Hiring: Director, Donor Relations & Stewardship Company: Florida Gulf Coast University Location: Fort Myers, FL Job Posted Time: 2026-09-11 11:27:53 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords : Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint About the job Required Skills: •FGCU is building a culture of curiosity, commitment and collaboration. We value employees who successfully work with others and drive positive change through critical thinking and decisive action. If you thrive in an environment of innovation, accountability and mutual respect, you will find a good home here. •Leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive donor relations, stewardship, and cultivation strategy aligned with institutional fundraising goals and advancement best practices. •Oversees donor engagement strategy and portfolio activity across all assigned prospects in coordination with the major gift and planned giving team, with the ability to directly engage donors and prospects in cultivation as needed. •Develops donor relations and stewardship strategies, goals, and department priorities in partnership with advancement leadership, including individual prospect strategy, pipeline development, and opportunity alignment. •Serves as a key advisor to advancement leadership on donor engagement, naming opportunities and recognition strategies. •Supports cultivation and solicitation efforts through preparation and review of donor-facing materials including proposals, solicitation letters, gift agreements, and customized engagement content. •Oversees coordination of donor cultivation and engagement strategies for university fundraising campaigns in collaboration with advancement leadership and campus partners. •Support all fundraising events and recognition events in development in coordination with university events and advancement leadership. Qualifications: •Master’s Degree from an accredited university. •Knowledge of state and foundation compliance requirements, including audit and reporting standards. •Proven ability to think strategically, engaging donors and aligning stewardship strategies with institutional priorities. •Knowledge of the principles, best practices, trends, and legal constraints of fundraising and gift solicitation within higher education. •Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. •Skilled in public speaking and storytelling that convey donor impact and inspire philanthropic support. •Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and ensure high quality results. •Demonstrated capacity to be a self-starter with documented results in building new programs and initiatives. •Demonstrated capacity to think critically and creatively, have a high standard of integrity, and be motivated to incorporate best practices into the organizational structure. •Demonstrated capacity to collect, organize, analyze, and present donor analytics, stewardship metrics, and endowment reports, presenting information in a meaningful manner. Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!