Assistant Executive Director of Annual Giving

The Assistant Executive Director, Annual Giving is responsible for using best-practice methodologies for annual giving programs with an emphasis on traditional, digital and Virtual Engagement mediums. The position assists with the overall planning, integrated strategy, and execution of the comprehensive annual giving program.

• Plans and implements the comprehensive annual fund campaign; manages annual fund calendar and ensures strategies and plan remain on target.
• Collaborates with Assistant Vice President of Development and Campaigns (AVP) to develop and implement a centralized, multi-channel annual giving strategy, aligning campaigns with university goals; provides periodic updates and escalates concerns or issues timely.
• Manages all aspects of annual giving operations, including budget, vendor contracts, procurement, and production schedules.
• Works collaboratively with Marketing and Communications to develop content and collateral for campaigns.
• Designs innovative donor engagement initiatives to increase participation and retention; tracks campaign performance and provide data-driven insights for continuous improvement.
• Manages and provides analysis on Annual Fund Program and Development reporting to maximize performance; identifies challenges and communicates potential solutions to leadership to ensure corrective measures are quickly employed.
• Employs a multi-channel solicitation strategy (direct mail, digital communications, social media, crowdfunding, AI, reunion giving, leadership annual giving and other channels) informed by data and segmentation analysis to create compelling annual giving appeals.
• AI/Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) Oversight:
  Configures and supervises the VEO to ensure messaging aligns with institutional voice and ethical AI standards; designs architecture for the digital engagement and moves-management journeys for unmanaged and mid-level donor segments assigned to the VEO; reviews complex inquiries, recommends high-potential prospects to frontline officers, and tracks VEO performance metrics against annual giving benchmarks; integrates VEO into annual giving plan, giving days, and renewal cycles for targeted giving prompts, stewardship, and matching gift appeals.
• Maintains and strengthens annual giving digital tools, including the giving webpage, giving forms, email campaigns, social media, and crowdfunding platforms; creates personalized donor experiences through improved segmentation.
• Identifies, cultivates and recommends annual giving donors with major gift potential to Advancement Services; works with the Assistant Director of stewardship to integrate stewardship program to help retain annual giving donors and move them to higher giving levels.
• Coordinates key fundraising events, including reunion class gifts, giving days, and the annual Buddy Meyer golf tournament.
• Supports gift officers in annual fund solicitations; attends prospect meetings and works collaboratively to meet annual fund metrics.
• Participates in University and community events to represent the University and to build relationships.
• Assists with hiring, training and developing of annual giving staff; works collaboratively to ensure timely submission of meaningful contact reports and calendaring/completion of required reports.
• Remains knowledgeable of the issues facing higher education and annual giving best practices and trends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university required;
  Master's degree or higher preferred.
• 5 years of proven or applicable experience in annual giving and/or project management preferred. Previous experience using crowdfunding platforms preferred
• Must be proficient and have…