Donor Relations and Stewardship Officer

Working as an integral member of the Foundation team, the Officer partners cross-functionally with fundraising, finance, communications, and program teams to ensure consistent, accurate, and inspiring donor experiences at every stage of the giving cycle. This role also manages high-level recognition initiatives, oversees Society-level engagement programs, and coordinates exclusive donor experiences, ensuring all stewardship activities align with ULI’s mission, values, and brand.

The Donor Relations and Stewardship Officer plays a vital role in strengthening relationships with ULI Foundation donors through thoughtful engagement, personalized recognition, and impactful stewardship. Reporting to the Executive Vice President of Special Projects, this position collaborates closely with the EVP to design and implement a comprehensive stewardship strategy that deepens donor trust, encourages continued investment, and clearly demonstrates the impact of philanthropic contributions.

• Collaborate with communications, program, and administrative teams to ensure donor-facing materials are consistent, polished, and aligned with ULI’s values and messaging.
• Oversee the creation and delivery of timely, accurate, and personalized donor acknowledgments for all giving levels, ensuring consistency with donor intent and organizational standards.
• Partner with frontline fundraising staff to support and execute donor cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Coordinate with development and data teams to segment donor audiences and tailor approaches to each segment.
• Track and analyze donor engagement metrics; use insights to refine strategies and enhance the donor experience.
• Manage pledge tracking, gift fulfillment, and follow-up communications to ensure donors remain acknowledged and engaged throughout their commitment.
• Collaborate with program and finance teams to collect accurate program data and outcomes for inclusion in timely, transparent, and impact-driven donor reports.
• Develop scalable stewardship tools—including email templates, digital impact reports, and video messages—for meaningful engagement with mid-level and annual donors.
• Plan and execute exclusive donor experiences—such as domestic and international study tours, receptions, and curated briefings—with a minimum of two national and one international engagement annually for Governors Plus.
• In collaboration with the data and development operations teams, maintain accurate donor records, tracking systems, and reporting tools to ensure timely, accurate, and comprehensive donor engagement information.
• Provide internal guidance and training to promote excellence in donor experience across all touchpoints and departments.
• Create and manage personalized stewardship plans for top donors, with a special focus on gifts of $250,000 and above.
• Lead special recognition initiatives, including holiday messages, anniversaries, milestones, and personalized outreach to strengthen donor relationships.
• Support the planning, logistics, and material development for Foundation Board and campaign committee meetings, ensuring a positive and engaging donor experience.
• Partner with the Marketing and Communications liaison to design and format annual stewardship reports in alignment with ULI’s brand and storytelling goals.
• Maintain a stewardship calendar to ensure timely delivery of impact updates, recognition milestones, and engagement opportunities.
• Ensure all stewardship activities comply with donor intent, ethical fundraising standards, and applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
• In partnership with the EVP, Special Projects, develop and implement a comprehensive, tiered donor stewardship strategy for all giving levels—annual, major, principal, legacy, and foundation/corporate donors.
• Contribute to campaign-related donor recognition and stewardship strategies, including the development of naming opportunities, impact updates, and milestone communications.
• Identify opportunities to elevate Society engagement through tailored programming, thought leadership access, and recognition that reinforces the value of participation.
• Create and manage systems for recurring acknowledgments, including branded templates and fulfillment processes for letters, emails, and automated communications.
• Collaborate with communications and events teams to ensure seamless execution of donor benefits, high-quality logistics, and experiences that reflect ULI’s mission and brand.
• Design and manage stewardship and benefit programs for Society-level donors, including Governors and Governors Plus, that reflect their philanthropic leadership and deepen engagement.
• Ensure appropriate public and private recognition of donors, in partnership with communications and events teams, across platforms such as naming opportunities, signage, publications, and web content.

Society Engagement & Donor Experiences

• Proven ability to collaborate across teams, lead internal processes, and build consensus.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g., NetFORUM, Salesforce, or similar).
• Background in philanthropic compliance, donor intent policies, or nonprofit governance.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience designing and delivering donor experiences such as high-level events, travel programs, or curated experiences.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in donor relations, fundraising operations, or nonprofit stewardship.
• Demonstrated success managing complex donor stewardship plans and creating high-value donor reports.
• Familiarity with philanthropic compliance standards and donor recognition best practices.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Exceptional organizational and project management skills.
• Understanding of ULI’s mission areas (housing, sustainability, decarbonization, and DEI) or experience in a membership-based nonprofit.
• Ability to work with senior executives, board members, and high-net-worth donors.

EOE/m/f/d/v. No relocation reimbursement is offered at this time.

The salary range for this position is $78,986 – $90,000. Actual compensation will be based on experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. This role is part of ULI’s comprehensive compensation package, which includes competitive benefits.

Minimum Qualifications