Director of Annual Giving

Director Of Annual Giving

This posting is for a full-time, 12-month, exempt position. The Director of Annual Giving (the Director) is to secure current use unrestricted support for the University from alumni, parents, and other friends. A secondary responsibility is to identify and qualify constituents who have the financial capacity to become leadership-level donors and recommend them for management by the staff in Major Gifts.

The Director is responsible for conceptualizing and implementing all facets of the Annual Giving program. This includes annual goal setting, fundraising strategy, monthly performance monitoring and reporting, volunteer and staff management, and goal achievement in raising undesignated and designated current-use gifts.

Essential Functions

This position requires regular, predictable, reliable attendance in the office environment.

1. The Director will develop an annual work plan before the start of each fiscal year that will include bottom-line fundraising goals for the annual giving program by functional area, a plan for volunteer engagement within the leadership giving levels, goals for the number of days of personal and staff travel visiting leadership gift prospects, goals for the number of face-to-face solicitation visits, and receptions and events to cultivate and steward annual giving donors.

2. The Director will serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team within the division of university advancement and contribute to the policy and direction-setting process for the division.

3. The Director will visit alumni, parents, and friends of the University to solicit leadership-level annual gifts. The Director will travel locally and regionally on average 3 to 5 days a month visiting and soliciting leadership level annual gift prospects and complete on average 6 to 7 solicitation visits a month. Actively engage in the qualification and rating of new donor prospects during their prospect visits and make recommendations of prospects who should be managed at the Major Gift Level ($25,000 or higher).

4. The Director will manage and leverage the brand identities for unrestricted giving, specifically the Findlay Fund, Findlay Forward Scholarships, and the Findlay Parents Fund.

• The Director will restructure and enhance the University's leadership-giving society to encourage alumni, parents, and friends to make annual leadership gifts at increasing levels. Implementing strategies through strategic target market mailings, technology including e-mail/mobile/online channels to reach and acquire gifts from several alumni, parents, and friends;

• the strategic use of social media and other technology to invite younger donors to make a gift;

• and collaboration with colleagues from the Center for Alumni, Parents, and Friends in event planning and outreach.

5. The Director will be responsible for developing strategies to increase the number of donors at the leadership annual giving levels, as well as upgrading existing donors to the next level. These strategies should include, but are not limited to:

• The identification, recruitment, training, and management of a select group of volunteers (alumni & parents) to conduct peer-to-peer solicitations;

• assist in the planning and execution of leadership-level donor events and activities that strategically advance the goals of the leadership annual giving society;

• and the strategic use of University Administrators in the solicitation process (particularly the President, Vice President for University Advancement, Associate Vice President for Advancement, and College Deans).

6. The Director will manage the Assistant Annual Giving Director and Stewardship Manager, oversee the stewardship program and strengthen the recognition of alumni, parents, and friends who are consistent annual donors to the University.

7. The Director will be responsible for working with staff in University Marketing, as well as outside vendors to ensure the creation of compelling, innovative solicitation methods utilizing direct marketing, direct mail, social media, telemarketing, and online giving techniques.

8. The Director will be a sophisticated user of donor database systems with the ability to draw donor segments and evaluate segment performance to guide investment and solicitation strategy. The Director will have a thorough understanding of marketing analytics and the ability to use prior gift and predictive modeling data to guide the development of future donor segments and the creation of efficient and profitable solicitation strategies.

9. The Director will work cooperatively with University colleagues across campus as well as community volunteer groups to enhance our outreach to and solicitation of University friends for designated current use support of the Mazza Museum, Performing Arts, Oiler Athletic Fund, and the Concert & Lecture Series.

10. The Director will develop a strategy for the 100% Oilers Campaign, engaging and soliciting a broad base of support from the University's faculty, staff, and retirees.

11. The Director will work hand in hand with the Assistant Annual Giving Director and Stewardship Manager to develop special stewardship initiatives that include tailored donor recognition letters, participation in the development of the Annual Report of Gifts, and donor recognition events.

12. The Director will exercise oversight of the Annual Giving budget to ensure that available resources are employed in areas that produce the greatest fundraising return. He/she will also monitor the budget as needed to ensure a balanced budget for the fiscal year.

13. The Director will ensure the completion of monthly activity reports and enter details of their prospect visits into the division database system following each trip. All travel reimbursement paperwork and requests will be submitted for approval within 30 days of travel.

14. Perform all other duties deemed necessary for this position.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Competencies 1. Collaboration Skills. 2. Ability to ask for donations. 3. Communication Proficiency. 4. Discretion. 5. Manage with Integrity. 6. Flexibility. 7. Organizational Skills. 8. Performance Management. 9. Personal Effectiveness/Credibility. 10. Technical Capacity.

Supervisory Responsibility The Director of Annual Giving will directly supervise the Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship Manager and a part-time administrative assistant.

Work Environment This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform while performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms as part of the essential functions of this job.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a full-time 12-month position, and general hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Travel Some nights and weekends may be required. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license and a safe driving record.

Required Education and Experience

1. Bachelor's degree. 2. Three years of professional experience are required. 3. Must be a strategic thinker, gifted leader, and bold visionary who flourishes in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. 4. Must be able to utilize strong analytical skills to evaluate the performance of a multi-faceted annual giving program, and confidently deploy limited resources in a manner that produces the greatest financial benefit to the University. 5. Must be accustomed to managing multiple projects at once and understand how to lead, engage and motivate team members responsible for their respective parts of each project.

Preferred Education and Experience

None required for this position.

For optimal consideration of your applicant file, faculty applications must include a cover letter; current Resume or Curriculum Vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; and the contact information for three professional references with your application. Staff applications must include a current Resume or Curriculum Vitae and cover letter with your application.

The University of Findlay is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. It is the university's policy to prohibit discrimination and provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to their race, sex (including gender identity/expression), color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, military or sexual orientation.