Assistant Executive Director of Annual Giving

The Assistant Executive Director, Annual Giving is responsible for using best-practice methodologies for annual giving programs with an emphasis on traditional, digital and Virtual Engagement mediums. The position assists with the overall planning, integrated strategy, and execution of the comprehensive annual giving program.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans and implements the comprehensive annual fund campaign; manages annual fund calendar and ensures strategies and plan remain on target.
• Collaborates with Assistant Vice President of Development and Campaigns (AVP) to develop and implement a centralized, multi-channel annual giving strategy, aligning campaigns with university goals; provides periodic updates and escalates concerns or issues timely.
• Manages all aspects of annual giving operations, including budget, vendor contracts, procurement, and production schedules.
• Works collaboratively with Marketing and Communications to develop content and collateral for campaigns.
• Designs innovative donor engagement initiatives to increase participation and retention; tracks campaign performance and provide data-driven insights for continuous improvement.
• Manages and provides analysis on Annual Fund Program and Development reporting to maximize performance; identifies challenges and communicates potential solutions to leadership to ensure corrective measures are quickly employed.
• Employs a multi-channel solicitation strategy (direct mail, digital communications, social media, crowdfunding, AI, reunion giving, leadership annual giving and other channels) informed by data and segmentation analysis to create compelling annual giving appeals.
• AI/Virtual Engagement Officer (VEO) Oversight: Configures and supervises the VEO to ensure messaging aligns with institutional voice and ethical AI standards; designs architecture for the digital engagement and moves-management journeys for unmanaged and mid-level donor segments assigned to the VEO; reviews complex inquiries, recommends high-potential prospects to frontline officers, and tracks VEO performance metrics against annual giving benchmarks; integrates VEO into annual giving plan, giving days, and renewal cycles for targeted giving prompts, stewardship, and matching gift appeals.
• Maintains and strengthens annual giving digital tools, including the giving webpage, giving forms, email campaigns, social media, and crowdfunding platforms; creates personalized donor experiences through improved segmentation.
• Identifies, cultivates and recommends annual giving donors with major gift potential to Advancement Services; works with the Assistant Director of stewardship to integrate stewardship program to help retain annual giving donors and move them to higher giving levels.
• Coordinates key fundraising events, including reunion class gifts, giving days, and the annual Buddy Meyer golf tournament.
• Supports gift officers in annual fund solicitations; attends prospect meetings and works collaboratively to meet annual fund metrics.
• Participates in University and community events to represent the University and to build relationships.
• Assists with hiring, training and developing of annual giving staff; works collaboratively to ensure timely submission of meaningful contact reports and calendaring/completion of required reports.
• Remains knowledgeable of the issues facing higher education and annual giving best practices and trends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university required; Master's degree or higher preferred.
• 5 years of proven or applicable experience in annual giving and/or project management preferred. Previous experience using crowdfunding platforms preferred
• Must be proficient and have experience using Adobe Creative Suite, Canva or similar programs.
• Must have experience utilizing data and developing informed decisions for giving strategies.
• Demonstrated familiarity with artificial intelligence tools in a professional or fundraising context preferred; experience with AI-powered donor engagement platforms, virtual engagement officers (VEOs), or fundraising automation is preferred. Must be able to evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy, institutional voice, and ethical transparency standards. Proficiency with generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, or similar platforms) for content creation, including writing and refining prompts to produce fundraising appeals, donor communications, and solicitation copy, is strongly preferred.
• Must have the ability to demonstrate intermediate level skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook and PowerPoint) including applicable technology and software programs to support fund-raising efforts (i.e. Raiser's Edge); Experience with virtual meeting platforms such as zoom; Excel experience (VLOOKUPs, conditional formatting, etc) highly desirable.
• Must have valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis
• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance
• Ability to think independently and take initiative to plan and implement effective partnerships and relationships that sustain existing gifts and generate new gifts, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to stay informed of activities of the University in order to effectively articulate and incorporate relevant information in an oral and a written case for support.
• Ability to function as a team player in the overall fundraising activities of the University, including working some nights, weekends, occasional travel, and attending special events as necessary.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and reports, as well as maintain confidentiality of all records and information.
• Ability to communicate and interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community, and the public.
• Ability to write error-free correspondence.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day to day business.
• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer.