Overview
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for UW-Madison, is recruiting for a self-motivated Stewardship Program Specialist. The Stewardship Program Specialist is responsible for coordinating and executing centrally managed donor recognition programs that strengthen relationships, reinforce trust, and deepen engagement with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This is a hybrid position that will require you to work on-site at our Madison, WI office at least 2 days per week.
Serving as a key resource for donor recognition, the role supports the implementation of established stewardship strategies through careful coordination, creative problem‑solving, and strong attention to detail. Responsibilities include maintaining accurate donor tracking, coordinating timely and thoughtful recognition fulfillment, and supporting clear, compelling communications. The position works closely with WFAA colleagues, campus partners, and external vendors to carry out stewardship activities and recognition moments, including involvement with events and communications that reflect donor values and institutional priorities.
This role is well suited for someone motivated by connection, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Using data, donor feedback, and industry best practices, the position supports ongoing assessment of program effectiveness and contributes recommendations for enhancements to the donor experience. The role also assists with donor relations and stewardship operational needs, provides consultation and support to campus partners, and contributes to a collaborative, service‑driven culture focused on engagement and impact.
Please Note: We can hire this position as a Stewardship Program Specialist or Senior Stewardship Program Specialist, depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate.
Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.
Diversity and Inclusion:
Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive.
Essential Functions
Recognition Program Management
- Maintain accurate records of donor eligibility using CRM systems.
- Fulfill recognition milestones through collaboration with Marketing & Communications and external vendors.
- Coordinate production and delivery of recognition materials and communications.
- Recognition program Subject Matter Expert (SME)
- Serve as a point of contact for internal stakeholders, campus staff, and donors regarding recognition questions, policies, historical structures, and best practices.
- Provide training and guidance to WFAA colleagues and campus staff on recognition protocols and tools.
- Stay informed on industry trends and peer institution practices to ensure innovation and relevance.
- Provides administrative and strategic support for select recognition programs, including on-site support as needed.
- Monitor, report out, and evaluate recognition program effectiveness and recommend enhancements based on donor feedback, WFAA’s current priorities, and engagement metrics.
Donor Relations & Stewardship
- Responsible for centrally managed acknowledgements and notifications
- Support logistics for stewardship-led programs, processes, and systems
- Manage stewardship SWAG distribution, communication, inventory tracking, and ordering.
Administration
- Serve as the first point of contact for Stewardship-related questions and consulting requests
- Administrative lead for Central Stewardship content on Advancement Hub.
- Administer the Stewardship Teams channel with relevant content and reminders, and assist with scheduling team meetings and other stewardship team related events.
- Provide support for the Central Stewardship Team on projects as needed. Cross-train on key functional areas and processes in Central Stewardship
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- 1 + years of relevant professional work experience.
- Experience in advancement and/or donor relations/stewardship.
- Proficient in MS Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Copilot, and Outlook.
Other Qualifications
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
- Dependable, highly-motivated and collaborative as well as the ability to work independently.
- Strong written and overall communication skills.
- Comfortable with data manipulation and analysis.
- Familiar with Salesforce, Affinaquest, PowerBI, Apsona, Canva, and ThankView preferred.
- Open to feedback and flexible with changes.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong sense of initiative.
- Ability to manage several projects simultaneously, set priorities and meet deadlines.
At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. Click here to learn more about our employee benefits!
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.