With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.
Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.
The Philanthropy Stewardship Associate will play a pivotal role in cultivating and stewarding donors, with a primary focus on the Kids Shaping Shepherd (KSS) initiative. This role involves developing engagement and cultivation strategies for KSS, managing volunteer events and programs, and reporting all activities to leadership.
- Cultivate and Solicit Donors: Identify and build relationships with potential donors, including individuals and corporations, by preparing customized engagement strategies that align with their interests and the mission of KSS.
- Steward Donor Relationships: Manage ongoing donor relationships by ensuring timely and personalized acknowledgments, providing regular updates on the impact of their contributions, and fostering a sense of connection to the organization.
- Plan and Execute Events: Lead the planning and execution of KSS events, meetings, and volunteer experiences that support organizational objectives and deliver meaningful engagement opportunities; evening and weekend availability is required to fulfill event and program responsibilities.
- Craft Written Communications: Assist in drafting and editing personalized written correspondence, such as meeting agendas and group communications, to effectively convey the organization's message and engage stakeholders.
- Manage Donor Recognition: Oversee donor recognition opportunities, ensuring they are accurately and timely executed, and that donors feel valued for their support.
- Oversee Data Management: Ensure accurate data gathering, reporting, and tracking of donor interactions and activities, maintaining up-to-date records to inform stewardship strategies.
- Collaborate Across Teams: Work closely with gift officers, volunteers, and other team members to align efforts and achieve fundraising goals, fostering a collaborative environment.
- Implement Stewardship Policies: Support the implementation and adherence to internal policies and processes for donor stewardship, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in all stewardship activities.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
- Experience: Minimum of 2 years in donor relations, event planning, or volunteer coordination, preferably within a nonprofit or healthcare setting.
- Skills: Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and donor management software.
- Attributes: Detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about the mission of Shepherd Center.
