Director of Stewardship Programs

Title of Position: Director of Stewardship Programs

Department: Mission Advancement

Reports to Supervisor: Vice President for Development

FLSA: Exempt

Holy Cross College’s Mission: The Mission of Holy Cross College is to educate and form global citizens with the competence to see and the courage to act. Holy Cross is a Catholic college that advances the apostolic mission of the Brothers of Holy Cross. Our practical, experiential, liberal arts curriculum applies timeless truths to contemporary life and leads people to wholeness in the image of Christ.

Our hiring practices reflect this missional commitment to being a Christ-centered institution.

All administrators, faculty and staff are called to assist students in their formation to be Christ-like students and thus must embrace and advance the Holy Cross mission of the College in all professional activities.

Typical Schedule: Minimum 40 hours per week. Some nights and weekends may be necessary to serve the needs of the College.

Purpose: The Director of Stewardship leads a comprehensive donor stewardship program that enhances relationships with benefactors through impactful reporting, meaningful recognition, and engagement strategies that align with the College’s mission. This role develops and executes stewardship programs to acknowledge and celebrate philanthropy, ensuring donor intent is honored while fostering long-term commitment to Holy Cross College. As a senior leader in the Advancement team, the Director collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including fundraisers, College leadership, faculty, and students, to deliver best-in-class stewardship experiences. The Director also ensures compliance with donor agreements and plays a pivotal role in strengthening a culture of gratitude and philanthropy at Holy Cross.

Gift Acknowledgement, Impact Reporting & Customized Donor Engagement (30%)

• Oversee the timely and meaningful acknowledgment of all gifts, including drafting and personalizing letters from the President and other College leadership.
• Develop and produce impact reports for major donors, endowed fund donors, and other key stakeholders, ensuring donors see the tangible outcomes of their generosity.
• Design customized donor engagement initiatives, including special donor experiences, milestone acknowledgments, and personal outreach.
• Collaborate with the fundraising team to develop individualized stewardship strategies for major and planned giving donors.
• Coordinate donor visits, impact-focused communications, and engagement activities that connect benefactors with the mission of Holy Cross.

Stewardship Process Development (25%)

• Establish and implement a donor stewardship calendar to ensure timely and personalized engagement for all donor levels.
• Develop systematic tracking and reporting mechanisms to measure the effectiveness of stewardship efforts, ensuring all activities are documented in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Create and refine standardized procedures for acknowledgments, recognition, and stewardship materials to enhance efficiency and consistency.
• Partner with campus leadership to align stewardship efforts across departments, ensuring consistency in donor engagement and reporting.

Recognition and Stewardship Strategy (20%)

• Design and execute donor recognition initiatives, including naming opportunities, giving societies, and donor honor rolls.
• Plan and implement donor appreciation events, from intimate gatherings to large-scale celebrations, ensuring meaningful donor engagement.
• Develop creative approaches to donor recognition, incorporating digital and print storytelling, video messaging, and experiential opportunities.
• Ensure adherence to College branding and messaging guidelines in all stewardship communications.

Gift Fund Management (15%)

• Collaborate with finance and academic departments to ensure donor funds are utilized in accordance with gift agreements and donor intent.
• Work with campus leadership to develop and communicate impact reports for scholarship donors, endowed funds, and other restricted gifts.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of all endowed funds, including historical records of donor commitments and impact reporting.

Collaborative Support for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Functions (10%)

• Serve as a resource for the entire Advancement team, providing guidance on donor relations best practices.
• Support cross-functional fundraising and engagement efforts, contributing to donor events, campaign initiatives, and alumni engagement strategies.
• Assist with special projects, including campaign planning, anniversary celebrations, and institutional stewardship initiatives.
• Stay informed on industry best practices in stewardship and donor relations, ensuring Holy Cross remains at the forefront of donor engagement.

Minimum Education, Skills, and Abilities:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• 3 years of professional experience in stewardship, donor relations, fundraising, or related fields.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling impact reports and donor messages.
• Strong project management abilities, with experience handling multiple initiatives and deadlines simultaneously.
• Experience with donor databases, preferably Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, and proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to analyze financial reports and translate them into donor-friendly impact communications.
• Commitment to confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism in handling donor information.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including donors, faculty, and senior leadership.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or advanced training in philanthropy, communications, or a related field.
• Experience in higher education fundraising or working with faith-based institutions.
• Knowledge of planned giving and donor stewardship strategies for principal and transformational gifts.
• Proficiency in donor stewardship tools such as ThankView, Adobe InDesign, or similar digital communication platforms.

NOTE: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the person assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills and physical demands required of personnel so classified. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employment at Holy Cross College is ‘at will’ meaning that either the College or the employee can end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Holy Cross College is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on qualifications and are made without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or any other legally protected status.

To Apply: Interested candidates should apply and submit résumé, cover letter, and three references (names and contact information) at Holy Cross College Career Opportunities.