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Director, Donor Stewardship

Director, Donor Stewardship

Foundation Fighting BlindnessColumbia, MD, United States
4 days ago
Job type
  • Full-time
Job description

The Director, Donor Stewardship leads efforts to deliver a consistently exceptional donor experience that strengthens engagement across Major Gifts, Visionary Circle, Legacy, and Transformational Giving. Through standardized practices and mission-aligned communications, this role ensures donors feel appreciated, informed, and directly connected to the outcomes their support makes possible.

As a member of the Development leadership team, the Director partners with gift officers and cross-functional colleagues to design, implement, and report on stewardship strategies that reinforce donor trust, deepen relationships, and support long-term fundraising success.

Primary Responsibilities :   The following are representative of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position and are not meant to be an all-inclusive list :

Donor Stewardship and Engagement

  • Lead the redesign and implementation of the multi-tiered stewardship strategy for donors across Major Gifts, Visionary Circle, Legacy, and Transformational Giving teams.
  • Evaluate and enhance donor acknowledgment practices to ensure they are timely, personalized, and mission-aligned—this includes refining thank-you letters, impact reports, and donor updates to better reflect the Foundation’s voice and donor expectations
  • Partner with gift officers to co-develop stewardship plans that deepen donor relationships and reinforce trust.
  • Oversee pledge tracking and follow-up to ensure fulfillment of donor commitments and sustained engagement.

Impact Reporting and Donor Recognition

  • Collaborate with the Science and Marketing teams to develop compelling donor communications that clearly demonstrate the impact of giving on FFB’s research and mission.
  • Partner closely with the Science team to translate complex research updates into accessible, donor-friendly language that aligns with donor interests and the Foundation’s voice.
  • Manage donor recognition programs, including giving societies and naming opportunities, ensuring alignment with donor motivations and Foundation values.

    • Campaign Stewardship and Strategic Support

  • Serve as a strategic partner across Development, Science, Marketing, Finance, and Field teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and mission-aligned donor messaging.
  • Oversee stewardship efforts for major fundraising campaigns, ensuring consistent donor communication, recognition, and post-campaign engagement.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support campaign planning, execution, and analysis, with a focus on donor experience and retention.

    • Donor Events and Experiences

  • Lead the planning and execution of donor appreciation events, cultivation gatherings, lab tours, and intimate salons that connect donors to the science and stories behind the work of the Foundation.
  • Collaborate with Marketing and Development teams to integrate donor engagement into broader Foundation campaigns and experiences.

    • Volunteer Leadership Strategy

  • Activate high-level engagement through clear roles, strategic alignment, and purpose-driven involvement.
  • Equip leaders with essential tools to drive informed action, amplify influence, and support organizational goals.
  • Celebrate contributions through meaningful recognition that reinforces value and deepens commitment.

    • Data, Tracking, and Insights

  • Partner with database team and super users to ensure accurate tracking of stewardship activities and donor records.
  • Analyze donor engagement trends and provide actionable insights to inform strategy, enhance retention, and support revenue growth.

    • Essential Qualifications :

  • Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in major gifts, donor stewardship, and / or nonprofit fundraising.
  • Proven success developing and executing donor stewardship strategies using moves management frameworks, resulting in the cultivation and closure of major gifts ($5,000+).
  • Demonstrated success in developing compelling donor collateral, such as impact reports, personalized stewardship packages, and campaign materials that inspire continued and increased giving
  • Expertise in donor segmentation and personalization strategies, ensuring communications and stewardship efforts are aligned with donor motivations, giving history, and philanthropic interests.
  • Experience collaborating with program and finance teams to translate organizational outcomes into donor-friendly language and visuals that highlight return on philanthropic investment.
  • Strong understanding of donor psychology and philanthropic trends to proactively design stewardship experiences that resonate and retain support
  • Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Virtuous) to manage donor pipelines, track interactions, and generate stewardship reports.
  • Ability to craft and execute multi-channel stewardship plans, including email, print, events, and digital touchpoints that reinforce donor impact and deepen engagement.
  • Skilled in developing and executing donor recognition strategies, including naming opportunities, honor rolls, and bespoke acknowledgments for high-value supporters.
  • Experience stewarding both annual fund and major gift donors, with a focus on post-gift engagement and long-term retention.

    • Position Specifics :

  • Home-office based
  • Location : Columbia, MD or Philadelphia, PA preferred
  • Full-time, Exempt
  • Reporting to : VP, Development
  • Salary range $110,000-$125,000. The salary range is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role. The range considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to : geographic market, depth of experience, and internal equity.
  • Annual Incentive Bonus Eligibility up to 8%
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    Director Stewardship • Columbia, MD, United States