Associate Director-Annual Giving & Engagement

 

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Associate Director of Annual Giving & Engagement

 

DEPARTMENT: Office of Advancement

 

LOCATION: Grand Rapids - W.A Lettinga Campus *Hybrid Schedule *

 

REPORTS TO: Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement

 

SALARY: $55,000 - $60,000

 

The Davenport University Office of Advancement is in search of an associate director of annual giving and engagement. This role strategizes, plans, and executes the mass outreach strategy to increase and diversify the number of donors and philanthropic dollars to Davenport University. Through the intentional outreach efforts to connect with Davenport alumni, you will have the opportunity to empower and support students as they strive to reach their educational goals. Your work in this role will raise funds for student scholarships and strategic university initiatives.

 

The role involves key responsibilities focused on the following:

 

• growing annual giving through an intentional mass solicitation campaign,

• strengthening alumni and donor relationships through engagement opportunities,

• enhancing the university's alumni association digital presence,

• and serving as a liaison for annual giving across the University.

 

Position Overview:

 

Annual Giving (40%):

 

• Develop strategies to increase the number of alumni giving to the university, annually.

 

• Drive the implementation and management of the university's annual mass appeal campaign, developing and deploying new strategies tailored to college-specific and athletics alums.

• Utilize various channels such as mail, email, phone, text, social media, and crowdfunding to maximize outreach and engagement.

• Act as a liaison to athletics and individual colleges to support their mass giving strategies.

• Collaborate on the execution of targeted fundraising efforts for specific areas within the university.

 

Alumni Engagement (40%):

 

• Help to build and execute an alumni engagement plan, increasing the quality of relationship alums have with their alma mater.

 

• Develop and implement social media strategies to engage alumni and donors, showcasing the university's achievements and impact.

• Build and execute mass engagement communications plan for alumni utilizing all mediums.

• Work closely with advancement team to enhance the social media/online presence.

• Serve as onsite event support for alumni events.

 

Stewardship (20%):

 

• Drive annual stewardship communication initiatives for both annual giving and scholarship donors.

• Ensure timely and meaningful communication with donors to express gratitude and demonstrate the impact of their contributions.

 

Regulations

 

• Adhere to all privacy (i.e. FERPA) rules and regulations.

• Understand and abide by all external and internal regulations and policies. This includes NCAA, GLIAC and national affiliations associated within athletics or other role specific regulations.

• Provide GREAT customer service, anticipating and exceeding the needs of our customers.

• Demonstrate and promote the University's cultural values.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

 

What can you expect?

 

• Davenport University and the Office of Advancement highly prioritize employee work life balance

• Small collegiate feel with the world class resources of an institution of higher learning

• A driven & results-oriented team environment

• Committed, competent and engaged leadership at all levels

• Hybrid Schedule

• Strong retirement benefits

• Free or significantly reduced tuition for employees, dependents, and spouse

 

Qualifications:

 

Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing, journalism, communication, or related field required.

 

Experience:

 

A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in marketing, events, communications, or advancement is required, ensuring the candidate has a solid foundation and understanding of the principles and practices within these fields.

 

Communication Skills:

 

Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for effectively conveying the university's mission, impact, and gratitude to donors.

 

Collaboration:

 

Ability to collaborate with various stakeholders, including athletics, colleges, and alumni engagement teams, to ensure a cohesive and effective fundraising strategy.

 

Digital Marketing Expertise:

 

Familiarity with digital marketing channels, including social media, email, and crowdfunding platforms, is crucial for maximizing the reach of fundraising campaigns.

 

Strategic Thinking:

 

The candidate should possess strategic thinking skills to develop and implement effective marketing and fundraising strategies.

 

Relationship Building:

 

Ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, alumni, and other key stakeholders is important for fostering a culture of philanthropy.

 

This role requires a dynamic individual capable of driving fundraising efforts through various channels while maintaining strong relationships with donors and key university stakeholders.

 

About Davenport University:

 

At Davenport University, we know what it takes to be successful. With over 155 years of providing quality education under our belts, thousands of Davenport graduates are making an impact on the world with the knowledge and skills they learned here. Our team of faculty and staff collaborate to make this possible. Joining DU means growing and advancing your own career, while making a lasting impact on our students, colleagues and the communities in which we serve.

 

To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/6432035

 

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