The Assistant Director of Annual Giving reports to the Director of Annual Giving and assists in raising critical philanthropic resources to help Lafayette meet its ambitious annual fundraising goals, while advancing the College’s strategic direction, as well as any initiatives determined by the Director of Annual Giving. This position will work collaboratively with all members of the annual giving and alumni engagement teams, leveraging current student and young alumni connections and programming to build a robust philanthropic education and giving network. This position will work closely with current students including creating and managing a Senior Class Gift Committee as well as alumni.
The ideal candidate for this role has experience engaging and successfully soliciting student and young alumni audiences including student-athletes, student leaders, and student groups/committees through a variety of in-person meetings as well as the technological platforms available. Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and fundraising experience are all key. Expertise on campaign management and how to manipulate data and develop actionable analytics is critical, and an entrepreneurial mindset is helpful. All members of the team are expected to support Lafayette College and the Advancement Team’s key initiatives, major events, projects, and strategic goals.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential roles and responsibilities for this position include creation and oversight of the following areas:
Student Philanthropy:
● Develop and implement a comprehensive student philanthropy program on campus aimed at educating undergraduates about the impact of philanthropy on their Lafayette experience with the goals resulting in students making gifts to the College during their time on campus and sustaining that behavior after graduation.
● Creation, recruitment, and management of the Senior Class Gift Committee to help achieve class-specific goals for the Senior Class and then goals as first-year alumni.
● Support such campus programs as Bring the Roar, Founders’ Day, Grad Finale, etc. to help promote established fundraising opportunities and goals.
● Interact with students through in-person communications, written communications, and all social media platforms to assist students in connecting with their passions in alignment with College priorities by coordinating with annual giving partners and advancement colleagues.
Young Alumni Philanthropy:
● Working with the Director of Annual Giving, create a yearly giving campaign that supports key initiatives of the Division of Advancement, the College, and annual giving goals.
● Manage fundraising efforts for Young Alumni with a special focus on the ten (10) most recent graduating classes.
● Oversee online giving through annual programs such as Bring the Roar to help meet class- specific goals and to grow participation.
● Assist in the overall efforts of the Annual and Leadership Giving team, especially in the creation and execution of digital marketing materials (email, social media, website, etc.);
Gift Officer and Annual Giving Team:
● Understand and disseminate Annual and Leadership Giving data analysis and reporting.
● Construct a balanced visit (approximately 75/year) and outreach strategy which includes cultivation, discovery, and solicitation visits (in-person and virtual).
● Form collaborative team partnerships with individual gift officers, divisional staff, members of the Communication Division, Student Life, Athletics, and across campus.
● Participate in volunteer engagement initiatives.
● Perform other responsibilities upon request, as needed
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education, Experience and Knowledge:
● Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field (such as Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or Event Management) preferred.
● One to three years of experience in higher education, alumni relations, volunteer engagement/management and/or equivalent experience with annual fund and advancement experience preferred.
KEY COMPETENCIES
● Experience in fundraising; soliciting and closing annual fund gifts.
● Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
● Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
● A level of energy and a team orientation.
● Experience working with large databases and capability to perform detailed data analyses.
● An ability to communicate with students/volunteers/prospects/donors/colleagues effectively and efficiently through direct face-to-face and remote via technology.
● An ability and willingness to take initiative and possess a sense of humor.
● Ability to work collaboratively across departments.
● Familiarity with annual fund and alumni engagement strategies and best practices.
● Proficiency in using relevant software and tools (Google suite, CRM systems, Microsoft Office, Hustle texting platform, ThankView, various forms of technology including social media vehicles, email marketing tools, etc.).
● An ability and willingness to conduct local travel.
● Flexibility to work evenings and weekends during events, as needed.
WORKING CONDITIONS and PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This position requires an individual to be able to work nights and weekends as needed.
Please include cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references. http://apply.interfolio.com/149835
Lafayette College is committed to creating a diverse community: one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. The College seeks to promote diversity in its many manifestations. These include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and place of origin. All members of the College community share a responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced.