Assistant Director of Annual Giving

Position Status: Exempt

Salary Range: $60,000-$65,000. The actual salary offered will depend on a candidate's experience and education, and departmental budget.

• Assists in planning and executing multi-channel annual giving campaigns, including direct mail, email, texting, phone, social media, and crowdfunding campaigns.
• Maintains calendar and communication plan for annual giving solicitations and stewardship.
• Leads, organizes, implements, and evaluates the University’s annual Jay It Forward Giving Day campaign.
• Helps identify, cultivate and manage segments of annual donors, including alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends of the University.
• Monitors campaign performance and fundraising data to recommend strategy adjustments that maximize giving participation.
• Assists the Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving team in planning and staffing signature campus events, including but not limited to Homecoming, Founders Recognition Evening, Quest and Schade Lecture receptions, June Jazz, and/or stewardship and fundraising events.
• In partnership with the Senior Director, Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving, coordinates the stewardship and expansion of the President’s Circle ($1,000 and above annual donors).
• Conducts personal outreach through email, mailings, calls, meetings, and virtual engagement to solicit and steward donors.
• Prepares reports and dashboards for leadership and key stakeholders.
• Supports volunteer-based fundraising initiatives, including Reunion Year Committees and the Alumni Association Board of Directors and Committees.
• Maintains accurate records in the donor database.

• Supports the mission, vision and values of Elmhurst University.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
• Performs other duties and completes special projects as assigned.
• Occasional evening and weekend work required for events and campaigns.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, business, nonprofit management, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in fundraising, advancement services, nonprofit, or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience with CRM databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar).
• Experience with email marketing platforms (e.g., EMMA, Constant Contact).
• Strong organization skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong customer service orientation.

• Experience in higher education fundraising.
• Familiarity with annual giving strategies, metrics and donor lifecycle management.
• Experience with digital fundraising tools, including Gravyty.

The essential functions of this position are primarily performed indoors with limited exposure to outdoor weather conditions. The work is sedentary and involves prolonged periods of sitting. Required abilities include speaking and hearing for in‑person and virtual communication, using close and distance vision when reading documents or viewing screens, and performing tasks with repetitive fine motor skills. Work may require occasional lifting, bending, carrying, or otherwise moving objects weighing up to 15 pounds.

Qualified applicants who can perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodations will be considered.

An overview of Elmhurst University benefits is available.