Assistant Director, Donor Relations - Stewardship Systems

Advancement & Partnerships:

Join our dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as we work together to power partnerships and transform lives through philanthropy. 

Together, we can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on our team will help us to build the University for the Future

The Opportunity:

The Assistant Director, Donor Relations – Stewardship Systems plays a pivotal role in driving UCF’s donor acknowledgment and recognition strategy. This position is responsible for the execution and continual refinement of a comprehensive stewardship program that honors donor generosity and fosters lifelong engagement. You’ll coordinate across teams to produce thoughtful recognition materials, manage donor society programming, and ensure stewardship efforts are timely, impactful, and data-driven.

Responsibilities:

• Execute a donor acknowledgment program that includes personalized and timely communication from university leadership.

• Oversee creation of stewardship materials and recognition pieces in collaboration with the Communications team.

• Support the growth and execution of donor recognition societies through strategic engagement and thoughtful touchpoints.

• Design, track, and manage a year-round stewardship calendar, including event-related and programmatic communications.

• Maintain accurate records of stewardship activities in the Advancement database and support data-driven decision-making.

• Draft acknowledgment letters and related gift communications at multiple donor levels.

• Contribute to the annual endowment reporting process by supporting content creation, research, and editorial review.

• Research and share emerging trends in donor relations, providing insights and education to internal partners.

• Ensure donor communications reflect professionalism, personalization, and a deep appreciation for philanthropic impact.

• Collaborate with Events & Experiences and other internal partners to support shared engagement goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219. Click here for more information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in donor relations or fundraising in a higher education or nonprofit setting.

• Familiarity with CRM systems and donor databases (e.g., Blackbaud CRM) for tracking and reporting stewardship activity.

• Experience implementing donor acknowledgment and recognition programs.

• Proficiency in project management, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple deadlines across programs.

• Strong written communication skills with the ability to craft polished, donor-centric content.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and consistency in donor communications.

• Ability to analyze stewardship trends and apply creative solutions to enhance donor experiences.

• Knowledge of endowment reporting and philanthropic gift documentation.

• Collaborative, service-minded approach with excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated salary for a well-qualified candidate is between $56,030 and $68,637.

Advancement and Partnerships values the unique contributions that each team member brings to our division. The determination of a successful candidate's starting salary will vary based on several factors, including education and relevant experience. The anticipated pay scale indicated for this position generally applies to candidates who meet the minimum requirements and several of the preferred qualifications outlined above.

Classification Title: Manager, Stewardship Programs

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!  UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program 

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions 

• Education assistance 

• Flexible work environment 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

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As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.