An energetic and highly motivated professional, the Associate Director works collaboratively as a member of the Advancement team to meet dollar and participation goals of the CalArts Fund and other fundraising initiatives that build the donor pipeline. Responsible for creating and managing a comprehensive, year-round fundraising plan for annual giving that will increase, diversify, and engage the Institute’s donor base. Manage and personally solicit alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends capable of making annual contributions in the participation to $5,000 range. The incumbent will also forecast/project fundraising goals, manage REDCAT membership and cultivation/solicitation of new members, and create alumni, parent, and occasional community communications. Reports to the Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement.

Essential Job Functions:

• Prepare and execute a detailed, comprehensive operating plan and calendar each fiscal year to increase total donors and dollars for the CalArts Fund and other unrestricted giving funds.
• Build a multi-channel, integrated marketing approach to cultivation, solicitation, education, and stewardship that includes face-to-face, direct mail, phone programs, email, text, social media, giving days, crowdfunding, volunteers, events, matching gifts, digital outreach, digital campaigns, and analytics.
• Collaborates with major gift officers, schools, and other campus departments in the execution of fundraising events and campaigns.
• Works with faculty, staff, Student Union, and the student body at large to establish a culture of philanthropy at the Institute.
• Educate other community members as needed about philanthropy and empower volunteers to act as peer fundraisers.
• Manages the Institute’s phonathon efforts, providing appropriate data, overseeing data clean up, developing and/or editing appropriate scripts, following-up on donor questions/issues raised during calls, and oversees other phone engagement efforts, including community update calls, care calls, and event follow-ups.
• Manages the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and benefits fulfillment of REDCAT members and REDCAT Circle members
• Identifies and executes strategies to renew lapsed members and upgrade existing REDCAT members and REDCAT Circle members
• Identify, cultivate, and personally solicit a reasonably-sized portfolio of donor prospects capable of making annual contributions in the participation to $5,000 range.
• Ensure accurate and complete constituent database records; capture and record in the donor database contact, biographical, and career information of alumni and parents via event participation, phonathon, surveys, projects (e.g., alumni directory), correspondence, website, etc.
• Responsible for generating reports and tracking results of fundraising activity and donor cultivation progress, including renewal and recurring gifts.
• Collaborate with the Director of Donor Relations to draft acknowledgment letters for gifts generated through the Associate Director’s fundraising efforts.
• Implement special recognition programs by audience (faculty/staff, students, etc.), including the recognition of first time donors.
• Drafting and sending Alumni and Family Engagement and community e-communications as needed.
• Must be available to work additional hours during evenings or weekends and during peak periods. There are restrictions on vacations at certain times of the year.
• Work effectively with coworkers to promote and maintain a positive work environment.
• May supervise and train student/intern/support staff as needed or assigned.
• Related duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising – especially as it relates to annual funds, phonathons, and crowdfunding.
• Able to participate in all aspects of the gift cycle: (1) to initiate contacts with potential donors; (2) to develop appropriate cultivation strategies for them, including working with volunteers and senior college administrators; (3) to move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure; (4) to make personal solicitations when appropriate; (5) to maintain stewardship contacts with donors.
• Exceptional organizational skills, strong written and oral communication skills, effective interpersonal skills, keen attention to detail, perseverance, optimism, and the ability to think strategically and creatively toward the advancement of CalArts.
• Project and timeline management, including timely communications internally and with constituents.
• Proven excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, and close attention to detail required.
• Management of student and volunteer teams including recruitment, training, communications, and stewardship.
• Skill in dealing with people, diplomacy, tact, maturity, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Has the ability to analyze donor data for accuracy and integrity in order to ensure the timely acquisition, retention, reactivation, and upgrading of donors.
• Strong computer literacy required, including familiarity and comfort with spreadsheets and databases, social media, and e-mail communication platforms.
• Requires ability to handle multiple assignments with minimum supervision while meeting strict deadlines.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• Fundraising background (minimum 2-3 years), preferably in higher education with annual fund experience and a proven track record of success.
• Experience cultivating and successfully soliciting prospects capable of gifts from participation to the $5,000 range.
• Team and volunteer management skills; experience with stewardship, training and outreach.
• Experience working collaboratively with colleagues, donors, and volunteers.
• Experience and/or interest in arts disciplines.