Meet the Virtual Stewardship Officer (VSO): Redefining Donor Stewardship at Scale

The Virtual Stewardship Officer (VSO) is an AI-powered partner dedicated to one of the most important, yet resource-intensive parts of fundraising: stewardship. VSOs work alongside your team to build meaningful donor relationships after the gift—ensuring consistent engagement, personalized recognition, and a deeper connection to your mission.

Instead of one-off thank-yous or mass updates, the VSO delivers tailored, impact-driven stewardship that’s designed to retain annual donors, lift leadership giving, and keep loyal supporters engaged for years to come.

How the VSO Elevates Stewardship Capacity

Manages personalized stewardship journeys for hundreds of donors

Most teams don’t have the bandwidth to provide high-touch stewardship to every donor who deserves it. The VSO steps in to manage a portfolio of donors who fall outside the traditional scope of major gift portfolios—ensuring they receive thoughtful follow-up and personalized engagement that reflects the impact of their gift.

Stewards donors “above the portfolio line” with perpetual engagement

These are donors who were once in a managed portfolio but no longer have the intention or capacity to make another major gift in the near future. They may include planned giving donors or long-time supporters. The VSO keeps them close by delivering personalized updates about the impact of their past gifts, celebrating their continued support, and helping retain their annual giving through consistent, meaningful touchpoints.

Engages “below the portfolio line” leadership donors with high-touch recognition

Some donors are just shy of a major gift, or not yet ready to make a larger commitment. The VSO ensures these supporters aren’t overlooked. By delivering tailored stewardship tied to their specific fund or designation, the VSO nurtures these relationships with a level of attention that traditional staffing models can’t always support. Monthly sustainers and leadership donors finally get the recognition and follow-up they deserve.

Selects and shares impact content that aligns with each donor’s giving

The VSO draws from a rich, organization-specific knowledgebase to select the most relevant stories, updates, and impact data for each donor. Whether it’s a testimonial, a report on program outcomes, or a note from a beneficiary, the VSO ensures that every touchpoint is personalized, purposeful, and rooted in gratitude.

Ensures stewardship is consistent, strategic, and never forgotten

With the VSO, stewardship doesn’t fall through the cracks. Every donor receives tailored recognition on a cadence that supports retention and deepens connection. With the VSO working autonomously, your team can scale personalized engagement across a broader donor base—extending your reach without stretching your staff.

Scaling Stewardship with Digital Fundraising Partners

Organizations are rethinking how they deliver stewardship at scale—especially for donors who fall outside traditional portfolios. With a VSO on your team, you can:

• Ensure consistent, personalized stewardship across all donor segments

• Retain and uplift annual donors, monthly sustainers, and planned giving supporters

• Extend personalized engagement by pairing intelligent automation with strategic, relationship-driven outreach

  
  

Build a digital stewardship strategy that complements your human team—and turns more donors into lifelong supporters.

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Ready to elevate your stewardship strategy with a VSO? 

Schedule your demo today.