Donor Stewardship and Engagement Director

Donor Stewardship and Engagement Director

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. Western

U is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At Western

U, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of Western

U. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Position Title Donor Stewardship and Engagement Director

Position Control Number A03938

Position Status Full-time

Department 5501-External Relations

Campus Western University Campus-Pomona, CA

Position Location California

Job Summary Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Donor Stewardship and Engagement Director will lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive stewardship and donor relations program that strengthens connections with donors, enhances recognition practices, and supports Western

U’s philanthropic goals. This role is strategic, highly collaborative, and focused on creating meaningful donor experiences that foster long-term engagement and investment across all gift levels.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Principles and best practices of donor stewardship and philanthropic relationship management.
• High-touch donor service models and personalized engagement strategies for principal gift-level donors.
• Recognition programs and donor acknowledgment protocols in higher education or nonprofit settings.
• CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce, including donor data management and reporting.
• Institutional advancement operations and the role of donor experience in long-term fundraising success.
• Event coordination and protocol for VIP donor visits, exclusive experiences, and leadership interactions.
• Confidentiality standards and ethical considerations in donor relations.

Skills

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential donor information.
• Proficiency in CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge or Salesforce.

Ability to

• Represent Western
  
  U with integrity, professionalism, and credibility.
• Manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality service under pressure.
• Collaborate with various departments, including fundraising, development, and stakeholder engagement, to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Demonstrate a commitment to humanism, diversity, and service to underserved communities.
• Bring Your Best Self to Work:
  Consistently demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity in interactions with colleagues, donors, and partners; foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive workplace culture.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism. Sustain a pioneering culture of bold innovation, courage, and passion. Display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others. Achieve excellence in all we do.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum 4 years of experience in donor relations or stewardship, preferably in higher education or nonprofit sectors.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer degree in communications, nonprofit management, public relations, or related field.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and assess a comprehensive stewardship and donor engagement strategy aligned with Western
  
  U’s fundraising priorities.
• Promote stewardship standards, policies, and best practices across advancement.
• Evaluate effectiveness of stewardship programs and recommend improvements.
• Design and manage a donor recognition program, inclusive of collateral, website management, etc.
• Create tailored stewardship approaches for major, leadership, and planned gift donors.
• Ensure consistent and meaningful donor recognition across the entire development team.
• Par…