Assistant Director of Stewardship

Purpose
The Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations is an essential contributor to the development and implementation of a comprehensive program to steward philanthropic gifts to the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
 
The Assistant Director plays an important role in fostering donor confidence in their philanthropic gifts and inspiring ongoing engagement with the university. By leading essential stewardship initiatives, the Assistant Director strengthens our relationships with donors, ensuring they feel valued and informed about the impact of their generosity. A strong skill set in donor relations will be instrumental for success in gift documentation, fund compliance, and impact reporting responsibilities.
Organizational Relationships
The Assistant Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations reports to the Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations within the Division of Advancement and Foundations.

Essential Duties: 

Gift Documentation 
Ensures documentation of new endowment and gift agreements are accessible in the donor database and the scholarship management software program.
Fund Tracking & Compliance     
Manages the tracking of endowed and current-use scholarship funds in coordination with the UMKC Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, ensuring timely availability for application.  
 
Monitors the use of designated funds for scholarships, programs, lectureships, fellowships, and faculty support.
 
Maintains effective partnerships with key departments, including UMKC Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, to support coordinated fund management and utilization.
 
Troubleshoots issues related to unspent endowed and current-use funds, coordinating with assigned staff to ensure effective utilization.
Reporting
Leads the preparation of the annual Endowment Fund report, partnering with unit-assigned advancement staff and liaisons to deliver accurate, donor-centered reporting that demonstrates impact.
 
Creates a process for new endowment donors to receive an introduction to the annual report as part of the communication plan for donor care.
 
Supports the continuous improvement of stewardship reporting processes, contributing to efficiency through thoughtful evaluation of tools and practices, and assisting with clear, consistent documentation.
Individualized Stewardship Planning
Supports the Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations in the development and execution of customized stewardship plans for high-priority donors.
 
Applies the gift stewardship process following the approval of endowment and gift agreements in collaboration with development directors.
 
Works closely with development directors, communications staff, and leadership to align donor stewardship with organizational goals, including communications and outreach activities.
 
 
Requirements     

• You are detail-oriented and accurate, consistently producing reliable queries, reports, documentation, and tracking processes.
• You are comfortable navigating data and have strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office for correspondence, reports, spreadsheets, databases, and forms.
• You are committed to continuously improving stewardship processes, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency through thoughtful evaluation and adoption of effective solutions.
• You communicate compliance policies and stewardship concepts clearly, serving as a knowledgeable representative to division staff, donors, and campus partners.
• You have strong writing and proofreading skills, ensuring clarity and professionalism in all written communications.
• You accept cross-functional responsibilities (i.e., monitoring the general mailbox and incoming calls) for the division as necessary.
   

• Effective communication: Expresses oneself clearly and empathetically in interactions with others in all forms of communication.
• Interpersonal Awareness: Builds and maintains positive relationships and actively contributes as a member of working teams to achieve results through collaboration. 
• Professional Credibility: Takes responsibility for meeting goals, objectives, obligations, and solving problems while representing the mission, vision and values of the organization. 
  Critical Thinking: Obtains, analyzes, and evaluates information effectively in the face of ambiguity.  
• Ethics and Trust: Adheres to the ADRP Ethics Statement and the Donor Bill of Rights.

• You have a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification and a minimum of 3 years of professional experience – a total of 7 years combined. Strong written and verbal communication. Knowledgeable with CRM and data collection tools.

• Preference in fundraising, mass communications, donor relations or a comparable role with transferable skills including project management, writing, and/or data analysis.
• You have experience with the Ellucian Fundraising database or other non-profit donor databases. 
• You have familiarity with higher education institutions and working in a complex organizational environment. 

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