Required:
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Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
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Experience: Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in development, annual giving, stewardship, alumni relations, or a related field (such as marketing, communications, or relationship management).
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Technical Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in using a Donor Management System (DMS), CRM, or database (e.g., Salesforce, Blackbaud, or the UMF DMS) for tracking donor interactions, managing portfolios, and pulling data reports.
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Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to write compelling, donor-centric appeals and impact-driven stewardship materials that can reach people with a variety of backgrounds and abilities.
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Strategic Planning & Project Management: Demonstrated experience in planning and project management, specifically in planning and executing fundraising campaigns, donor outreach, or stewardship programs.
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Interpersonal Effectiveness and Organizational Agility Proven ability to work independently and as part of a highly collaborative team; experience navigating complex or decentralized organizational structures to achieve goals.
Preferred:
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University Advancement Experience: Previous professional experience working within the University of Minnesota system or the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF).
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Academic Library Affinity: Experience in or professional familiarity with the unique mission of academic libraries, archives, or cultural heritage institutions.
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In-Kind Gift Stewardship: Knowledge of or experience with the stewardship of non-monetary gifts, such as archival collections, rare books, or manuscripts.
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Data-Driven Strategy: Experience using data segmentation and analytics to drive decision-making for annual giving appeals and donor retention strategies.
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Digital Stewardship Tools: Proficiency in using modern stewardship platforms (e.g., ThankView, Canva) and email marketing software (e.g., Marketing Cloud) to create personalized donor engagement content.
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Personal Solicitation: Experience with direct donor cultivation and solicitation for leadership annual gifts (e.g., gifts of $1,000–$25,000+).
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Commitment to Equity: Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through donor engagement and accessible stewardship practices.
Job Summary
The Annual Giving and Stewardship Officer plays a key role in advancing the mission of the University of Minnesota Libraries by securing annual gifts and delivering a coordinated donor
stewardship program. This role balances independent project leadership with strong collaboration across the Libraries, the University of Minnesota Foundation, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. The Annual Giving and Stewardship Officer plans and implements annual giving fundraising strategies, manages donor outreach, and delivers stewardship activities that communicate gratitude and donor impact. The role is responsible for maintaining and strengthening accurate donor data and documentation in the Donor Management System (DMS) to support portfolio management, prospect research, and data-informed fundraising strategies. This position operates with a high degree of independence while working collaboratively with Libraries Staff, the Events and Stewardship Manager, and University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) partners.
Reporting to the University Libraries Senior Program Advisor and Researcher, the role is guided by the strategic direction of the Dean of Libraries, Development Director / Lead Development Officer for the University Libraries, and UMF leadership, and contributes to increasing the visibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of Libraries’ fundraising efforts across the university and broader community.
Key Responsibilities
Annual Giving (45%)
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Program Development and Evaluation: Develop, implement, and evaluate annual
giving programs and activities to ensure effectiveness and alignment with Libraries
fundraising goals. Apply new approaches and engagement methods to improve results. -
Donor Relationship Management: Manage a portfolio of assigned donors by
establishing, cultivating, and soliciting ongoing relationships that support annual giving
objectives. -
Prospect Development and Pipeline Advancement: Identify, acquire, and prioritize
donor prospects to support annual goals and long-term Libraries strategies. Assess
donor readiness and potential for increased giving and help move them along the donor
continuum. -
Appeals and Outreach: Serve as the Libraries’ lead for annual fundraising appeals.
Develop clear, donor-centered messaging and engage donors through mail, email,
crowdfunding, and emerging channels. -
Performance Tracking and Donor Responsiveness: Maintain annual fundraising
goals and performance metrics. Ensure timely, accurate responses to donor inquiries to
support donor trust and satisfaction. -
Cross-Unit Collaboration: Provide Libraries-specific guidance, content, and
engagement opportunities to the UMF university-wide development teams including
Leadership Annual Giving (LAG), Regional, and Gift Planning, to support broader and
coordinated development strategies and fundraising objectives.
Stewardship and Donor Relations (45%)
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Internal Collaboration and Coordination: Build and maintain effective working
relationships with Libraries leadership, curators, archivists, and staff to support
coordinated stewardship and engagement efforts. -
Data Stewardship and Relationship Documentation: Expand and maintain the
Libraries’ presence in the Donor Management System (DMS) by capturing curator and
archivist interactions with in-kind donors, alumni, and partners. Enter timely, accurate
contact reports to document donor engagement and support UMF’s data-driven prospect
research and relationship strategies. -
Stewardship Program Delivery: Develop and implement a coordinated donor
stewardship program that supports engagement, retention, and progression along the
donor continuum. Ensure consistent and effective stewardship practices by preparing
acknowledgement letters and emails and producing tailored stewardship materials,
including individualized impact reports and thank-you videos, and communicate donor
impact and outcomes. -
Event Support and Donor Experience: Collaborate with the Events and Stewardship
Manager to support stewardship and outreach events, providing strategic input and on-
site assistance to enhance donor experience. -
Impact Communication and Recognition: Identify donor impact stories and coordinate
supporting materials with UMF and Communications partners. Manage recognition
outreach, including holiday, birthday, and bereavement communications, in a timely and
appropriate manner.
Other (10%)
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Professional Development: Participate in University of Minnesota Foundation and
University of Minnesota professional development opportunities, staff meetings, and
training sessions. -
Administrative Support: Perform additional duties as assigned by the Senior Program
Advisor and Researcher to support the broader goals of the Libraries' development
team.
University of Minnesota Libraries
The University of Minnesota Libraries is a strategic resource for the Twin Cities campus and the state of Minnesota, providing the infrastructure for research, historical archives, and student success across 12 physical locations. As a top-tier research library, we serve 50,000 students, 4,000 faculty, and a global network of scholars.
The Libraries reach and impact are national and global in scope. Our development efforts support a wide range of initiatives including preserving and sharing 16 unique world-renowned archives and special collections that draw donors without other UMN affinity. We also expand affordable course materials and innovative learning spaces, and are critical to the University’s Health Sciences and Medical School, providing the resources required to train 70% of Minnesota’s healthcare professionals.
The Libraries annual giving and stewardship team is a collaborative group dedicated to connecting donor passion with our mission and values. We work in close partnership with the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF), leveraging a world-class fundraising infrastructure within a specialized, unit-based development office.
Why Join Us?
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Breadth of Impact: Our work touches every college and discipline on campus, supporting the training of the state’s healthcare workforce while serving as a national cultural repository of primary source research materials.
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Expansive Donor Base: We engage a broad national and global community of philanthropists and in-kind contributors drawn to the depth and significance of our unique archives and special collections.
Professional Growth: Access premier development, mentorship, and resources through the University of Minnesota advancement community and the University of Minnesota Foundation.
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
Please attach the following documents in Word of PDF Format in order to be considered for this position (DO NOT copy and paste).
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Resume
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Cover Letter (identify cover letter with UL492)
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Writing Sample(s) (optional)
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Work Examples or Portfolio (optional)
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.
