Annual Fund Officer

Job Description

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Dillard University seeks an Annual Fund Officer to lead a comprehensive annual giving program that expands donor participation and increases unrestricted and leadership annual gifts. This position manages multi-channel fundraising campaigns, cultivates a portfolio of new to mid-level annual donors, and works closely with colleagues across Institutional Advancement to strengthen the donor pipeline. The Annual Fund Officer plays a vital role in sustaining the university's growth by building a strong base of support among alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends, in alignment with the mission and legacy of Dillard University as a historically Black university.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop and implement an annual giving plan that includes, but is not limited to, direct mail, email, digital outreach, and peer to peer engagement.

Lead annual fundraising campaigns connected to Homecoming, Giving Tuesday, Commencement, Reunion Weekend, and general appeals, in coordination with Alumni Affairs as appropriate.

Support recruitment, training, and recognition of student ambassadors and volunteer callers as needed.

Develop and manage a portfolio of annual fund prospects and donors who give or have the capacity to give between $1,000 and $10,000 dollars, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and donors for annual gifts.

Identify annual fund donors who have the potential to advance to major gift cultivation and coordinate handoffs with the Director of Development.

Work closely with the Director of Development and the Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager to ensure coordinated donor strategies across gift levels.

Participate in monthly advancement pipeline meetings and planning sessions.

Oversee the development of solicitation and stewardship materials and digital content for all annual giving campaigns.

Coordinate messaging and segmentation with the Communications team to ensure consistent and targeted outreach across all channels.

Develop and implement a stewardship program for annual donors, including impact updates and recognition materials.

In coordination with the Vice President and Communications team, prepare the annual State of Dillard Giving report that summarizes participation, revenue, and campaign outcomes.

Develop and maintain regular reporting systems to track donor retention, participation rates, average gift size, and overall annual fund performance.

Maintain accurate donor records and contact reports in Raiser's Edge.

Represent Dillard University at events, meetings, and outreach activities that support annual giving efforts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred.

At least three years of experience in fundraising, marketing, sales, nonprofit management, or related fields.

Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills.

Experience managing successful multi-channel annual fundraising campaigns.

Proficiency with CRM systems, preferably Raiser's Edge.

Commitment to Dillard University's mission and willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends.

Commitment to the mission, culture, and history of Dillard University and HBCU leadership.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.