Associate Director, Annual Giving

JOB TITLE

Associate Director, Annual Giving

LOCATION

Worcester

DEPARTMENT NAME

Engagement & Alumni Relations

DIVISION NAME

Worcester Polytechnic Institute - WPI

Job Description Summary

The Associate Director of Annual Giving helps to grow and strengthen WPI’s generous community. Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving, the Associate Director inspires annual giving by leveraging events, volunteer opportunities, crowdfunding, communications, and personal outreach to engage donor and prospect groups, including alumni and students, in the mission and life of WPI. This person focuses on retaining and upgrading existing annual donors and acquiring new donors, and partners with the Leadership Giving team to invite greater philanthropic engagement from existing donors.

Responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Portfolio Management

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of annual giving donors and prospects, with a focus on retaining and upgrading existing annual donors and acquiring new donors.
• Leverage annual giving programs, University Advancement events, and other engagement activities to connect prospects with WPI’s mission and enhance their connection with the university. Contribute to planning of events and engagement opportunities, as needed.
• Identify and engage non-donor groups with a high potential for philanthropic involvement, converting them to active donors. Examples include young alumni volunteers, former student leaders, and engaged alumni in reunion classes.
• Participate in Leadership Giving pipeline meetings, collaborating on strategies that will expand the prospect pipeline. Generate referrals for leadership giving portfolios by identifying and transitioning prospects with the capacity for larger commitment.
• Maintain records of prospect interactions and engagement activities in Salesforce.
  
  

Fundraising Volunteer Management

• Identify, recruit, train, and support volunteers in fundraising activities, including Reunion volunteer fundraising and engagement activities.
• Collaborate with team members to develop and implement strategies and tactics, such as digital toolkits, social media outreach, and other content for various volunteer-driven fundraising and engagement activities.
• Create strategies that will increase annual fund participation for fundraising volunteers.
• Collaborate with team members on pieces for fundraising volunteer outreach such as email announcements, acknowledgments, and solicitations.
  
  

Crowdfunding Operations

• Collaborate with team members to promote crowdfunding platform and its benefits to students, student organizations, and WPI department and programs. Train students, student organizations, and other community members on effective use of the platform for fundraising and stewardship.
• Collaborate with team members to create resources for students and faculty, and assist with marketing materials, communication updates, campaign timelines, and impact stories. Manage the timelines of various projects to promote them in alignment with the University Advancement calendar, as needed.
• Monitor crowdfunding campaign progress, providing guidance and support to project teams to maximize fundraising success.
• Develop, implement, and update user guides, policies, and procedures, in collaboration with Director of Annual Giving.
  
  

Strategic Planning, Communications, and Data Management

• Report on activities and results to key fundraising volunteers, school leadership and colleagues within UA.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in fundraising or related field.
• Ability to work well with donors, alumni, university leaders, students, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to work well as a member of a team and to collaborate effectively with colleagues in other university departments.
• Excellent organizational skills with track record of taking initiative, setting priorities, managing multiple responsibilities, and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with Salesforce or other constituent databases preferred.
• Homecoming Weekend attendance required as well as some evening and weekend events, with advanced notice.
  
  

Starting Salary: $62,000. This is a hybrid role. WPI’s benefits package includes a robust retirement match, wellness perks, tuition assistance and more!

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. It seeks individuals from all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.