What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Advancement Communications and Stewardship position at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab?
The Director, Advancement Communications & Stewardship Will
Principal and Transformational Gift Communications ($5M Portfolio)
Principal and Transformational Gift Communications ($5M Portfolio)
- Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies for donors with capacity or commitments of $5M and above.
- Lead creation of customized principal gift proposals, naming opportunity materials, impact reports, donor agreements, executive briefings and campaign case statements.
- Design highly personalized stewardship plans aligned with donor intent and institutional priorities in research, clinical innovation, and quality of life programs.
- Translate complex clinical data, research outcomes and innovation pipelines into compelling donor-facing content that demonstrates measurable impact.
- Collaborate directly with relationship managers to support cultivation and solicitation strategies, including high-level briefing materials for leadership.
- Ensure accurate tracking and fulfillment of reporting obligations and recognition commitments.
- Oversee comprehensive stewardship program, ensuring donors receive best-in-class, highly tailored engagement.
- Develop scalable stewardship systems while maintaining white-glove engagement for top-tier donors.
- Lead production of endowed fund reports, milestone updates and translational research impact summaries.
- Integrate real-time programmatic data and clinical outcomes into stewardship communications.
- Establish performance metrics for donor retention, satisfaction, and engagement.
- Leverage digital tools, Raiser’s Edge, analytics dashboards and donor engagement platforms to personalize and scale communications.
- Develop multimedia storytelling assets including video briefings, digital impact reports, virtual lab tours and beyond.
- Utilize automation, segmentation strategies and data analytics to refine messaging and optimize donor engagement.
- Partner with Marketing & Communications to ensure brand alignment and consistent institutional voice across print, digital and experiential channels.
- Integrate virtual and hybrid event technologies to enhance cultivation and stewardship experiences.
- Explore emerging technologies (AI-assisted content development, digital personalization tools, immersive storytelling platforms) to elevate donor engagement. .
- Serve as strategic advisor to senior leadership on messaging for high-stakes donor conversations.
- Collaborate with physician-scientists and clinical leaders to source timely content and measurable outcomes.
- Partner with Finance and Legal to ensure gift compliance, documentation accuracy, and reporting transparency.
- Supervise and mentor communications and stewardship staff
- Contribute to advancement strategy, particularly in the principal gift tier.
- Reports directly to the Associate Vice President, Advancement
- Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s preferred.
- 8–12 years of experience in advancement communications, principal gift strategy or high-level donor stewardship within healthcare, academic medicine, research institutions or complex nonprofits.
- Demonstrated experience supporting $5M philanthropic engagements.
- Exceptional writing and editorial ability, with fluency in translating scientific and clinical content into accessible philanthropic narratives.
- Experience leveraging CRM systems, digital engagement tools, analytics platforms and multimedia communications.
- Strong project management skills and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, research-driven environment.
- High level of discretion and executive presence.
- Experience in an academic medical center or research hospital setting.
- Familiarity with translational research, neuroscience, rehabilitation medicine, or healthcare innovation.
- Supervisory experience.
- Principal Gift Strategy & Execution
- Strategic Narrative Development
- Data-Driven Communications
- Digital & Multimedia Fluency
- Institutional & Scientific Literacy
- Highly collaborative
- Experience shaping outcomes, decisions and work product without formal authority
- Relationship Stewardship
- Retention and growth of $5M donor relationships.
- Quality, timeliness, and strategic alignment of principal gift materials.
- Normal office environment with little or no exposure to dust or extreme temperature.
- Position is hybrid, with required in-person duties as needed.