Director of Stewardship & Donor Experience

Position description

Title:Director of Stewardship & Donor Experience

Location:Remote | Full-time, Exempt

Reports To:Chief Revenue Officer

Direct Reports:Sr Manager, Special Events; Alumni Engagement Manager

About the Organization

Over the years, Upwardly Global has supported thousands of foreign-born skilled job seekers in transitioning from poverty or exclusion to quality, thriving-wage careers through its customized program and holistic approach to integrating skilled immigrants into the US job market. Upwardly Global is a data-driven, innovative organization with a bold vision and a fearless spirit operating out of four major US markets and providing remote services nationally. It is unwavering in its commitment to a diverse and inclusive culture where every voice matters.

Position Overview

We are seeking a seasoned fundraising leader to serve as the Director / Senior Director of Stewardship & Donor Experience. In this high-visibility role, you will design, implement, and oversee a world-class donor stewardship and engagement program that strengthens relationships, acknowledges impact, and enhances donor satisfaction throughout the donor lifecycle. You will partner with fundraising, communications, data, and program teams to ensure that every donor interaction reinforces our mission and encourages deeper commitment.

This position is critical to ensuring that Upwardly Global’s donors experience meaningful, mission-connected, and personalized engagement throughout their philanthropic relationship. By delivering gratitude, impact, and recognition at scale, the Director will support the organization’s long-term financial sustainability and ensure that every donor understands the transformational impact of their support.

In a time of significant growth (targeting $25M+ in annual revenue), this role will work across teams to design scalable systems, create inspiring stewardship experiences, lead internal culture-building around authentic (non-tranactional) donor engagement, and develop the processes that make excellent donor relations consistent, timely, and measurable.

If you thrive in an environment where your skills and initiative are valued and want to be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference, this role is perfect for you!

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive stewardship & donor experience strategy across all giving levels: individual, mid-level, major, and legacy donors. Partnering with the Director of Institutional Giving to ensure a streamlined and connected strategy across portfolios.
• Ensure every donor receives timely, personalized, meaningful acknowledgement and recognition; design recognition tiers, giving societies, and donor journeys.
• Build and manage systems, processes, and workflows (in collaboration with CRM/data teams) that support efficient donor tracking, segmentation, and moves-management.
• Collaborate with Communications and Program teams to craft impact-driven content, personalized updates, and meaningful engagement opportunities (events, site visits, virtual briefings).
• Partner with frontline fundraisers and leadership to ensure stewardship is integrated into solicitation, upgrade, renewal, and legacy giving pipelines.
• Lead donor satisfaction measurement, feedback loops, and continuous improvement of donor experience based on analytics and best practices.
• Manage and mentor a small team (or work closely with team members) responsible for donor relations, recognition programs, and stewardship operations.
• Oversee budget and metrics related to stewardship programming: donor retention, upgrade rates, satisfaction scores, cost-per-donor, lifetime value.
• Serve as an ambassador for Upwardly Global with select donors and prospects, representing the organization at events and in donor-facing meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8-12 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising experience, including leadership of donor stewardship or donor experience functions.
• At least 5 years of experience designing donor journeys, recognition programs, and impact reporting frameworks.
• Demonstrated success designing and scaling stewardship programs that improve donor retention, upgrade rates, and lifetime value.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work at both strategic and operational levels and engage donors at all levels.
• Experience managing systems, workflows, and data-driven processes (CRM experience preferred, e.g., Salesforce).
• Ability to collaborate across teams (fundraising, programs, communications, events, operations) and influence stakeholders.
• Strategic mindset, strong project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to Upwardly Global’s mission of immigrant and refugee workforce inclusion and to building inclusive, donor-centric donor experiences.

Work Environment/Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to travel locally and regionally.
• Must be available to occasionally work evening events and weekend sessions (when/if needed).
• Must have reliable transportation, depending on the region

• Compensation & Benefits

  • Salary:$125,000- $150,000 DOE
  • Benefits include, but are not limited to:
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) plan with employer matching
  • Generous paid time off and support for professional development
  • Flexible, mission-driven, inclusive workplace culture
  • Wellness benefits include (but are not limited to) Calm App subscription, Birthday Holiday, 16 hours of health and wellness PTO in addition to regular sick leave (40 hours) and PTO (160 hours); office-wide end-of-year closure (paid) from December 23 to January 1, to allow our team to rest and recharge for the new year.
  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave (gender inclusive)

Application instructions

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