"Associate Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship"

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, the Associate Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship oversees fund management and reporting, stewardship, and processing systems for the university’s expendable and endowed funds, with particular attention towards scholarship support. This individual plays an important role in fostering donor confidence in their philanthropic gifts and inspiring ongoing engagement with the university.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead for the annual Scholarship Impact Report and provide key support for the annual Endowment Impact Report. Coordinate with key departments and student recipients to ensure accuracy and timely delivery of donor reports.
• Provide exceptional customer service and serve as the main contact for scholarship questions for external and internal stakeholders. Communicate regularly with scholarship recipients regarding the reason for their award, expectations for their participation in scholarship events, and follow up with their donors.
• Collaborate and share best practices with the Special Events team and college Event Planners in order for them to implement and host high-quality, meaningful stewardship experiences for donors.
• Engage with campus partners to gather stories, data, and outcomes that demonstrate the impact of donor support.
• Draft campaign and ad hoc stewardship reports and donor collateral.
• Develop, manage, and maintain department processes for acknowledging and stewarding individual gifts, matching gifts, corporate gifts, and recurring gifts.
• Track major gifts and draft personalized acknowledgment letters.
• Serve as University Advancement departmental liaison with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office (FASO) to ensure that all scholarship awards are properly administered, and communicate the award timeline and student award receipt information with the Development team.
• Periodically audit scholarship funds to ensure state and federal compliance and that the donor's intent is still applicable to the program and/or purpose.
• Monitor and, as needed, facilitate improvement projects related to the internal scholarship reports on Tableau.
• Support the Development Team and their partners in academic units to stay current on funding needs; promote scholarship, endowment, and expendable fund awareness.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage time effectively and balance multiple priorities in fast-paced environments
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to draft, edit, and format correspondence and reports professionally
• Proven discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive donor, student, and organizational information
• Ability to collaborate as an effective team member and communicate respectfully with internal and external constituents
• Skilled in working independently to develop, implement, and evaluate programs that align with University Advancement and Tower Foundation objectives
• Ability to interpret, apply, and, when necessary, adapt policies and procedures in areas where specific guidelines may not exist
• Knowledge of campus-wide scholarship stewardship initiatives and programs, with the ability to provide context and guidance
• Strong problem-solving skills, with accountability for meeting goals, objectives, and obligations while representing the mission, vision, and values of the organization
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, and stewardship database systems; ability to quickly learn and apply new project management and technology platforms

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training
• Minimum four years of administrative work experience involving analysis and evaluation of policies, procedures and practices
• Experience developing new or improved policies, programs, and practices

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree
• Experience in higher education
• Experience working in a foundation, alumni or advancement office
• Experience with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar donor database
• Knowledge of EverTrue platform products
• Experience with scholarship management technologies, preferably next Gen Scholarship Manager

Compensation

Classification: Administrator I
Anticipated Hiring Salary: $7,334/month
CSU Salary Range: $3,938/month - $11,703/month
The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience. San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: September 25, 2025 through October 8, 2025. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252