Description
The Senior Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship within University Advancement is a senior member of the University Advancement team entrusted with developing and leading a comprehensive, centralized donor engagement and stewardship strategy for donors of every size and longevity at UMass Boston. They are responsible for orchestrating a multifaceted approach to donor relations that drives increased philanthropic support and advances our institutional goals. Toward this aim, they are responsible for the innovative development and evolution of all programs that result in the acknowledgment, stewardship and impact reporting, recognition, and engagement of every university donor, including major gift cultivation.
Examples of Duties:
Strategy development and leadership:
- Envision, plan, manage, and execute comprehensive donor engagement and stewardship programs that weave together various forward-thinking initiatives to maximize fundraising impact.
- Innovate and evolve programs aimed at acknowledging, stewarding, and reporting the impact of every university donor, regardless of gift size, to enhance donor's relationship with the University and increase the likelihood of continued and/or increased contributions.
- Develop engagement and acknowledgement opportunities for the university’s four recognition societies, endowed fund households, and named current-use fund households.
- Proactively support the stewardship responsibilities of gift officers and administration by assisting in establishing and coordinating individualized stewardship plans, reports, events, and gifts when appropriate.
- Establish and oversee internal policies, procedures, and guidelines for the proper acceptance, administration, and recognition of gifts, including campus-wide named gift opportunities.
- Partner with Advancement Services and Finance Operations to develop systems, protocols, and policies that promote strong, innovative, and responsive stewardship and donor relations operations.
Impact Reporting and Communication:
- Lead annual reporting cycles, including endowment reports and scholarship impact reports; collaborate on curated additional individualized reports from conception through execution for gifts that fall outside annual planned communications.
- Oversee donor communications and engagement programs across a range of types of activities, including recognition events, impact reporting, stewardship communications, and continuous cultivation strategies.
- Monitor and manage the administration of annual and endowed fund scholarships; co-administer the online platforms through which students apply for aid, and provide thank you materials.
- Collaborate in the creation and preparation of annual endowment and impact reports, impact emails, thank you videos, and mailed communications.
- Oversee the creation of timely, relevant, and personal Chancellor acknowledgement letters.
- Communicate professionally and frequently with Deans, Vice Chancellors, Associate Deans, and department chairs in every benefiting college and department about named gifts, fund purposes, and stewardship expectations in their division.
Donor Recognition and Engagement:
- Recognize donor contributions through appropriate societies, events, mementos, and signage on campus.
- Develop and execute an annual stewardship matrix of outreach and activities to ensure consistent communication and engagement opportunities across donor segments.
- Oversee the production of signature donor engagement events, ad-hoc donor campus visits and recognition society-based events.
- Oversee the ongoing maintenance and management of the Founders’ Circle recognition program.
- Co-produce and maintain the use of welcome materials and informational kits for our four recognition societies and endowed fund donors.
Major Gifts Solicitation and Management:
- Carry a portfolio of 50 perpetually stewarded donors and serve as primary or secondary prospect manager to donors creating named funds in tribute of loved ones.
- Coordinate with Advancement colleagues to devise specific strategies and timetables for the successful solicitation and stewardship of individuals.
- Craft stewardship plans for major and principal gifts, ensuring proper stewardship and reporting to donors across campus, and within the UMass Foundation system.
Application Instructions:
Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.
Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date (April 17, 2026).
Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s degree preferred, and a minimum of seven to ten years of advancement experience, preferably within a higher education environment, is required. Knowledge of trends and methodologies in donor relations required. Experience in planning and managing special projects required. Experience working with Sungard trust system, Advance, PeopleSoft Finance, Mythos, and Monday.com preferred. Ability to travel and a valid driver’s license is required.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, as well as other administrative software applications;
- Knowledge of how endowments are managed, invested, reported, credited and income allocated;
- Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to develop business process models;
- Ability to perform well under pressure, adept to change and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and work with confidential and time sensitive information and materials;
- Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, as well as organize and prioritize information;
- Ability to identify long-term strategic goals and design action plans to reach such goals;
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills;
- Strong attention to detail;
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- Self-starter with strong sense of ownership, follow-through and orientation towards results;
- Strong commitment to customer service.
