The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for securing unrestricted and restricted current-use gifts through direct-mail, peer-to-peer, phone and electronic solicitations from Emory and Henry alumni, friends and parents.
Duties and Responsibilities
Direct Solicitation: Develop and execute a comprehensive annual giving program to secure unrestricted and restricted current-use gifts.
- Draft direct-mail solicitations from the President, Vice President and/or Trustees and other volunteers and work with outside vendors to send these to alumni, friends and parents.
- Recruit and supervise student callers for the phonathon program.
- Draft and send electronic solicitations as part of an overall annual giving plan.
- For each of these, collaborate with colleagues in both Marketing and Communications and Philanthropy and Engagement on datasets, institutional brand and key messages.
- Work with the Vice President and colleagues in Philanthropy and Engagement to identify and implement strategies for increasing membership in the Patrick Henry Society and other leadership recognition societies.
Managing Data: Effectively manage alumni and donor data in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
- Pull most datasets for direct solicitations.
- Pull reports regarding the performance of the annual giving program (e.g., donor acquisition, donor retention, etc.).
Prospect Coordination: Work closely with the Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement and Associate Vice President for Philanthropy on any and all solicitations to Trustees and major giving prospects to ensure that these are more personal and are carefully coordinated with or are a part of major giving solicitations.
Required Education & Experience
Required Education:
- Bachelor’s degree required.
Required Experience:
- Three to five years of experience in annual giving or direct marketing in a non-profit setting.
- Experience in higher education preferred.
Competency:
- Familiarity with a fundraising or direct marketing database required; familiarity with Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred.
- Superlative writing skills.
- Ability to relate effectively to donors, alumni, colleagues and students.
- Ability to multi-task and advance multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Working and Environmental Conditions
Normal office environment with remote work options. Some weekend and evening work is required.
Physical Characteristics and Requirements
Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
Supervisory Responsibility
Direct report includes Assistant Director of Annual Giving.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- Three to five years of experience in annual giving or direct marketing in a non-profit setting
- Experience in higher education
- Familiarity with a fundraising or direct marketing database
- Familiarity with Raiser's Edge NXT
- Superlative writing skills
- Ability to relate effectively to donors, alumni, colleagues and students
- Ability to multi-task and advance multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Supervisory responsibility (recruit/supervise student callers and oversee Assistant Director of Annual Giving)
What We Do
Emory & Henry University is a private liberal arts university founded in 1836, recognized as the oldest institution of higher learning in Southwest Virginia. It is committed to fostering faith, knowledge, service, and global citizenship.
