"Associate Director, Stewardship and Donor Experience (Annual Giving)"

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

Stewardship and donor experience are key to fostering meaningful relationships between supporters and Rice University. Gratitude and clear communication of philanthropic impact help create a sense of belonging and partnership. By implementing a strategic plan, the team ensures stewardship efforts align with the diverse needs of donors, enhancing their connection to the university. Thoughtful recognition and personalized engagement make donors feel valued, inspiring continued support for Rice’s mission.

Reporting to the Director of Stewardship and Donor Experience (Annual Giving), the Associate Director of Stewardship and Donor Experience (Annual Giving) plays a vital role in advancing Rice’s culture of philanthropy. The position delivers tailored stewardship for leadership donors and recognition society members, ensuring each supporter feels valued and connected. Working closely with campus partners, the Associate Director designs and executes targeted content via multifaceted campaigns that demonstrate impact, spark meaningful connections, and build lasting commitment.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a relationship builder who combines organizational strength with a donor-centered mindset. They should have exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, to deliver meaningful acknowledgments, articulate donor impact, and represent Rice University with confidence and professionalism.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in donor relations, fundraising, alumni relations, or related fields
• In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted

Skills:

• Ability to develop and initiate new strategies
• Proven track record of building relationships and strategic partnerships
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Advanced data analysis skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated self-starter who works independently while thriving in collaborative, team-oriented environments
• Adept at problem-solving, creating contingency plans, and handling issues when necessary
• Strong client service orientation and good judgment and diplomacy
• Strong attention to detail and ability to quickly understand and remember details about alumni/donors and projects to which they are assigned
• Experience creating and implementing external-facing strategies across multiple channels (e.g., print, digital, in-person, and video)
• Ability to manage a large number of project activities simultaneously

Preferences:

• 3+ years of experience in development, donor relations, stewardship, fundraising, alumni relations, or related fields
• Experience overseeing recognition societies or loyalty/leadership donor programs
• Ability to think strategically, work collaboratively, prioritize, and create and follow processes
• Experience using generative or predictive artificial intelligence to develop marketing or fundraising strategies
• Personal initiative and curiosity to learn
• Experience in frontline roles engaging donors, alumni, or external stakeholders
• Demonstrated success in managing projects from conception through completion
• Knowledge of emerging donor and stewardship practices and fundraising trends
• Ability to collaborate with staff members, students, and campus partners in an organized way to carry out the multitude of background details needed for stewardship and donor experience initiatives
• Ability to demonstrate good judgment in dynamic situations
• Ability to analyze data and make data-driven decisions

Essential Functions:

• In partnership with the Director of Stewardship and Donor Experience (Annual Giving), manages a portfolio of leadership-level donors ($10,000–$99,999) to provide personalized stewardship, cultivate relationships, and inspire continued giving
• Designs and leads signature stewardship campaigns that align with institutional priorities
• Builds pipelines of student thank-a-thons, testimonial videos, or other campaigns that showcase donor impact
• Serves as an annual giving stewardship expert and liaises with Alumni Relations and campus partners; ensures best and emerging practices are incorporated into stewardship and stakeholder engagement across campus areas
• Represents the Annual Giving team externally at donor events, visits, and recognition activities, modeling donor-centered practices
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports on stewardship activity and donor engagement data, using OwlConnect (Blackbaud CRM) and other systems to evaluate program effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform strategy
• Stays current with industry trends in donor relations, stewardship, and annual giving, and recommends new approaches for implementation
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Open office environment
• Some weekend and evening work hours are required
• Some out-of-town travel may be required
• Requires extensive contact within the university at all levels, including upper-level administration, in person, in meetings, in writing, and by telephone
• Requires extensive contact outside the university with alumni, parents, and friends of Rice University, often in person, with follow-up by phone or in writing

Rice University HR | Benefits

Rice Mission and Values

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Disability Resource Center at 713-348-5841 or adarice@rice.edu for support.

If you have any questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.