Foundation Fighting Blindness
Director, Donor Stewardship
Foundation Fighting Blindness, Columbia, Maryland, United States, 21046
The
Director, Donor Stewardship
leads efforts to deliver a consistently exceptional donor experience that strengthens engagement across Major Gifts, Visionary Circle, Legacy, and Transformational Giving. Through standardized practices and mission-aligned communications, this role ensures donors feel appreciated, informed, and directly connected to the outcomes their support makes possible.
As a member of the Development leadership team, the Director partners with gift officers and cross-functional colleagues to design, implement, and report on stewardship strategies that reinforce donor trust, deepen relationships, and support long-term fundraising success.
Primary Responsibilities:
The following are representative of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position and are not meant to be an all-inclusive list:
Donor Stewardship and Engagement
Lead the redesign and implementation of the multi-tiered stewardship strategy for donors across Major Gifts, Visionary Circle, Legacy, and Transformational Giving teams. Evaluate and enhance donor acknowledgment practices to ensure they are timely, personalized, and mission-aligned—this includes refining thank-you letters, impact reports, and donor updates to better reflect the Foundation’s voice and donor expectations Partner with gift officers to co-develop stewardship plans that deepen donor relationships and reinforce trust. Oversee pledge tracking and follow-up to ensure fulfillment of donor commitments and sustained engagement. Impact Reporting and Donor Recognition
Collaborate with the Science and Marketing teams to develop compelling donor communications that clearly demonstrate the impact of giving on FFB’s research and mission. Partner closely with the Science team to translate complex research updates into accessible, donor-friendly language that aligns with donor interests and the Foundation’s voice. Manage donor recognition programs, including giving societies and naming opportunities, ensuring alignment with donor motivations and Foundation values. Campaign Stewardship and Strategic Support
Serve as a strategic partner across Development, Science, Marketing, Finance, and Field teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and mission-aligned donor messaging. Oversee stewardship efforts for major fundraising campaigns, ensuring consistent donor communication, recognition, and post-campaign engagement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support campaign planning, execution, and analysis, with a focus on donor experience and retention. Donor Events and Experiences
Lead the planning and execution of donor appreciation events, cultivation gatherings, lab tours, and intimate salons that connect donors to the science and stories behind the work of the Foundation. Collaborate with Marketing and Development teams to integrate donor engagement into broader Foundation campaigns and experiences. Volunteer Leadership Strategy
Activate high-level engagement through clear roles, strategic alignment, and purpose-driven involvement. Equip leaders with essential tools to drive informed action, amplify influence, and support organizational goals. Celebrate contributions through meaningful recognition that reinforces value and deepens commitment. Data, Tracking, and Insights
Partner with database team and super users to ensure accurate tracking of stewardship activities and donor records. Analyze donor engagement trends and provide actionable insights to inform strategy, enhance retention, and support revenue growth. Essential Qualifications:
Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in major gifts, donor stewardship, and/or nonprofit fundraising. Proven success developing and executing donor stewardship strategies using moves management frameworks, resulting in the cultivation and closure of major gifts ($5,000+). Demonstrated success in developing compelling donor collateral, such as impact reports, personalized stewardship packages, and campaign materials that inspire continued and increased giving Expertise in donor segmentation and personalization strategies, ensuring communications and stewardship efforts are aligned with donor motivations, giving history, and philanthropic interests. Experience collaborating with program and finance teams to translate organizational outcomes into donor-friendly language and visuals that highlight return on philanthropic investment. Strong understanding of donor psychology and philanthropic trends to proactively design stewardship experiences that resonate and retain support Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Virtuous) to manage donor pipelines, track interactions, and generate stewardship reports. Ability to craft and execute multi-channel stewardship plans, including email, print, events, and digital touchpoints that reinforce donor impact and deepen engagement. Skilled in developing and executing donor recognition strategies, including naming opportunities, honor rolls, and bespoke acknowledgments for high-value supporters. Experience stewarding both annual fund and major gift donors, with a focus on post-gift engagement and long-term retention. Position Specifics:
Home-office based Location: Columbia, MD or Philadelphia, PA preferred Full-time, Exempt Reporting to: VP, Development Salary range $110,000-$125,000. The salary range is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role. The range considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic market, depth of experience, and internal equity. Annual Incentive Bonus Eligibility up to 8%
Director, Donor Stewardship
leads efforts to deliver a consistently exceptional donor experience that strengthens engagement across Major Gifts, Visionary Circle, Legacy, and Transformational Giving. Through standardized practices and mission-aligned communications, this role ensures donors feel appreciated, informed, and directly connected to the outcomes their support makes possible.
