Associate Director, Individual Giving

Art Center College of Design is searching for an experienced Associate Director, Individual Giving to join our team.

Salary Range
: $80,000.00 – $82,000.00.

Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, Art Center College of Design is a global leader in art and design education with an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. Art Center is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at Art Center plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Mid-Level Donor Portfolio Management (30%)

• Manage a defined portfolio of mid-level donors through proactive, personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Develop individualized engagement plans based on donor interests, capacity, and readiness to give.
• Execute renewal, upgrade, and retention strategies designed to grow philanthropic investment and long-term donor loyalty.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned donors, ensuring consistent, thoughtful, and donor-centered engagement.

Pipeline Development and Collaboration (15%)

• Identify and qualify donors with major gift potential and actively support pipeline development.
• Partner with Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Advancement leadership to ensure seamless prospect transitions and strategy alignment.
• Collaborate with Annual Giving on segmentation, messaging, and coordinated outreach strategies for mid-level donors.
• Work closely with Alumni Engagement and Industry Engagement colleagues to leverage programs, events, and volunteer opportunities that deepen donor involvement.

Stewardship and Donor Engagement (20%)

• Design and execute stewardship strategies appropriate for mid-level donors, including personalized acknowledgements, updates, and engagement opportunities.
• Contribute to donor communications, briefings, and targeted initiatives that highlight the impact of philanthropy and reinforce donor connection to the College.
• Participate in donor-facing events and cultivation opportunities, including select evening and weekend activities.

Volunteer and Membership Program Support (20%)

• Support Advancement-affiliated volunteer and membership groups, including the Art Center
  100 Board.
• Assist in developing engagement strategies, communications, and stewardship plans for volunteers.
• Partner with internal teams to align volunteer engagement with fundraising and pipeline priorities.
• Foster strong relationships with volunteers to ensure a positive and mission-aligned experience.

Data Management and Performance Tracking (10%)

• Track donor engagement, solicitation activity, and progression within the CRM in collaboration with Advancement Services.
• Monitor performance metrics related to retention, upgrades, and pipeline movement and contribute to regular reporting and analysis.
• Maintain accurate, timely donor records and contact reports in accordance with Advancement protocols.

Non-Essential (5%)

• Maintain memberships and active involvement in applicable professional organizations.
• Assist with occasional advancement-related events.
• Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils.
• Follow all College policies, including safety protocols.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
• At least 5 years of fundraising, donor relations, or advancement experience.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with an ability to build cohesive one-on-one relationships with donors and motivate them to support education.
• Excellent written and oral communication and negotiation skills; ability to translate complex academic, artistic, and technical concepts into language understandable by lay audiences.
• Experience with Raiser's Edge or other equivalent Customer Relations Management (CRM) systems.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with various internal and external stakeholders related to the ongoing operations of the division, including donors, volunteers, executive leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a collaborative team environment to achieve institutional goals.
• Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion, recognizing the confidential nature of Art Center business.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within Art…