Executive Director of Stewardship and Donor Engagement

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Alumni Affairs and Development (AA&D) is a dedicated team supporting Harvard’s advancement activity through front-line fundraising, alumni and volunteer engagement, technology, prospect management and research, business process, events, communications, and many other areas.

Our goal is to create an environment of respect that leverages the many talents, perspectives, and experiences of our employees; to deliver the strongest possible results by incorporating diverse perspectives into our daily work; and to make AA&D a great place to work for everyone. We strive to live our values of respect, inclusion, trust, collaboration, continuous improvement and innovation; and open communication and effective information sharing in our daily interactions and our work.

AA&D is comprised of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Development, Communications, Events & Donor Relations, University Development and Advancement Solutions, the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), and AA&D Administration.

The Executive Director of Stewardship and Donor Engagement provides strategic leadership for donor-centered stewardship and engagement efforts in support of the institution’s academic mission and fundraising priorities. This role is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive stewardship program that strengthens long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and other institutional partners.

Reporting to the AVP for Advancement Communications, Events, and Donor Relations, the Executive Director works collaboratively across Advancement, Academic Affairs, and university leadership to ensure donors experience meaningful, personalized engagement and understand the impact of their philanthropy on students, faculty, research, and programs.

• Manage timely, accurate, and personalized donor acknowledgements and fulfillment of donor recognition and reporting commitments.
• Design and implement donor engagement experiences such as impact updates, scholarship recipient interactions, campus events, and recognition societies.
• Develop strategies for donor recognition societies across the gift scales, from encouraging annual gifts to serving on leadership groups.
• Oversee all recognition vehicles including donor publications, physical signage, and public announcements of transformative gifts.

• Oversee stewardship for all philanthropic gifts, including annual, major, principal, endowed, and restricted funds.
• Produce compelling impact reports that highlight student success, faculty excellence, and institutional outcomes.
• Translate complex academic and financial information into clear, donor-focused narratives that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy.
• Oversee stewardship publications, digital content, and annual or endowed fund reports for donors.
• Steward endowed funds in compliance with institutional policies and donor intent, in partnership with finance and academic units.

• Collaborate closely with major and principal gift officers to support donor cultivation, solicitation, and long-term relationship management.
• Serve as a liaison to academic deans, faculty, and campus partners to support stewardship activities and donor engagement.
• Advise senior leadership, trustees, and volunteer leaders on donor relations strategy and best practices.