Stewardship Professional I (Athletics)

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reduction

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

The University of Arizona Athletics Department seeks a Stewardship Professional I to support donor recognition programs within the Major Gifts team. You will plan events, create personalized donor communications, and help track giving metrics across campaigns.

This role requires detail orientation, strong organizational and communication skills, and willingness to work a flexible schedule including nights and weekends. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required.
• One (1) year of relevant work experience required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive per university policies.

Responsibilities

• Plan and oversee donor recognition programs and events.
• Create a stewardship calendar aligned with fundraising campaigns.
• Develop donor thank-you communications and reports.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Project management

Donor relations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Address

1 National Championship Drive, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA

Position Highlights

The Athletics Department is dedicated to excellence in collegiate sports, building a modern model of intercollegiate athletics fostering integrity, innovation, and student-athlete success.

The Stewardship Professional I will serve as an active member of the Major Gifts team, helping ensure efficient and effective donor recognition programs are in place to support the team’s goals and objectives. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, with strong organizational and project management skills, as well as excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.

This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and travel as needed. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocation services, please click here .

Duties & Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee recognition programs and special recognition events for donors, such as banquets, in-game presentations, and donor trips. Create custom experiences for major donors in conjunction with games at home and away.
• Create a stewardship calendar that aligns with fundraising campaigns and key organizational milestones.
• Develop personal and impactful donor thank-you communications related to gift agreements, proposals, fundraising efforts, and campaign reports, thinking beyond the letter.
• Develop gift tracking recognition metrics that will shape future acknowledgments and donor programming. This may include acknowledgment processes, generation of acknowledgment reports, campaign tracking reports, and other reports as needed.
• Conduct strategic planning and collaborate with other departments and teams to ensure seamless integration and alignment of major gift fundraising activities and initiatives for donor recognition events and maintenance of programming.
• Develop best practices and procedures to engage donors throughout the year, ensuring efficient and effective operations that thank donors in unique ways at every opportunity.
• Assist the Associate AD, Major Gifts with production, execution, and oversight of donor recognition presentations, developing ways to maintain impactful and personalized recognition programs. Ensure high-level donors are highlighted on various reports, such as quarterly and annual major gifts budgets. Ensure pledges are announced and capital statements highlight key donors on a national stage.
• Oversee donor recognition in printed materials, serving as the liaison with communications personnel, printers, mailing vendors, etc.
• Serve as the Ticket Office liaison for Major Gifts ticketing needs, ensuring donor recognition events are created each year and donor thank-you gifts are presented in an impactful way to donors.
• Assist and provide excellent customer service to major gifts donors with inquiries, ticket questions and resolutions, season renewals, gift processing, and all other questions related to their major gift.
• Assist in donor research and donor roster management. Ensure the timely review of donor rosters and maintenance of donor rosters for all development officers.
• Regularly review and maintain up-to-date information on the Major Gifts portion of the Wildcat Club website.
• Organize and maintain physical and electronic development records, donor files, and donor accounts, including the retention and filing of gift agreements, payments, and other correspondence to and/or from donors, ensuring that supporting documents are easily accessible and up to date.
• Review, reconcile, and prepare monthly expense reports.
• Oversee advanced administrative support and day-to-day operations for the Major Gifts team.
• Budget accountability.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate self-motivation, a results-oriented approach, and a positive demeanor.
• Demonstrated experience managing value-added projects and strategic initiatives.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to solve problems and make decisions.
• Ability to multitask with frequent interruptions.Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Dedication and motivation to initiate, lead, and support value-added projects.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Knowledge of NCAA, Big 12, and University of Arizona position-related rules and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to plan, establish priorities, and successfully manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relations.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all organizational levels and project a positive, professional attitude.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required.
• One (1) year of relevant work experience required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy .

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Experience in a Power 4 Conference.

FLSA

Exempt

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week

40+ nights and weekends

Job FTE

1.0

Work Calendar

Fiscal

Job Category

University Advancement

Benefits Eligible

Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay

DOE

Compensation Type

salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Grade

7

Compensation Guidance

The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.

The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator .

Career Stream and Level

PC1

Job Family

Advancement Services

Job Function

University Advancement

Type of criminal background check required:

Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies

1

Contact Information for Candidates

Mike Smith
Senior Associate AD, Chief Development Officer
[e-mail]

Open Date

9/25/2026

Open Until Filled

Yes

Documents Needed to Apply

Resume, Cover Letter, and One Additional Document

Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.

Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at [e-mail].