Webster Adds Seasoned Fundraising Professional to Leadership Role

As part of its Kairos Strategic Plan, the non-profit Webster University is launching a new Community Resource Development department with the appointment of Jaclyn Stewart-Strothmann as the senior director for the new group.  Jaclyn is a Webster alum who has helped raise more than $100 million for other St. Louis non-profit organizations.  She joins Webster at a time when the University has implemented a successful turnaround after years of declining revenues.   

Stewart-Strothmann recently was part of a team that completed a $173 million fundraising effort for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra where she served as the associate vice president of Major and Planned Giving.

“I am excited to join Webster’s staff and help them tackle the challenge of rethinking how they raise money and what donations best benefit the students and the community,” Stewart-Strothmann said. “Webster has been part of St. Louis for more than a century, yet almost all their revenue is tuition-based. To lower costs for students, the University must draw upon its strength in the community to boost its endowment and relieve the pressure to increase tuition to keep up with inflation.”

As part of the effort to reorganize its development department, Webster hired the consulting firm of Dickerson-Bakker – one of the top fundraising consulting firms in the country – to analyze Webster’s fundraising strategies. Among the many recommendations was to fill the senior director role in the department with a seasoned professional with a proven track record. Stewart-Strothmann easily fit that bill.

“Jaclyn has the experience and ability to help us innovate new ways to build resources in support of our students both here in the U.S. and at our eight international locations,” Webster President Tim Keane said. “Being a double alum of Webster, as well as having a career focused on fundraising in the St. Louis region, makes her uniquely qualified to catalyze Webster's capacity to support the dreams and aspirations of our students.” 

Webster’s previous structure had an advancement department as a stand-alone group that oversaw fundraising and alumni relations. Under the Kairos plan – launched last year – the divisions were restructured to reduce the number of leadership positions and improve efficiency across the institution. Earlier this year, the advancement division was combined with Webster’s communications, marketing, and events outreach offices to form Webster University’s Global Marketing and Community Resource Development Department. Vice President Stephanie Dane leads that new department.

Stewart-Strothmann previously was with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra since 2023. She previously was the director of development for Barnes Jewish Hospital, and before that worked for The College School in a fundraising position. She started her career at Webster University as a program manager for the Holden Public Policy Forum. Stewart-Strothmann holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in international relations from Webster.