Stewardship Coordinator - #231871

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations, the Advancement Stewardship Coordinator will be responsible for assisting Donor Relations in maintaining best practices for donor stewardship, from fund communication to annual reporting, to gift acknowledgements and tribute reporting. Using a multi- disciplinary approach, this position will also work in collaboration with the Advancement Business Officer for fund financials, the Advancement Advancement Operations Manager for donor reporting and for administrative functioning, and other division staff, to ensure that WCU's philanthropic gifts are stewarded at the highest level.

Primarily, the Advancement Stewardship Coordinator will both support and at times lead efforts ensuring WCU's family of donors have a complete picture of their giving and impact. As the university heads into a comprehensive campaign, it will be important to hone and improve our established framework of donor stewardship to maintain an environment of donor appreciation and transparency. This position will also perform some gift receipting processes, assist with answering calls to the main office line, and welcome guests to the Advancement Office.

The stewardship coordinator will track donor benefits and recognition plans as directed by our stewardship processes and work with the Director of Donor Relations to ensure timely delivery of weekly thank you letters to donors, using WCU's How We Thank guidelines. The coordinator will assist with questions regarding annual and endowed scholarship fund information, providing requested financials to scholarship donors. This position will also generate monthly or as-needed stewardship reports to a curated group of donors. The stewardship coordinator will also assist with college and unit identified stewardship initiatives as needed.

The stewardship coordinator will also manage parts of the gift agreement process, ensuring donor's gift intentions are documented and access to the appropriate reports are enabled.

On a yearly basis, the stewardship coordinator will assist with the delivery of endowment fund reports, scholarship thank you letters, and tax acknowledgement letters to donors. Other duties might include assisting with the following tasks: stewardship of giving society donors through membership fulfillment, philanthropic naming opportunity needs, campaign-specific stewardship, and donor stewardship events.

A typical day may include serving as a project manager for annual reporting processes; works in collaboration with the Donor Relations Director to ensure reports are sent in a timely manner and meet donor expectations; handles special projects, as assigned, to achieve donor stewardship objectives and perform other work as directed or required; and works with Director to define stewardship policies, procedures and protocols and assists in the creation of toolkits for easy reference by fundraisers.

Must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Utilization of the university's scholarship donor portal, Banner Finance, Blackbaud's Raiser's Edge, and Microsoft 365 will be essential. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word (including Mail Merging) is required.

Applicants must apply online in order to be considered. Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of references (with complete contact information).

Applicants claiming Veteran's preference must upload a copy of their DD-214.

PLEASE COMPLETE ALL AREAS OF THE APPLICATION. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS MAY NOT BE GIVEN CONSIDERATION IN THE REVIEW PROCESS.

If no applicants apply, who meet the required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities/Competencies and Training and Experience requirements, then management may consider other applicants.

All new hires into positions subject to the State Human Resources Act ( SHRA) will serve a 12 month probationary period as defined by the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources ( OSHR).

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.

Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.

All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.

Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Additionally, the University promotes the realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans through its affirmative action program.
Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.

The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.