Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving and Discovery

Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving and Discovery

Reporting to the Executive Director of Veteran & Military Development, with a dotted line to the Executive Director of Leadership Giving and Discovery, the Assistant Director of Development is responsible for discovering, soliciting, and qualifying alumni, parents, and friends who have the capacity to support Syracuse University's military-connected initiatives with a minimum $2,500 leadership annual gift. This position will focus on giving to the D'Aniello Institute for Veteran and Military Families (IVMF) and the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA).

The Assistant Director will build and maintain a portfolio of at least 125 leadership annual prospects and maintain a sustained cadence of discovery activity.

Bachelor's Degree required. Two or more years of successful fundraising experience or closely related experience in a nonprofit or higher education. Demonstrated experience in personal solicitations and building relationships. Work in higher education, veteran serving organization, or other nonprofit organization is preferred. Possession of a valid, enhanced driver's license.

Preference to a candidate with knowledge of leadership annual giving with an emphasis on layered solicitation approaches. Ability to strategize donor centric solicitations and execute, including personalized stewardship. Independent and collaborative critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential. Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to build a case for support. Personal drive to meet and exceed annual goals;
Flexible and adapts well to change.

Qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of approximately 125 leadership annual giving donors for new gifts, renewals, and upgrades using a variety of techniques such as phone calls, emails, correspondence, and face-to-face visits, including both in-person and virtual. Ultimately, increase the number of donors giving a minimum gift of $2,500 to The Hill Society (the University's leadership annual giving society) and any giving societies for the IVMF/OVMA.

Evaluate ability and inclination of prospects to make a major or planned gift in order to regularly refer donors to major gift officers for movement along the pipeline of giving. Actively collaborate with colleagues/units across the division (annual and leadership annual giving, schools/colleges/units, regional programs, gift planning, family giving, alumni engagement, career services) to develop and implement strategies to maximize fundraising effectiveness.

Significant travel is required for personal solicitation, qualification, and stewardship to advance relationships with donors. Conduct approximately 100 discovery visits, strategically to evaluate inclination, capacity, and affinity to grow portfolio and the pipeline for new donors at the Leadership Annual Giving level. Document outcomes of qualifications, making sure next steps are identified. Work independently to analyze data, prioritize outreach efforts, and make a set number of qualification contacts, visits and solicitations.

Support the growth and engagement of The Hill Society and military-specific giving societies by identifying prospective members, facilitating meaningful stewardship, and collaborating on strategies that deepen member involvement and philanthropic impact. Utilize database of record (CITRUS) to update strategic plans and opportunities, interactions, outcomes and next steps. Contribute to research and accuracy of alumni records. Participate and potentially lead IVMF/OVMA, AEA or Leadership Annual Giving initiatives that are identified as special projects.