Manager, Stewardship

About Smile Train

Smile Train is changing the world one smile at a time. Our goal is to transform every person's life impacted by a cleft lip or palate. We train and support doctors and medical professionals to provide our beneficiaries with free, life-changing comprehensive cleft treatment. Our sustainable model has allowed us to support 2 million surgeries in 90 countries, and we’re just starting. We are truly changing the world one smile at a time.

Smile Train is looking for exceptional people to join a worldwide team of dedicated, passionate professionals. Our team consists of creative and highly motivated individuals working to make a positive impact. Join us!

Reports To: Vice President, Development

Summary/Objective:

The Manager, Stewardship executes donor stewardship strategies, manages key development operations, and provides essential support for donor engagement initiatives. This role will lead stewardship efforts, strategic donor communications, and event-based donor cultivation. This individual will work across teams to enhance donor experiences, ensure accurate and timely donor communications, and oversee key functions to support the teams’ fundraising efforts. Must have a strong ability to prioritize multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

This position is ideal for someone looking to advance their career in nonprofit development while gaining experience across various fundraising disciplines. This is a full-time, hybrid role based in New York City (in office 2x per week).

Primary Responsibilities:

• Work with the Development team leads to coordinate donor stewardship efforts, including:

o Building a donor outreach strategy to engage with Smile Train and increase donor retention and conversations.

o Creating documents, events, and programming to celebrate philanthropy highlights, i.e. World’s Smile Day.

o Developing informational materials designed to connect donors to Smile Train.

• Strong project management skills and takes full responsible on projects from ideation to execution.

• Develop targeted and impactful cultivation/stewardship materials (articles, blogs, etc.) with strong storytelling skills.

• In tandem with development team leads, create personal stewardship plans for managed donors, major gift prospects, and Planned Giving society/donors.

• Utilize strong project management skills and familiarity with Asana to work cross-functionally and create and manage project timelines.

• Create a follow-up cadence and collaborate with Communications and Direct Marketing teams to develop and promote consistent communication to all high-value audiences through clear, targeted messages and appropriate delivery vehicles.

• Lead the development and distribution of bi-annual impact reports.

• Work with the Development team to create donor/foundation/corporate impact reports for individual high-worth donors.

• Maintain and execute activities associated with the stewardship benefits grid to ensure donors receive focused messaging by giving levels.

• Build targeted communications for segmented giving levels through consistent outreach, printed and electronic materials, and letters.

• Support events by creating pre- and post-stewardship materials, invitations, and collateral materials and provide onsite logistics at regional events.

• Develop measures for evaluating the success of high-value marketing and communication activities and outreach materials.

• Ensure timely follow-up and manage and track activities as needed in Salesforce.

• Other duties as assigned.

Gift Acknowledgement:

• Work with the development team leads to develop customized acknowledgment letters with key messaging that aligns with the content strategy and plan.

• Collect impact stories and coordinate the distribution of information to donors with gift officers and senior leadership.

Donor Stewardship:

• Proactively work with the Development team leads to create and implement personalized stewardship strategies for prioritized prospects with the capacity to make additional large gifts in the future.

• Identify new opportunities to engage with donors (e.g., calls and/or visits with staff/partners/patients, etc.).

• Manage Thankview timeline and process and work with the Development team to coordinate messaging for individual donors.

• Primary lead and collaborator with the database team to support data health.

• Collaborate with team leads to build and maintain donor membership programs.

Event Logistical Support:

• Assist Development leads in planning and executing fundraising and stewardship events, including donor receptions and webinars.

• Coordinate event logistics with the Senior Associate, Development, including vendor management, venue setup, guest lists, and follow-up communications.

• Support event invitation outreach and track RSVPs to ensure seamless donor engagement.

Special Projects:

• Support donor recognition activities and initiatives (e.g., special events, donor signage, etc.) as requested.

• Support efforts to develop a sustainers program.

• Assist with special projects as requested.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in philanthropy, marketing, and/or communications or relevant work experience.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Superior project management skills and ability to meet critical deadlines.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite and Asana.

• Strong CRM experience with Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge.

• 3 years in a fundraising/non-profit environment.

• Experience in leading the development of collateral materials for high-value audiences for print and digital.

• High interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations.

• Good time management skills and excellent organizational skills.

• Self-starter, able to work with little supervision and strong self-initiative skills.

• Detail-oriented, independent thinker.

• Team player with a good sense of humor.

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working with a large, non-profit organization.

• Familiarity with fundraising terms and processes.

• Strong understanding of mid level and major git programs.

• Familiar with donor segmented programs.

Travel: 20-25%

Compensation Range: $60,000-$65,000

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, obligations, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

Application Information: Smile Train is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage candidates from all groups and communities to apply. To apply, please complete the application online. Include your CV, a writing sample (an existing example of your writing; no need to create something new), and a cover letter that describes why you believe you would be a good fit for Smile Train and this role. We encourage interested applicants to apply as soon as possible.