strategic communication and outreach, and serves as the exclusive provider of fundraising and financial management of private gifts designated for the university.

The SDSU Alumni & Foundation was formed on January 1, 2026, through the consolidation of the university’s two largest supporting organizations: the SDSU Alumni Association and the SDSU Foundation. The Alumni Association was founded in 1889; the Foundation was formed in 1945.

The governing boards of both organizations voted unanimously on October 10, 2025, to consolidate into the SDSU Alumni and Foundation. Together, the organization is an influential force in keeping SDSU’s traditions alive and advancing South Dakota State University.