Description

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Communications is responsible for the organization, planning, and management of the University’s annual giving program to seek annual gifts from alumni, staff and university friends. This position manages a program to establish, identify, cultivate, and broaden a base of annual contributors and volunteers for the future major gift efforts. The Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Communications is also responsible for collaborating on communications projects with Advancement and University Communications and executes strategies to raise the visibility of the University and to increase engagement with key audiences.

Essential Job Functions::

• Develops and implements a comprehensive annual giving program to acquire, retain, and upgrade annual donors.
• Collaborates with University partners on philanthropic communications via email, direct mail, phone, online giving, social media and targeted digital outreach to execute effective solicitation and engagement campaigns.
• Coordinates annual giving initiatives including the AU Day of Generosity, reunion class giving, and affinity-based campaigns.
• Serves as the liaison between OPE and University Marketing Communications, ensuring alignment and collaboration on messaging, branding, and promotional strategies for fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship initiatives.
• Develops tools, processes, procedures, policies and materials to support the annual giving program, peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, and campus partners to ensure a seamless and positive donor experience.
• Acts as prospect manager for select annual fund gift prospects, donors and volunteers.
• Directs the development of comprehensive annual fund strategies in alignment with University and department-approved priority projects.
• Develops the annual donor materials and all other OPE communications.
• Researches, writes, and edits a variety of communications, publications, and reports.
• Develops and manages digital and print communications projects.
• Acts as content development resource for the Office of Philanthropy & Engagement.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree required

Experience: At least three years of successful experience with a fundraising program.

Skills::

• An understanding of relational databases and report-writing systems. Knowledge of Raiser’s Edge strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, best practices, methods, and standards.
• Experience working with data to inform all aspects of annual giving or related equivalent experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to build relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects/functions to produce quality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a diverse working and learning environment.
• Strong organizational and detail-orientation skills.

Physical Requirements: Ability to move about at those locations. Ability to move about campus. Ability to interact via telephone, in person and via electronic media.

The anticipated pay rate for this position is $65,000-$75,000 per year. This compensation is subject to change at the sole discretion of the university, based on institutional needs.