Assistant Director of Retention and Acquisition, Annual Giving

Assistant Director of Retention and Acquisition, Annual Giving

Position Title Assistant Director of Retention and Acquisition, Annual Giving

Help deepen donor engagement and inspire philanthropic support across the University at Buffalo.

The Division of University Advancement seeks a creative, data-informed professional to serve as Assistant Director of Retention & Acquisition within University Advancement’s Annual Giving team. This role will help strengthen donor relationships by developing strategies that acquire new donors, retain existing supporters, and demonstrate the impact of philanthropy through personalized engagement and compelling storytelling.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute donor retention and acquisition strategies that engage first-time, recurring, leadership annual, and lapsed donors, increasing participation and long-term philanthropic support.
• Leverage donor data, audience insights, and campaign performance metrics to inform strategy, optimize results, and create personalized donor experiences through targeted, multi-channel outreach.
• Collect and translate donor impact stories into compelling communications and engagement materials that demonstrate how philanthropy advances student success, research, and innovation at UB.
• Collaborate across University Advancement with colleagues in Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, Donor Relations and Stewardship, Advancement Communications, and Prospect Research to align fundraising, engagement, and stewardship efforts.
• Test innovative engagement approaches and contribute to a high-performing team culture through creative problem-solving, continuous improvement, professional development, and cross-functional collaboration.

If you’re a strategic thinker who enjoys combining analytics, storytelling, and relationship-building to create meaningful donor experiences, this is an opportunity to make a lasting impact at one of the nation’s leading public research universities. Join a team committed to advancing student success, groundbreaking research, and UB’s ambitious future. #AdvancingUB starts here.

What We’re Looking For

A strategic, curious, and collaborative professional who can translate data, donor insights, and storytelling into meaningful engagement strategies. Successful candidates are strong communicators who build relationships across teams, think creatively about donor experiences, and use analytics to inform decisions and improve results. The ideal candidate is organized, adaptable, and motivated by continuous learning, with a passion for connecting people to opportunities that make a lasting impact.

Why UB Advancement

Join a mission-driven team advancing student success, groundbreaking research, and meaningful philanthropic impact at one of the nation’s leading public universities. Following the historic $1 billion Boldly Buffalo campaign, University Advancement is building on this extraordinary momentum—accelerating UB’s trajectory toward becoming a top 25 public research institution.

If you’re seeking purposeful work, strong career growth, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference, you’ll find it here. Join a collaborative, forward-thinking team connecting a global community of alumni and donors to bold ideas and transformative outcomes—

#AdvancingUB starts here
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Learn more:

• Our benefits , where we prioritize your well-being and success to enhance every aspect of your life.

University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of experience in annual giving, fundraising, marketing, communications, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or executing multi-channel campaigns (e.g., email, digital, direct mail) aimed at audience engagement, acquisition, or retention.
• Experience working with data and reporting to inform strategy, evaluate performance, and guide decision‑making.
• Familiarity with audience segmentation and targeted outreach, with an understanding of how to tailor messaging to different donor groups.
• Strong…