Director of Donor Experience & Stewardship Strategy
VHC Health, Washington, District of Columbia, United States
VHC Health Foundation is seeking a dynamic fundraiser to serve as Director of Donor Experience and Stewardship Strategy, and TaylorMade Experience is honored to support them in this search.
The Director of Donor Experience & Stewardship Strategy leads VHC Health Foundation’s donor stewardship, recognition, and grateful patient programming. The role strengthens donor trust and loyalty by designing thoughtful experiences that communicate gratitude, demonstrate impact, and respect donor intent. In addition to managing core stewardship operations, the Director serves as a partner to frontline fundraisers and leadership, integrating stewardship into cultivation, proposals, and post-gift pathways that support donor renewal, upgrades, campaigns, and planned giving.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Stewardship & Donor Experience
Develop and refine stewardship and recognition strategies that reflect best practices and differentiate VHC Health in a competitive philanthropic environment.
Define and uphold standards for donor experience across touchpoints, from acknowledgments to impact reporting and events.
Integrate stewardship into cultivation strategies and proposals in collaboration with Major Gift Officers.
Scan emerging donor experience trends across healthcare, higher education, and nonprofits to inform innovations at VHC.
Support campaign readiness with recognition planning, donor experience recommendations, and stewardship pathways for major and leadership-level donors.
Grateful Patient & Grateful Family Programs
Lead the Grateful Patient Program, ensuring sensitivity, compliance, and alignment with Foundation values and clinical relationships.
Identify stewardship approaches that deepen connection with grateful families, encourage long-term engagement, and open pathways to future major and planned gifts.
Partner with clinical staff and Foundation colleagues to ensure donor and family interactions reflect both clinical trust and philanthropic intent.
Recognition & Campaign Strategy
Manage donor recognition programs and giving societies, including processes, standards, and inventories.
Recommend recognition approaches that support naming opportunities, donor choice, and future campaign efforts.
Coordinate across Development, Operations, and Communications to ensure recognition aligns with donor intent, organization brand, and physical environments.
Stewardship Communications & Impact Reporting
Collaborate with Communications and Foundation colleagues to develop donor-facing materials that convey appreciation, impact, and accountability.
Produce stewardship communications that are timely, accurate, and aligned with VHC’s voice and mission.
Recommend new formats, stories, or communication tools that strengthen donor engagement and enhance transparency.
Donor Events & Experiences
Plan and execute donor recognition and stewardship events that reinforce relationships, highlight mission, and demonstrate impact.
Ensure events are purposeful, well-managed, and attentive to the donor experience, while respecting budget constraints.
Collaboration & Advisory Partnership
Serve as a resource to frontline fundraisers and leadership on stewardship practices, donor experience, and recognition approaches.
Contribute stewardship insights to cultivation strategies, gift proposals, and renewal plans.
Collaborate with Operations on donor data, acknowledgments, reporting, and trust-building processes.
Reporting, Accuracy & Donor Trust
Oversee timely, accurate acknowledgments and documentation that reinforce donor confidence and respect donor intent.
Maintain processes that uphold donor confidentiality, reliability, and mission alignment.
Performance Indicators
Donor renewal, upgrade, retention, and engagement trends.
Donor satisfaction and loyalty indicators.
Successful integration of stewardship into frontline cultivation and proposals.
Quality and consistency of recognition and stewardship execution.
Introduction and adoption of improved donor experience practices.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum 5–7 years in donor relations, stewardship, fundraising, or donor experience roles.
Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in developing stewardship and recognition strategies for major gifts, planned giving, and comprehensive campaigns.
Recent experience building a stewardship strategy to support a major comprehensive campaign.
Experience designing and implementing physical and digital donor recognition signage. Demonstrated ability to manage signage and event vendors.
Strong written and verbal communication abilities; excellent judgment and relationship-building skills. Demonstrated ability to write effective donor acknowledgement letters for a range of audiences.
