Director, Annual Giving

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/13

Please note: This role is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement, up to two days remote and three onsite.

The target budgeted salary for this position is $124,000 - $132,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.


Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Annual Giving, this role serves as the primary management officer responsible for overall program and team performance. The Director works with senior leadership to set goals, track progress, and adjust strategies as needed. They lead multiple teams in developing and executing actionable plans, assess program strengths and weaknesses, and ensure alignment with organizational objectives. The position also participates in departmental management and acts as a liaison to both the University and the Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA).

As a central team leader, the Director oversees an innovative multichannel digital giving program-including digital gift officers, student philanthropy (such as the senior class gift), texting, social media, crowdfunding, online platforms, and web strategies. Partnering with team leaders, they create and implement strategies to increase annual support through digital channels and cultivate long-term donor engagement.

The Director will:

• Manage two staff members , and develop, and coach a team of eight fundraising and programmatic support professionals to ensure program growth.
• Develop and implement innovative strategies to maximize the use of digital tools and platforms to increase annual donors and dollars to Northwestern.
• Craft compelling multichannel digital fundraising appeals and campaigns targeting specific donor segments for renewals, upgrades, and other key metrics.
• Create and implement a program for digital giving officers, focusing on retention and upgrades in the $500-$9,999 range.
• Track and evaluate the success of digital fundraising initiatives to ensure they are improving fundraising results.
• Stay on top of trends and evaluate and recommend new and emerging technology products and platforms as needed.

Specific Responsibilities :

Strategic Planning

• Primary responsibility for development and implementation of strategic plans focused on alumni and student participation in giving. Acts as a thought-leader and champion for digital fundraising best practices for the department and other organizational stakeholders.
• Oversees, creates, implements, and manages plans to incorporate and leverage digital fundraising technologies and best practices to increase engagement and participation by alumni and graduating seniors.
• Initiates, plans, and implements innovative and visionary organizational change and takes calculated risks to develop new strategies to continually expand engagement and participation via digital channels.
• Produces regular campaign and program analysis of digital fundraising efforts. Develops detailed digital fundraising analytics reports and benchmarks.
• Works closely with senior management to set goals and to develop and implement overarching strategies, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship programming for digital gift officers.
• Analyzes campaign metrics and key performance indicators to ensure best practices and lessons learned, and shares these metrics with senior management.
• Oversees programmatic performance evaluation and resourcing, process improvement, and research.

Collaboration

• Reviews and proposes strategic alliances, joint ventures, and key collaborations with department colleagues and other University partners to identify opportunities to integrate University priorities.
• Partners with Direct Appeals colleagues to maximize giving across channels.
• Oversees and coaches team members regarding department collaborations.
• Key partnerships and work involved below:
• Annual Giving colleagues
• NAA
• ARD Schools and Programs teams
• Marketing and Communications
• Gift and Record Services
• Northwestern Office of Student Affairs

Prospects and Gifts

• Plays a primary role in developing and managing relationships with prospect/donors up to $10K that ultimately result in increases in philanthropic contributions.
• Leads assessment of new digital fundraising strategies to grow and diversify the online donor base
• Maintains current knowledge on alumni and donor trends.
• Tracks and manages the prospect pools to develop reports and monitor program results.

Events

• Oversee development and management of key student events and programs designed to expand constituent engagement and participation.
• Reviews and approves event plans and summaries ensuring that overall goals and objectives are attained.

Administration

• Manages a team, provides leadership, determines and evaluates individual goals, develops and implements training and mentoring, assigns and monitors coverage of primary areas of focus ensuring that goals and objectives are attained.
• Conducts ongoing data analysis to determine trends, results and future plans.
• Encourages and optimizes the use of technology, social networking, and other virtual engagement tools to increase and broaden Northwestern's and global reach to prospects and donors. High focus on emerging fundraising technologies that support giving such as crowdfunding, texting, digital wallets, recurring giving, and social platforms.
• Selects and manages high-level vendor/consultant relationships, including determining goals and coordinating activities with department and University staff.

Budget

• Strategically manages a team budget with a commitment to minimize expenses while maximizing return.
• Supervisory
• Supervises 2 staff members.
• Provides training to staff within or outside of immediate dept or division in regard to function.
• Leads, coaches and evaluates performance of direct reports

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 8 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and managing high - performing teams.
• Strong analytical and strategic planning skills, with the ability to navigate and resolve complex challenges.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast - paced, results - driven environment.
• Comfortable leading through change and ambiguity, with adaptability and resilience.
• Exceptional attention to detail paired with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Deep commitment to excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement for self and team.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Prior management of professional-level staff and strong leadership experience.
• Annual Giving experience, preferably within higher education.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Proven success in delivering successful digital fundraising initiatives with demonstrated results.
• Experience developing successful solicitation and personal outreach plans for donors and prospects.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience with data analysis and using data to inform strategy.
• Experience designing programs.
• Experience and knowledge of an organization's tech stack.
• Understanding of donor personalization at scale and customer conversions.

Benefits


At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more .

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process .