Stewardship Associate

Stewardship Associate

Company: Villanova University

Job Location: Villanova, 19085

Category: Development and Fundraising

Type: Full-Time

Posting Number: 20260082S

Location: Villanova, PA

Work Schedule: full-time/12-months

Department: 604 - University Advancement

Position Summary

Ignite Your Career at Villanova University! Whether undergraduate or graduate, faculty or staff, each community member brings with them a wealth of experiences that enrich our University and shift our perspectives. As a part of this community, your work will improve lives and ignite change!

Why work at Villanova?
Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University's founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
* Villanova has been included among the nation's best colleges and universities. VU's inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Colleges" rankings is another indication of the University's continued prominence and forward momentum.
* Villanova's most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

Villanova University has embarked on a 10-year strategic plan, Rooted. Restless., with the goal of enhancing the Augustinian Catholic living and learning experience for all members of our community. University Advancement is seeking exceptional talent to join our mission-driven team working together toward our shared vision for Villanova, fueled by the generosity of the University's philanthropic supporters as we "keep moving" in the spirit of St. Augustine in the public phase of Villanova's comprehensive capital campaign: Espiritus Nova.

The Stewardship Associate reports to the Associate Director of Stewardship and Reporting, serving as the Stewardship team's primary writer and editor. This position is responsible for crafting donor-centric messaging through reports, acknowledgements, and recognition materials to communicate to donors the impact of their philanthropy. The successful candidate must have exceptional writing skills and an aptitude for the efficient development and dissemination of compelling messaging.

The Associate must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to coordinate complex, long-term projects involving multiple stakeholders. This position collaborates frequently with internal University Advancement colleagues and campus partners, requiring the incumbent to be an excellent communicator and skilled at building strong, collaborative relationships. This individual must be flexible in responding to team needs, and contribute to a wide range of projects, events, and processes.

In addition, the Associate must be able to independently manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, prioritize work effectively, and be diligent to follow up and complete tasks for assigned projects. A commitment to leveraging technology for increased efficiency, creative problem-solving to meet donor needs, strong organizational skills, and a collaborative mindset are essential.

The Stewardship Associate will support Stewardship team goals and is expected to participate in select University Advancement events throughout the fiscal year.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Communications - Donor Reports: In collaboration with the Associate Director of Stewardship and Reporting and the Stewardship Associate - Data Management, the Stewardship Associate will serve as a key partner in the annual stewardship reporting cycle. With the support of the Associate Director, the Associate will be responsible for managing Endowment Narratives, a central component of the annual Endowment Reports - strategizing and developing project plans, coordinating with internal partners, and ensuring the successful completion of all narrative reports. The Associate will be responsible for liaising and collaborating with campus partners to collect, write, edit, and disseminate narrative reports that highlight the activities and impact of donor-supported funds. Managing the outreach, reminder, and overall communications process for contacting campus partners utilizing current and developing technologies. The Associate will be responsible for organizing and tracking project communications and updates. In addition to being a key partner for the Endowment Reports, the Associate will be the primary reviewer and editor of student Scholarship Reports and Impact Reports (annual financial reports). Assist in the development of general communications content for mass reporting pieces.
• Custom Communications & Acknowledgements: In partnership with the Associate Director of Stewardship and Reporting, the Associate will be responsible for crafting and executing custom donor reports for the University's highest level of donors. Collaborating with UA colleagues and campus partners to strategize reporting plans, develop content, and manage review processes. The Associate will partner with University Advancement Communications annually to update donor acknowledgement templates.
• Process & Resources Development: The Associate will assist with conceptualizing and developing materials about the work of the Stewardship team, including but not limited to, donor communication matrixes, operations and process documentation, and educational materials for UA and campus partners. Assist in the tracking of historical stewardship report materials utilizing technologies and platforms available.
• Perform additional duties and assist with special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Two to four years of similar or related experience required, preferably in nonprofit or higher-education.
• Experience in a communications focused environment required, direct work in higher education or advancement a plus.
• Superior verbal and writing skills, ability to manage simultaneous projects, priorities and deadlines, committed work ethic, ability to collaborate and communicate internally with colleagues and externally with donors required.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Strong analytical and research skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail, especially as related to editing and proofreading.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, along with the ability to multi-task and successfully complete projects with competing deadlines.
• Ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships with campus stakeholders, including faculty, administrative, and students.
• Ability to utilize both new and existing technology to increase efficiency within projects.
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools, including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook required. Knowledge of general office equipment, including personal computers required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Salesforce or other CRM platforms preferred.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Salary Posting Information

This position falls within salaried grade 12 and the range is $55,000-58,700. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate's qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.

Salary Grade
12