Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving

Job Description

As a member of the Division of University Advancement, this position reports to the Senior Director, Philanthropy & Operations and is responsible for the qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors with the capacity to give $1,000 – $10,000 annually. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, metrics-driven frontline fundraising professional responsible for engaging prospects and soliciting support via a variety of methods including personal visits (in person or virtual), phone, email, social media and text.

Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of fundraising best practices and have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Responsible for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors with the capacity to give $1,000 to $10,000 annually.
• Engages with and conducts one-on-one personal solicitations of donors for annual leadership gifts via personal visits (in person or virtual), phone, email, social media and text.
• Meets defined appointment, qualification and solicitation goals while developing a pipeline for major and planned gifts.
• Collaborates with Advancement Division colleagues including alumni staff and gift officers to generate referrals for volunteer leadership, major gifts and planned gifts as appropriate.
• Routinely collaborates with the Senior Director, Philanthropy & Operations to implement best practices related to solicitation processes and pipeline development.
• Manages solicitations for College/School Advisory Councils, campus units and special projects (including reunions) as needed.
• Supports Faculty & Staff Giving by conducting presentations to colleges, schools and departments.
• Provides prompt follow-up to all donor interactions and uses CRM Advance to track all outreach and donor-initiated communications.
• Reviews data and pulls reports to utilize for decision making.
• Aligns work with Gift Compliance and External & Donor Relations on gift documentation and donor recognition efforts and best practices.
• Travels locally and regionally for donor meetings.
• Develops a strong understanding of the university, its mission and strategic priorities.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 4 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired are necessary.

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and engage diverse constituents.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strategic thinker with a focus on quality, efficiency, and measurable outcomes.
• Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Familiarity with fundraising principles and donor communications best practices.