Stewardship Associate

About the Opportunity

Job Summary

The Stewardship Associate, under the general direction of and reporting to the Director of Principal Gift Stewardship & Recognition, drafts highly personalized gift acknowledgments to top donors, primarily for the signatures of the President of the university and Senior Vice President of University Advancement. Duties require the ability to write in the president’s voice, researching information on gifts and donors, and assessing complex variable concerning gift data, and university department messaging. They collaborate with a range of campus departments to arrive at mutually satisfactory decisions. They work in close communication with the president’s office, senior campus administrators, and faculty, department business officers, and development officers.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Managing donor correspondence data and processes

• Extract and consolidate data from a variety of Advancement databases in order to (a) identify gifts eligible for acknowledgment by the president and SVP and (b) gather the data necessary to draft detailed and accurate gift acknowledgments.
• Extract data from Advancement databases and consult with gift officers in order to ascertain cases in which a letter of condolence from the president is appropriate.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking correspondence in progress, ensuring that completed correspondence is appropriately recorded in Advancement databases, and archiving language that reflects the evolving priorities of the university and president.

Researching and drafting acknowledgment letters

• Conduct detailed analyses of giving histories and consult with gift officers in order to draft highly customized and targeted gift acknowledgments from the president and SVP.
• Letters must be timely and accurate.
• They must also be specifically geared toward (a) the donor’s relationship with the university and (b) the gift’s designation, while (c) reflecting the current priorities of the university and president.

Researching and drafting other donor correspondence

• Draft presidential condolences, tribute notifications, stewardship correspondence, and other special donor correspondence requested by the Director of Principal Gift Stewardship & Recognition, the office of the SVP, or the Senior Director of Donor Relations.
• Examples of special correspondence requests: cover letters, letters of appreciation for unique forms of donor engagement, congratulations for personal or professional milestones.

Training and support

• Contribute to the onboarding, training, and professional development of administrative assistants and development associates across Advancement, particularly those involved in the colleges’ gift acknowledgment processes.
• Provide one-on-one editing sessions and stewardship writing workshops and serve as a resource for acknowledgment best practices and gift stewardship guidance.

Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Highest level English writing skill, with the demonstrated ability to write on a wide variety of topics and to adapt style for a range of audiences, using correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, editing, formatting, and proofreading. Two to four years of experience writing in a professional environment.
• Demonstrated success in using analytical judgment and problem-solving skills to determine needs and arrive at consistently sound conclusions.
• Demonstrated research, data gathering, and interview skills to compose effective written materials.
• Organizational experience and skill implementing systems in a large, bureaucratic, multi-department environment preferred.
• Solid skill using computer Microsoft Office programs, including Word and Excel and the ability to learn database programs.

Position Type

Advancement

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

108S

Expected Hiring Range:

$59,425.00 - $83,935.00

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.