Stewardship Program Specialist

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for UW-Madison, is recruiting for a self-motivated Stewardship Program Specialist. The Stewardship Program Specialist is responsible for coordinating and executing centrally managed donor recognition programs that strengthen relationships, reinforce trust, and deepen engagement with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This is a hybrid position that will require you to work on‑site at our Madison, WI office at least 2 days per week.

Serving as a key resource for donor recognition, the role supports the implementation of established stewardship strategies through careful coordination, creative problem‑solving, and strong attention to detail. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate donor tracking, coordinating timely and thoughtful recognition fulfillment, and supporting clear, compelling communications. The position works closely with WFAA colleagues, campus partners, and external vendors to carry out stewardship activities and recognition moments, including involvement with events and communications that reflect donor values and institutional priorities.

This role is well suited for someone motivated by connection, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Using data, donor feedback, and industry best practices, the position supports ongoing assessment of program effectiveness and contributes recommendations for enhancements to the donor experience. The role also assists with donor relations and stewardship operational needs, provides consultation and support to campus partners, and contributes to a collaborative, service‑driven culture focused on engagement and impact.

Please Note:

We can hire this position as a Stewardship Program Specialist or Senior Stewardship Program Specialist, depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate.

• Maintain accurate records of donor eligibility using CRM systems.
• Fulfill recognition milestones through collaboration with Marketing & Communications and external vendors.
• Coordinate production and delivery of recognition materials and communications.
• Recognition program Subject Matter Expert (SME)
• Serve as a point of contact for internal stakeholders, campus staff, and donors regarding recognition questions, policies, historical structures, and best practices.
• Provide training and guidance to WFAA colleagues and campus staff on recognition protocols and tools.
• Stay informed on industry trends and peer institution practices to ensure innovation and relevance.
• Provides administrative and strategic support for select recognition programs, including on‑site support as needed.
• Monitor, report out, and evaluate recognition program effectiveness and recommend enhancements based on donor feedback, WFAA’s current priorities, and engagement metrics.

• Responsible for centrally managed acknowledgements and notifications
• Support logistics for stewardship‑led programs, processes, and systems
• Manage stewardship SWAG distribution, communication, inventory tracking, and ordering.

• Serve as the first point of contact for Stewardship‑related questions and consulting requests
• Administrative lead for Central Stewardship content on Advancement Hub.
• Administer the Stewardship Teams channel with relevant content and reminders, and assist with scheduling team meetings and other stewardship team related events.
• Provide support for the Central Stewardship Team on projects as needed. Cross‑train on key functional areas and processes in Central Stewardship

• 1 + years of relevant professional work experience.
• Experience in advancement and/or donor relations/stewardship.
• Proficient in MS Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Copilot, and Outlook.

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Dependable, highly‑motivated and collaborative as well as the ability to work independently.
• Strong written and overall communication skills.
• Comfortable with data manipulation and analysis.
• Familiar with Salesforce, Affinaquest, Power
  
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