Director, Annual Giving

Director, Annual Giving

Department: Annual Giving

Reports To: Senior Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff, University Advancement Alumni

Position Type: Staff

Position Summary: Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Alumni Engagement, Giving, and Communications and exercising a high degree of creativity, strategic thinking, independence, and leadership, the Director of Annual Giving will lead annual giving efforts for NJIT. Managing an Assistant Director of Annual Giving, he or she will lead and oversee a robust, digital-first direct response and leadership annual giving program with the goal of increasing alumni giving, donors, and revenue each year.

Essential Functions:

• Work closely and collaboratively with the AVP, Alumni Engagement, Giving, and Communications to analyze current annual giving operations and recommend, implement, and execute on changes needed to propel the team to a best-in-class, digital-first operation capable of building giving rates, donor counts (especially among alumni), and revenue.
• Maintain and enhance ongoing annual giving efforts, including but not limited to direct mail and email, NJIT Giving Day, and crowdfunding, utilizing creativity, industry best practices, and data analytics. Incorporate newer platforms including texting, personalized video, and AI fundraising for solicitation and stewardship.
• Develop and adhere to an annual plan and calendar, ensuring on-time delivery of appeals and strategically using segmentation to improve results.
• Conceptualize and produce all direct mail and email for NJIT annual giving, from writing copy to working with mail house to design and execute appeals or sending email through NJIT's CRM system. Consistently test message, design, format, and other factors to improve direct response performance.
• Increase the number of crowdfunding projects each year by building awareness of NJIT's crowdfunding platform among campus partners. Provide quality control for projects, and coach participants to successful completion of campaigns.
• Partner closely with Associate Director, Next Generation Engagement on efforts to build a culture of philanthropy among NJIT students and young alumni, including supporting events and building multichannel direct marketing campaigns.
• In partnership with NJIT's Donor Relations team, establish a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving stewardship program.
• Engage Senior Development Officers and other DAR staff in strategies to grow alumni giving, donors, and revenue, particularly at the Leadership Circle level ($1,000+ annually)
• Stay abreast of trends in annual giving and advancement and recommend adoption of new technologies and strategies as appropriate.
• Build strong relationships both within University Advancement and across campus, including student life, strategic communications, and academic affairs.
• Provide leadership, management, and strategic guidance to the annual giving team.
• Use data to assess programs and develop strategy.
• Assume responsibility for meeting goals, objectives, and other key performance indicators for annual giving.
• Guide and mentor staff members on best-practice activities, strategies, programs, and priorities related to annual giving; build trust-based, positive, and authentic working relationships with them; follow university and industry best practices for performance management, and model desired behaviors.
• Manage and responsibly steward annual giving budget.
• Other duties as assigned.

Prerequisite Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of progressively responsible experience in annual giving and/or advancement.
• Demonstrated success in developing successful annual giving efforts that have resulted in measurable and significant growth in alumni participation, donor counts, and/or revenue.
• Experience with CRM platforms, databases, and analytics.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive plans for annual giving, establishing goals and objectives that translate into annual operating plans.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with high level university administrators, faculty, donors, and volunteers.
• Exceptional writing, speaking, interpersonal, and analytical skills.
• Position may involve travel as well as ability to work evenings and weekends.
• At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the university, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Bargaining Unit:

Non-Aligned

Range/Band:

10

Salary Information:

In compliance with the NJ Pay Transparency Law, the annual salary range for this position is $95,000.00-$110,000.00 (USD). NJIT considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses or other items.