Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving

Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving (36475)

Are you a detail-oriented professional with a passion for creating meaningful alumni experiences? The Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving plays a key role in advancing engagement and annual giving efforts through program execution, operational leadership, and cross-functional coordination.

Working within the Division of University Advancement and reporting to the Director of Foundation and Alumni Events and the Director of Annual Giving, this role serves as a central connector across teams, ensuring programs, campaigns, and initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with institutional goals.

• Program & Operational Leadership
  :
  Assist in coordination and execution of alumni engagement programs, events, and annual giving initiatives, ensuring alignment with budget, timeline, and participation goals.
• Strategic Coordination
  :
  Partner with leadership and cross-functional teams to advance priorities, support financial and operational processes, and ensure effective collaboration, including engagement with key volunteer groups.
• Constituent Experience
  :
  Serve as a primary point of contact for alumni programs, experiences, benefits, and opportunities, delivering a high-quality and consistent experience across engagement touchpoints.
• Engagement & Mission Advancement
  :
  Build and strengthen connections with alumni, donors, and prospects by supporting initiatives that increase participation, deepen relationships, and advance the mission of NIU and the Foundation.

• Support planning and execution of alumni programs, events, and experiences including some international and domestic travel programs, ensuring alignment with budget, timeline, and participation goals.
• Manage program infrastructure, including systems setup, reporting, and participant tracking to support informed decision-making.
• Oversee logistics and vendor coordination, including venues, contracts, pricing, and deliverables.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for participants, managing inquiries, registration support, and pre-program communications to ensure a high-quality experience.
• Maintain accurate participant data and support targeted marketing and outreach efforts.
• Ensure timely promotion and accurate posting of programs across platforms.
• Support on-site execution and oversee post-program reconciliation, including attendance and payments.
• Manage billing processes and track contracts, ensuring deadlines, approvals, and renewals are met.

• Support execution of annual giving efforts through coordination of campaigns, communications, and engagement activities across channels (direct mail, social, email, texting, crowdfunding, etc.).
• Manage and implement key annual giving initiatives, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with overall goals.
• Contribute to the development and execution of engagement strategies that support donor lifecycle progression, particularly for emerging and young alumni audiences.
• Coordinate content and production needs for annual giving outreach, ensuring consistency and effectiveness across platforms.
• Support targeted giving efforts and special campaign initiatives by coordinating logistics, tracking progress, and assisting with implementation.
• Contribute to stewardship and follow-up efforts that strengthen donor relationships and encourage continued engagement.
• Monitor participation and engagement trends, providing insights to inform future outreach and campaign strategies.

• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives and process improvements that enhance program effectiveness and efficiency.
• Monitor participation and engagement across alumni programs and benefits, identifying trends and recommending improvements to strengthen lifecycle engagement.
• Lead and coordinate select operational programs, including the Mission Mascot Program, managing scheduling, logistics, accounting, and campus partnerships.
• Manage promotional inventory and oversee distribution to support engagement and annual giving efforts.
• Take…