Director of Development & Alumni Engagement

Western Connecticut State University is pleased to announce applications are being accepted for Director of Development & Alumni Engagement.

Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) is committed to enhancing our diverse university community by actively encouraging people with disabilities, members of LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities, veterans, and women to apply. We take pride in our pluralistic community and continue to seek excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion. WCSU is honored to be awarded the federal designation as a Hispanic Servicing Institution (HSI).

This accomplishment marks a pivotal moment in our progress toward fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus community.

This position sits within the Office of Institutional Advancement, the university’s fundraising and external engagement division. Institutional Advancement is responsible for securing philanthropic support to advance the university’s mission, strategic priorities, and student success initiatives. Information on the University may be found on (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Provides strategic leadership for fundraising and alumni relations initiatives that advance institutional priorities, strengthen donor and alumni engagement, and increase philanthropic support. Manages a portfolio of high-potential donors and alumni prospects, guides development staff in achieving fundraising goals, and uses pipeline, campaign, and alumni engagement data to evaluate progress and inform strategy. Leads a comprehensive alumni relations program, cultivates campus and community partnerships, supports volunteer leadership, and develops diversified revenue strategies through major gifts, alumni giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and campaign initiatives.

Supervises professional and/or support staff.

• Manages a portfolio of high-potential donors and alumni prospects by developing and implementing individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and major gift strategies in support of institutional priorities and fundraising goals.
• Implements data-informed fundraising, campaign, and alumni engagement strategies that increase donor engagement, alumni participation, philanthropic support, retention, and revenue growth.
• Oversees development staff by monitoring portfolio activity, tracking progress toward individual and team fundraising goals, and providing guidance to ensure consistent performance.
• Uses pipeline activity, alumni engagement data, and CRM/Raiser’s Edge records to assess donor movement, identify gaps, document interactions, and report progress toward fundraising and engagement benchmarks.
• Leads a comprehensive alumni relations program that strengthens lifelong alumni connection through events, communications, volunteer leadership, affinity groups, reunions, regional engagement, student-to-alumni initiatives, and donor stewardship.
• Serves as the primary liaison to alumni boards, committees, class ambassadors, and volunteer leaders in support of University and Foundation priorities.
• Partners with campus departments, faculty, athletics, admissions, career services, student affairs, and community organizations to create meaningful alumni participation opportunities.
• Cultivates relationships with alumni, parents, faculty, donors, businesses, and community partners to advance engagement, stewardship, visibility, and philanthropic support.
• Collaborates with Advancement leadership, university administrators, deans, and faculty to identify funding opportunities, alumni stories, campaign priorities, and engagement strategies.
• Develops and implements strategies that diversify philanthropic revenue through major gifts, alumni giving, planned giving,…