Position Purpose

The Whitman College Office of Development and Alumni Relations raises over $15 million annually in gifts and pledges from alumni, parents, and friends, and the Office of Annual Giving sustains an alumni participation rate of over 30%. Related to the strategic initiatives of Whitman College, this positon will focus on increasing the participation rate and dollars raised from alumni.

The Associate Director of Annual Giving, Leadership Annual Giving, will develop and implement a strategy to secure leadership annual gifts ($1,000 to $5,000) from a growing number of Whitman alumni and parents. The Office of Annual Giving educates alumni, parents, friends, and current students about the importance of current-use gifts with a particular focus on the unrestricted Annual Fund and the Access Whitman Initiative for scholarship and student aid. This position will collaborate with colleagues within the department to build a strong culture of philanthropy within the Whitman community.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Develop and execute qualification, cultivation, and solicitation programs that expand the number of alumni, parents and friends making annual gifts that qualify for the President’s Gift Societies ($1,000 and above).
• Actively manage a pool of prospects who have been identified to make gifts at this level with a strong focus on individual outreach through personalized communication and individual visits. Work in tandem with the Director of Annual Giving to personalize a direct mail and stewardship strategy for leadership annual gifts.
• Schedule and complete 100 in-person visits each year and hold substantive phone conversations about donors’ giving. Summarize conversations of those visits in the development database within two weeks of each visit.
• Along with Director of Annual Giving, collaborate with prospect management and major and planned gift staff to strengthen philanthropic support for Whitman and build a bigger pipeline of donors to major gifts.
• Along with Director of Annual Giving, this position will identify and solicit a base of those who make gifts to support the Unrestricted Annual Fund and the Access Whitman Initiative.
• Maintain positive relationships with volunteers, colleagues, students, and other constituents. Serve as a team player by assisting with events on campus and off and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Individuals must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Bachelor’s degree required. Three years of annual giving or membership-based fundraising experience, preferably in a college environment. Successful candidate will have a understanding of the value of a residential liberal arts and sciences education and be able to articulate that understanding.

Experience using data bases a plus; technology expertise is important. Must be able to work independently and as part of a team. Extensive travel is required for this position.