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Director of Annual Giving

POSITION:  Director of Annual Giving

DEPARTMENT:  Office of University Advancement

REPORTS TO:  Sr. Vice President for University Advancement & Strategy

PRIMARY FUNCTION:  The Director of Annual Giving works to inform, engage, and build investment from internal and external constituencies. This is a fundraising position with strategic and operational oversight of the annual giving program, including: days of giving, annual appeals, specialized projects, and a portfolio of individual annual giving prospects. The incumbent will focus on gifts between $1,000 and $24,999+ in support of University needs and priorities with a goal of increasing annual giving from all sources. This position is responsible for implementing a University-wide comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program that appropriately and consistently promotes interaction with and recognition of donors at all levels.  The director oversees donor stewardship activities and drafts written materials to aid in the institution's efforts to education, cultivate, and recognize donors.  This position will also supervise the Donor Relations Officer, serve as the liaison to the Athletics Department on engagement and annual giving work, and lead E-news communication efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS:  Bachelor’s Degree required, master’s preferred. At least five years+ direct fundraising/development experience with a proven successful track record in annual gift solicitation with emphasis on directing an annual giving program. Experience working within a university development or advancement organization strongly preferred. 

  • Goal-oriented, highly motivated development professional with demonstrated ability to work independently while also being able to coordinate effectively in a group setting.
  • Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately in written and oral communications. 
  • Must have strong organizational skills with attention to detail and timely follow-up.
  • Experience in development preferred. Must be creative and have excellent interpersonal and customer relations skills.
  • Proven ability to manage multi-phase projects from inception to completion, including the ability to build consensus among team members and balance multiple concurrent priorities.
  • Knowledge database segmentation, prospect identification, relationship engagement, data analysis, and predictive modeling strongly preferred. 
  • Ability to manage direct reports and work successfully with those outside of direct management to accomplish goals.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

  • Demonstrated analytic and fundraising skills with the ability to recognize opportunities and identify critical, high pay-off activities and prioritize them to attain goals.
  • Openness to new ideas and their implementation. Ability to react and adapt to changing situations appropriately.
  • Spirit of Collegiality – maintains a sense of courtesy, respect, professionalism, and enthusiasm when interacting with faculty, staff and students.
  • Fosters culture of Mission Statement’s dedication to delivering a quality experience for our students.
  • Exemplifies a positive attitude toward diversity, equity, and inclusion on campus and in our work.
  • Uses good and ethical judgment in decision-making that is in line with Point Park University’s mission/vision, department objectives, and Code of Conduct.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Responsible for planning and directing an annual giving program to include personal solicitations, direct mail, phonathons, giving days, on-line, and social media.
  2. Plan, develop and implement a strategic plan of action with goals, objectives, timelines, and evaluation plans for the annual giving program to include: identification, cultivation, and soliciting of annual gifts from alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff.
  3. Plan and manage crowdfunding campaigns including project solicitation and selection, content gathering, campaign strategy, and training
  4. Develop and manage a comprehensive and aggressive annual fund plan to boost annual giving a minimum of 5 percent annually.
  5. Manage a prospect portfolio and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies for direct identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individual gifts prospects for both annual and major giving.
  6. Work with university faculty and staff representing Athletics, schools, departments, and programs to identify affinity fundraising opportunities and corresponding prospects for solicitation.
  7. Develop and implement a plan of reporting annual giving need, progress, and impact to University and external constituents, in the context of the University’s strategic plan and vision. Serve as an advocate for annual giving programs to staff, faculty, and potential donors. Ensure the timely and consistent production of monthly and year-to-date reports.
  8. Develop a comprehensive stewardship plan for all donors to the University including timely and meaningful gift acknowledgement, individualized stewardship plans, and donor engagement events in collaboration with the Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement.
  9. Manage information tracking processes regarding acknowledgement, recognition, ongoing communications, and continued stewardship of past and current major donors to enhance their relationship with the University and increase the likelihood of continued contributions.
  10. Work collaboratively with university Advancement staff to compose letters, compile appropriate invitation lists, engage featured program participants, create programs, and program materials, prepare program scripts and participant remarks, and create and/or obtain donor awards and recognitions.
  11. Recommend and facilitate on- and off-campus publicity of major gifts and donors with University Public Relations.
  12. Advise on and facilitate the recognition of donors in both print and web-based publications in collaboration with the Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement.
  13. Contribute donor and gift information for annual reports, oversee production of donor rolls, determine report recipients, and facilitate mailings.
  14. Engage in marketing and communications efforts related to donor relations/stewardship program, including providing content for The Point magazine.
  15. Attend conferences and professional development workshops as appropriate.
  16. Manage the budget for the annual giving program.
  17. Supervise the Donor Relations Officer.
  18. Maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to the highest ethical standards in managing information.
  19. Additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualified applicants should forward a cover letter and resume via email to HROffice@pointpark.edu (preferred) or mail to:  
Point Park University
Human Resources Office
201 Wood Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

When responding via email please reference - DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING  - in the subject line.

Please submit documents in Rich Text (.txt) Word document (.doc) or Adobe Portable Document Format (.pdf).

All emails submitted will receive an automatic confirmation email.  Due to some junk mail filters, the confirmation email may not reach you.  To ensure receipt of the confirmation email, utilize the return receipt option built into your email program when sending your information. 

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.  Due to the high volume of resumes received, Point Park University will not be able to respond to inquiries regarding the status of your resume. If we determine that your skills and experience match the position requirements, we will contact you to discuss the opportunity further. If you do not hear from us, we encourage you to revisit our website at www.pointpark.edu for the status of the position and future opportunities. 

                                                                                               

Point Park University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.