The Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship is a member of the Advancement team who reports to the Director of Advancement Operations. This position is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive stewardship program. This role cultivates meaningful, long-term relationships with donors at all giving levels, ensuring they feel valued, informed, and inspired to continue their philanthropic partnership. The Director works closely with the Head of Advancement, the leadership gifts and annual fund teams, as well as the Emma Willard communications staff and school leadership to develop strategies that deepen donor engagement and maximize philanthropic impact.

We seek someone who is committed to and willing to navigate today’s changing and diverse landscape. This individual will help the school promote and nurture diversity, equity, and inclusion. The School encourages candidates from under-represented groups to apply, as well as individuals who have demonstrated experience with diverse populations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a multi-tiered stewardship program that acknowledges, recognizes, and engages donors across all giving levels, particularly major donors and 1814 Leadership Association annual giving donors.
• Collaborate with the Head of Advancement and Leadership Gifts team to coordinate stewardship strategies and plans for high-priority donors.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and meaningful gift acknowledgment for top donors who require stewardship from the Head of School.

• Create and write stewardship/endowment reports and donor correspondence that demonstrate the tangible results of philanthropic investment.
• Coordinate with Emma Willard faculty and staff to identify students for scholarship endowment reports, and manage specific special scholarship funds, annual endowment reports and donor events with their students.
• Create and write the Annual Report of Giving which goes to all levels of donors in print and digitally.
• Partner cross-functionally with Emma Willard faculty and staff, and the communications team to gather impact data and stories.
• Serve as an internal resource on stewardship best practices across the development team.
• Assist with speech and citation writing for donor centered and constituent events for the Head of Advancement and Head of School.

Data Management

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive donor contact records in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge to attach all communication and endowment reports.
• Develop and monitor the annual stewardship calendar to track the distribution of stewardship reports in a timely manner to ensure donors receive reporting annually. 
• In collaboration with the Director of Operations, ensure that specific endowments funds are being utilized to facilitate impact reporting to the donor.
• Ensure compliance with gift agreements and pledge documentation in collaboration with the Director of Advancement Operations & Fund Management.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 to 7 years of progressive experience in stewardship/donor relations, fundraising, or a related field within a nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain authentic relationships with donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing donor-facing materials.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or other CRM software.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities simultaneously.
• High level of discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive donor information.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Communications, Nonprofit management or related field.
• Experience with major gifts programs or endowment stewardships.
• Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge.
• Knowledge of gift acceptance policies, CASE Global Standards, and general accounting practices.

Salary range

$85,000 - $100,000

Please submit a resume and cover letter to be considered for the position.

Please apply through the school's Career Center website.

About Emma Willard School

Since 1814, Emma Willard School has been one of the nation's leading college preparatory boarding and day schools for young women. At Emma Willard, every possible resource is dedicated to developing in students the values and skills that form the foundation of a life of accomplishment, leadership, and fulfillment. These include a love for the life of the mind, a commitment to service, courage and confidence, grace and creativity, and collaboration and friendship. Known for its rigor, the school promotes intellectual curiosity and disciplined study habits through a challenging curriculum distinguished by a wide array of advanced placement courses and electives. It also promotes active involvement in the life of the campus and off-campus communities through a rich co-curricular program. In all they do, students are both challenged and closely supported by an outstanding faculty and staff. The school's extraordinary physical plant is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and provides a breathtakingly beautiful yet state-of-the-art setting for learning and living. Throughout its history, Emma Willard has been committed to enrolling a diverse student body from across the Ca...pital Region, across the country, and around the world. This commitment is honored by significant expenditures in financial aid to assist families who might not otherwise have the opportunity to provide an extraordinary secondary education for their daughters.

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Connections working at Emma Willard School