Experience with donor events, recognition, or family-facing donor programs.
Proficiency with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to balance multiple projects, deadlines, and donor expectations.
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The Director of Donor Experience & Stewardship Strategy leads VHC Health Foundation’s donor stewardship, recognition, and grateful patient programming. The role strengthens donor trust and loyalty by designing thoughtful experiences that communicate gratitude, demonstrate impact, and respect donor intent. In addition to managing core stewardship operations, the Director serves as a partner to frontline fundraisers and leadership, integrating stewardship into cultivation, proposals, and post-gift pathways that support donor renewal, upgrades, campaigns, and planned giving.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Stewardship & Donor Experience
Develop and refine stewardship and recognition strategies that reflect best practices and differentiate VHC Health in a competitive philanthropic environment.
Define and uphold standards for donor experience across touchpoints, from acknowledgments to impact reporting and events.
Integrate stewardship into cultivation strategies and proposals in collaboration with Major Gift Officers.
Scan emerging donor experience trends across healthcare, higher education, and nonprofits to inform innovations at VHC.
Support campaign readiness with recognition planning, donor experience recommendations, and stewardship pathways for major and leadership-level donors.
Grateful Patient & Grateful Family Programs
Lead the Grateful Patient Program, ensuring sensitivity, compliance, and alignment with Foundation values and clinical relationships.
Identify stewardship approaches that deepen connection with grateful families, encourage long-term engagement, and open pathways to future major and planned gifts.
Partner with clinical staff and Foundation colleagues to ensure donor and family interactions reflect both clinical trust and philanthropic intent.
Recognition & Campaign Strategy
Manage donor recognition programs and giving societies, including processes, standards, and inventories.
Recommend recognition approaches that support naming opportunities, donor choice, and future campaign efforts.
Coordinate across Development, Operations, and Communications to ensure recognition aligns with donor intent, organization brand, and physical environments.
Stewardship Communications & Impact Reporting
Collaborate with Communications and Foundation colleagues to develop donor-facing materials that convey appreciation, impact, and accountability.
Produce stewardship communications that are timely, accurate, and aligned with VHC’s voice and mission.
Recommend new formats, stories, or communication tools that strengthen donor engagement and enhance transparency.
Donor Events & Experiences
Plan and execute donor recognition and stewardship events that reinforce relationships, highlight mission, and demonstrate impact.
Ensure events are purposeful, well-managed, and attentive to the donor experience, while respecting budget constraints.
Collaboration & Advisory Partnership
Serve as a resource to frontline fundraisers and leadership on stewardship practices, donor experience, and recognition approaches.
Contribute stewardship insights to cultivation strategies, gift proposals, and renewal plans.
Collaborate with Operations on donor data, acknowledgments, reporting, and trust-building processes.
Reporting, Accuracy & Donor Trust
Oversee timely, accurate acknowledgments and documentation that reinforce donor confidence and respect donor intent.
Maintain processes that uphold donor confidentiality, reliability, and mission alignment.
Performance Indicators
Donor renewal, upgrade, retention, and engagement trends.
Donor satisfaction and loyalty indicators.
Successful integration of stewardship into frontline cultivation and proposals.
Quality and consistency of recognition and stewardship execution.
Introduction and adoption of improved donor experience practices.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum 5–7 years in donor relations, stewardship, fundraising, or donor experience roles.
Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in developing stewardship and recognition strategies for major gifts, planned giving, and comprehensive campaigns.
Recent experience building a stewardship strategy to support a major comprehensive campaign.
Experience designing and implementing physical and digital donor recognition signage. Demonstrated ability to manage signage and event vendors.
Strong written and verbal communication abilities; excellent judgment and relationship-building skills. Demonstrated ability to write effective donor acknowledgement letters for a range of audiences.
Experience with donor events, recognition, or family-facing donor programs.
Proficiency with CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to balance multiple projects, deadlines, and donor expectations.
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