As a member of the Development leadership team, the Director partners with gift officers and cross-functional colleagues to design, implement, and report on stewardship strategies that reinforce donor trust, deepen relationships, and support long-term fundraising success.
Primary Responsibilities:
The following are representative of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position and are not meant to be an all-inclusive list:
Donor Stewardship and Engagement
Lead the redesign and implementation of the multi-tiered stewardship strategy for donors across Major Gifts, Visionary Circle, Legacy, and Transformational Giving teams. Evaluate and enhance donor acknowledgment practices to ensure they are timely, personalized, and mission-aligned—this includes refining thank-you letters, impact reports, and donor updates to better reflect the Foundation’s voice and donor expectations Partner with gift officers to co-develop stewardship plans that deepen donor relationships and reinforce trust. Oversee pledge tracking and follow-up to ensure fulfillment of donor commitments and sustained engagement. Impact Reporting and Donor Recognition
Collaborate with the Science and Marketing teams to develop compelling donor communications that clearly demonstrate the impact of giving on FFB’s research and mission. Partner closely with the Science team to translate complex research updates into accessible, donor-friendly language that aligns with donor interests and the Foundation’s voice. Manage donor recognition programs, including giving societies and naming opportunities, ensuring alignment with donor motivations and Foundation values. Campaign Stewardship and Strategic Support
Serve as a strategic partner across Development, Science, Marketing, Finance, and Field teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and mission-aligned donor messaging. Oversee stewardship efforts for major fundraising campaigns, ensuring consistent donor communication, recognition, and post-campaign engagement. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support campaign planning, execution, and analysis, with a focus on donor experience and retention. Donor Events and Experiences
Lead the planning and execution of donor appreciation events, cultivation gatherings, lab tours, and intimate salons that connect donors to the science and stories behind the work of the Foundation. Collaborate with Marketing and Development teams to integrate donor engagement into broader Foundation campaigns and experiences. Volunteer Leadership Strategy
Activate high-level engagement through clear roles, strategic alignment, and purpose-driven involvement. Equip leaders with essential tools to drive informed action, amplify influence, and support organizational goals. Celebrate contributions through meaningful recognition that reinforces value and deepens commitment. Data, Tracking, and Insights
Partner with database team and super users to ensure accurate tracking of stewardship activities and donor records. Analyze donor engagement trends and provide actionable insights to inform strategy, enhance retention, and support revenue growth. Essential Qualifications:
Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in major gifts, donor stewardship, and/or nonprofit fundraising. Proven success developing and executing donor stewardship strategies using moves management frameworks, resulting in the cultivation and closure of major gifts ($5,000+). Demonstrated success in developing compelling donor collateral, such as impact reports, personalized stewardship packages, and campaign materials that inspire continued and increased giving Expertise in donor segmentation and personalization strategies, ensuring communications and stewardship efforts are aligned with donor motivations, giving history, and philanthropic interests. Experience collaborating with program and finance teams to translate organizational outcomes into donor-friendly language and visuals that highlight return on philanthropic investment. Strong understanding of donor psychology and philanthropic trends to proactively design stewardship experiences that resonate and retain support Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Virtuous) to manage donor pipelines, track interactions, and generate stewardship reports. Ability to craft and execute multi-channel stewardship plans, including email, print, events, and digital touchpoints that reinforce donor impact and deepen engagement. Skilled in developing and executing donor recognition strategies, including naming opportunities, honor rolls, and bespoke acknowledgments for high-value supporters. Experience stewarding both annual fund and major gift donors, with a focus on post-gift engagement and long-term retention. Position Specifics:
Home-office based Location: Columbia, MD or Philadelphia, PA preferred Full-time, Exempt Reporting to: VP, Development Salary range $110,000-$125,000. The salary range is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role. The range considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: geographic market, depth of experience, and internal equity. Annual Incentive Bonus Eligibility up to 8%