What are the responsibilities and job description for the Stewardship and Engagement Coordinator position at Ave Maria University?
PRIMARY PURPOSE:
Are you passionate about building relationships and creating meaningful connections that make a lasting impact? Do you thrive in a dynamic, mission-driven environment? Ave Maria University is looking for a Stewardship and Engagement Coordinator to join our dedicated Advancement team! This full-time, on-campus role offers a unique opportunity to work closely with donors, students, and faculty to ensure that our supporters feel valued, recognized, and inspired to continue their generosity.
In this exciting role, you will help cultivate relationships that drive meaningful engagement while also ensuring that our donors feel truly appreciated for their contributions to Ave Maria University. You will play an essential part in shaping a donor experience that goes beyond a simple “thank you”—you’ll be at the heart of making them feel connected to the impact they’re having on our campus community.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with the Advancement team in concert with the Director of Donor Relations to design and implement a robust donor relations program that ensures timely, personalized acknowledgements and ongoing stewardship for all donors.
- Assist the Director of Donor Relations in leading and supporting our small, dedicated team of Engagement Specialists, helping to foster a collaborative and mission-driven environment while ensuring impactful donor engagement strategies are executed effectively
- Manage and update a dynamic list of naming opportunities, ensuring that campus donor recognition pieces are always current, well-maintained, and impactful.
- Develop tailored stewardship plans for major gift prospects, scholarship donors, and other key supporters in partnership with the Advancement team.
- Coordinate and execute exceptional donor recognition experiences, always striving to exceed expectations and foster long-term relationships.
- Get creative with student engagement! Develop innovative ways for students to connect with donors, such as heartfelt thank-you letters from scholarship recipients.
- Partner with Advancement Services to steward the scholarship management process, ensuring seamless administration from creation through life-cycle updates
- Collaborate with University Finance and faculty to create and distribute annual endowment reports, offering donors insights into how their contributions are making a difference.
- Provide prompt and professional responses to donor inquiries and, when needed, personally reach out to express thanks with phone calls or other personalized gestures.
- Keep accurate and up-to-date records of all stewardship activities, gift agreements, and donor information in our Raiser’s Edge system.
- Ensure scholarship agreements align with University standards, donor intent, and IRS guidelines, working with donors, Advancement, and legal teams to draft clear and thoughtful documents.
- Design and manage engaging stewardship plans for both named and general scholarship donors, including opportunities for interaction with students.
- Collaborate with donors, Advancement staff, and external partners to track and manage planned gift commitments, ensuring a seamless experience for all involved.
Location: Ave Maria University, on-campus in Ave Maria, FL (no remote)
Full-Time: 40 hours per week; Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM
Compensation: Competitive salary, based on experience and in line with industry standards for similar coordinator roles, plus a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and 401(k)
If you’re ready to bring your creativity, organization, and passion for relationship-building to a role where you can truly make a difference, we want to hear from you!
Ready to help build meaningful connections? Apply now!
EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred, or equivalent experience.
EXPERIENCE:
- Knowledge of fundraising strategies and donor stewardship best practices
- Experience in higher education or nonprofit environments is a plus
- Experience in mentoring or team-building to foster collaboration and a positive work environment
- Professional writing experience, including reports and donor communications
- Educational background in Communications, Marketing, Business, Nonprofit Management, or related fields is a plus
- Background in retail, sales, fundraising, or customer support, demonstrating strong customer service and relationship-building skills
- Familiarity with administering scholarships, financial aid, or similar processes
- Experience with donor management systems, databases, and CRM tools
CERTIFICATION: N/A
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Strong time management and organizational skills to prioritize tasks effectively
- Excellent oral and written communication skills for engaging with donors and stakeholders
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Passion for building and maintaining relationships with donors and supporters
- Strong initiative, leadership, and project management skills with attention to detail
- Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, and Excel)
- Commitment to Ave Maria University’s Catholic mission and values
PHYSICAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Requires ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; the ability to stand, walk and manipulate (lift, carry, move) light to medium weights of 10 - 20 pounds. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, type and perform data entry, visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and read technical information, ability to hear in order to answer telephones and to communicate verbally, and the ability to sit for extended periods of time.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed indoors with minimal safety hazards, and requires seated, standing, and movement work.
