Overview:
Reporting to the Director of Stewardship, the Stewardship Coordinator (Advancement Coordinator) plays a vital role in fostering meaningful relationships with donors by ensuring they are recognized, informed, and connected to the impact of their philanthropy. This position manages donor acknowledgments and impact reporting, prepares leadership acknowledgment letters, develops communication templates and other stewardship communications, and oversees the donor-named spaces process, including management of the Named Spaces website. The Stewardship Coordinator collaborates closely with Advancement colleagues and partners across Utah State University to deliver exceptional donor stewardship experiences that strengthen engagement and inspire continued support.
Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and outstanding written communication. The ideal candidate is collaborative, adaptable, and thrives in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities and deadlines. They are comfortable working with data, committed to producing high-quality work, and motivated by creating meaningful experiences that strengthen relationships between donors and Utah State University.
Responsibilities:
Operations
-
In collaboration with the Stewardship and Donor Engagement Team and the Director of Stewardship, establish goals, objectives, and plans to create an exceptional donor giving and engagement experience.
-
Implement strategies to ensure donors are thanked in meaningful ways and understand the impact of their philanthropy.
-
Recommend improvements to donor acknowledgment and impact reporting processes.
Planning and Coordination
-
Manage USU's donor acknowledgment program, ensuring donors are thanked accurately, appropriately, and promptly based on gift level, donor history, and special circumstances. Coordinate all aspects of the process, including collaboration with university units and preparation of mailings.
-
Draft, coordinate, and shepherd leadership thank-you letters through the review and approval process, partnering with development officers and others to ensure personalized, meaningful communications.
-
Write stewardship copy for design and publication.
-
Manage the distribution of donor reports and notifications.
-
Maintain the online inventory of honorary and non-honorary naming opportunities and donor-named spaces, including related stories and photographs.
-
Provide support to the AVP of Stewardship and Donor Engagement for the University Naming Committee.
-
Assist with data collection, reporting, and analysis of stewardship and donor engagement activities and metrics.
Partnership and Collaboration
-
Partner with campus units to support donor acknowledgment plans.
-
Research, gather, and compile information for donor impact reports.
-
Support the university's scholarship donor thank-you letter process in collaboration with campus partners.
-
Assist with donor events and other stewardship activities as needed.
-
Support team projects, events, and processes based on departmental priorities.
-
Provide outstanding customer service to internal and external partners consistent with the department's mission.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
-
Four years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience (such as an associate degree or coursework toward a bachelor's degree).
-
Experience or education related to writing.
-
Experience or education related to process management.
Preferred Qualifications
-
Bachelor's degree.
-
Experience working in philanthropy, advancement, or higher education.
-
Knowledge of higher education fundraising principles.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
-
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
-
Ability to communicate effectively with donors and campus partners by phone, mail, and email.
-
Ability to gather, organize, and synthesize information into clear, goal-oriented communications.
-
Ability to use AI tools to improve efficiency and enhance work processes.
-
Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
-
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
-
Proficiency with computers and standard office software.
-
Ability to create, edit, and proofread written materials.
-
Records management and database management skills.
-
Knowledge of office management principles and procedures.
-
Ability to build effective working relationships in a collaborative team environment.
-
Ability to exercise sound judgment and make procedural decisions.
-
Knowledge of communication principles, media, and marketing techniques.
-
Field-specific knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined in the recruitment notice.
Required Documents:
Along with the online application, please attach:
-
Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
- Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application (iForm)
-
Contact information for 1 Professional Reference to be typed at the beginning of your application
**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**
Advertised Salary: Minimum $50,000 commensurate with experience plus excellent benefits ADA:
Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.
College/Department Highlights:
The Division of Advancement is a welcoming office where inclusiveness and teamwork are highly valued. Advancement staff are engaged in the meaningful work of securing private financial resources to fuel Utah State University's mission by creating gratifying gift and engagement experiences for USU's generous and passionate alumni and friends. Comprising the division are the office of the Vice President, the USU Foundation & Board, Advancement Services, the Alumni Association (Alumni Engagement), Gift Planning, Corporations and Foundations, Strategic Communications, Stewardship and Donor Engagement, the Annual Fund and ACE (Alumni Center for Engagement). Furthermore, the division coordinates all fundraising efforts across campus, including colleges, various programs, extension campuses, and USU Athletics. Through the collaboration of these units, the Division of Advancement is able to achieve significant annual fundraising goals by inspiring stakeholders to invest their time and resources in Utah State University.
Disclaimer
This position description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the position.
University Highlights:
Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.
USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.
Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, officially joining on July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025–26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.
Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.
The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or
[email protected].
Notice of Non-discrimination:
In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.
Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.
Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.
In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.
The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:
Civil Rights & Title IX Office
Old Main Room 405
1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322
(435) 797-1266
For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:
U.S. Department of Education
Denver Regional Office
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
