Director of Annual Giving

The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for:

• Daily oversight of direct marketing focused staff and campaigns
• Development of fundraising direct marketing solicitation strategy and implementation

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree or bachelor’s degree and 5 yrs of related higher education experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and related experience
• Experience managing a team of 2 members for at least two years, with a successful record of achieving goals and key performance metrics
• Previous experience in developing and managing omni-channel direct marketing solicitations for annual giving strategies

About the UGA Office of Annual Giving

https://dar.uga.edu/annual-giving/

The greatest quality in a Bulldog? Loyalty. Annual gifts are the evidence of loyalty. Establishing giving habits early is critical because most donors’ capacity and propensity to give increases over time. We’re raising donor participation rates year over year, building a pool of donors to advance through the pipeline. Without annual giving, fewer donors give to the University of Georgia. On a daily basis, you’ll find our central annual giving office raising money for UGA’s campus-wide unrestricted funds and every school, college and unit through acquisition, renewal, and upgrade strategies. We closely track and analyze data to drive our tactics which include phone campaigns, direct mail, digital solicitations, advertising, digital appeals and more. Ultimately, our goal is to form stronger donor relationships and solidify the bond between UGA and our supporters.

PROPOSED START DATE: 5/1/2025

LOCATION OF VACANCY: Athens Area

ADVERTISED SALARY: $85,000 commensurate qualifications and experience

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, and/or COMPETENCIES

• Strong people management skills and time management skills
• Self-starter and highly motivated
• Collaborative style combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment
• Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail and confident, strong verbal communication
• Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations
• Ability to establish the trust of colleagues and build strong relationships with key faculty/staff
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects
• Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities
• Ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university business and confidential donor and prospect information
• Skilled using Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Creative thinker with ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas
• Ability to respond to donors needs and concerns in a kind and professional way
• Experienced with data analysis related to marketing campaigns and trends

Additional Division Expectations:

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Work in a standard office environment
• Travel in and out of state
• Work nights and weekends necessary
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

ABOUT THE DIVISION OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS

(https://dar.uga.edu/)

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

(https://www.uga.edu/)

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education. The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 40,000 students including over 30,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens.

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).