Stewardship Officer

University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Pittsburgh is seeking a Stewardship Officer to partner with the advancement team in stewarding gifts and communicating impact to donors in alignment with donor intent and university policy. Responsibilities include developing stewardship initiatives, preparing impact reports, coordinating endowment and restricted funds, and maintaining precise donor records.

This role requires strong attention to detail, donor-focused writing, and proficiency with fundraising databases such as

Qualifications

• Strong attention to detail and multi-tasking.
• Excellent donor-focused writing and communication skills.
• Proficient with data, spreadsheets, financial and database systems.
• Skilled relationship builder with a customer-service mindset.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with Affinaquest, Salesforce, Fiscal Panther or similar platforms.
• Background in higher education advancement, donor relations, fund administration, and endowment or restricted fund compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement stewardship initiatives and donor engagement strategies.
• Steward gifts through impact reports, scholarship updates, thank-you letters, student profiles, and other communications.
• Coordinate endowment and restricted fund management across units.
• Prepare gift and stewardship reports and monitor giving activity.
• Track scholarships, awards, and donor-funded programs to ensure timely distribution and documentation.
• Research fund restrictions and provide guidance on appropriate use with university partners.

Skills

Attention to detail

Donor-focused writing

Excellent written and verbal comms

Data, spreadsheets, financial systems

Relationship builder

Independent and collaborative work

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Affinaquest

Salesforce

Fiscal Panther

Job description

Job Description - Stewardship Officer (26006302)

Stewardship Officer

PAE-University Development - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - ( 26006302 )

The Stewardship Officer partners with the advancement/development team to steward gifts supporting the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the College of General Studies. This role ensures donors are recognized, informed of the impact of their philanthropy, and that funds are established, administered, and used in accordance with donor intent and university policy. The Officer maintains accurate records, oversees stewardship reporting, manages fund and scholarship tracking, and serves as a key resource for colleagues regarding fund usage and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement stewardship initiatives and donor engagement strategies.
• Steward gifts through impact reports, scholarship updates, thank-you letters, student profiles, and other print and digital communications.
• Collaborate on events, milestone acknowledgments, alumni engagement efforts, and personalized donor outreach.
• Support colleagues in fulfilling stewardship requirements and maintaining accurate tracking systems.
• Prepare gift and stewardship reports and monitor giving activity.
• Coordinate endowment and restricted fund management across units.
• Establish new fund accounts, ensure compliance with donor agreements, and monitor fund balances and expenditures.
• Track scholarships, awards, and donor-funded programs to ensure timely distribution and documentation.
• Research fund restrictions, provide guidance on appropriate use, and resolve fund-related issues with development, finance, and academic partners.

Serve as a primary resource for faculty and staff on fund availability, restrictions, and compliance requirements.

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to support donor engagement and special events.

Why Join Us?

Impactful Work: Play a crucial role in supporting the University's mission.

Collaborative Environment: Work within a supportive, innovative, and dynamic team.

Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning, professional development, and career advancement.

Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.

Join us in shaping the future of education, research, and healthcare at the University of Pittsburgh!

Job Summary

Facilitates the development and implementation of all aspects of the stewardship programs and recruits alumni participation. Crafts print and online communications and communicates stewardship objectives to external and internal audiences. Participates in strategic and long-range planning and coordinates the nomination and selection process for alumni and scholarship awards and endowment management efforts. Manages programs, special events, and volunteers.

Essential Functions

• Track scholarships, awards, and other restricted or designated funds to confirm timely disbursement and appropriate documentation. Maintain comprehensive tracking systems for stewardship activities, fund stewardship, reporting requirements, and deadlines.
• Serve as a liaison between PAE and academic departments for donor fund setup and use. Coordinate documentation and work with PAE and fiscal representatives to help ensure new funds are established appropriately and gifts are directed to the appropriate accounts. Serve as a resource for questions related to fund purpose, restrictions, availability, and use, coordinating with University partners as needed and providing guidance with supervisor approval.
• Coordinate special stewardship touchpoints, including events, milestone acknowledgments, personalized outreach, student and donor interactions, and other engagement opportunities. Support colleagues in carrying out their stewardship responsibilities and tracking requirements.
• Other duties as assigned

Physical Effort

Moderate - Moderate physical effort required to stand/move for several hours at a time. may be required to move objects up to 50 pounds with or without assistance of equipment.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.

Assignment Category Full-time regular

Bargaining Unit Eligibility This position is bargaining unit eligible

Job Classification Staff.Stewardship Officer

Job Sub-Family Donor Relations & Stewardship

Campus Pittsburgh

Minimum Education Level Required Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Years of Experience Required 4

Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience? Combination of education and relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education and/ or experience requirement.

Additional details about Required Licensure/Certification Strong attention to detail and multi-taskingExcellent donor-focused writing and communication skillsProficient with data, spreadsheets, financial and database systemsSkilled relationship builder with a customer-service mindset and ability to work independently and collaborativelyExperience with Affinaquest, Salesforce, Fiscal Panther, or similar platformsBackground in higher education advancement, donor relations, fund administration, and endowment or restricted fund compliance

Work Schedule Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work Arrangement Hybrid: Combination of On-Campus and Remote work as determined by the department.

Hiring Range To be determined based on qualifications

Relocation Offered No

Visa Sponsorship Provided No

Background Check For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check

Child Protection Clearances Not Applicable

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.