Essential Job Duties: 

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving for Constituent Programs and Volunteer Fundraising is responsible for program development and leadership, strategic planning, analysis and reporting, volunteer recruitment and management, and department and interdepartmental collaboration as pertaining to the development of key constituent areas.

The position requires a full scope of knowledge concerning annual giving best practices and trends and the capability of maintaining a broad range of responsibilities. The Assistant Director, in collaboration with Annual Giving and unit colleagues, will develop and oversee strategies for philanthropic education, increasing gift participation, retention and re-acquisition, and increasing overall giving among priority audiences such as students, young alumni, parents, faculty and staff, and alumni celebrating a significant reunion or events. All multi-channel solicitations, programming, events, volunteer activity, communications, and stewardship will build a foundation for lifelong giving and increased constituent gift participation, and help ensure a smooth and successful transition from student donor to alumni donor.

The Assistant Director reports to the Executive Director of Annual Giving and works closely with the Annual Giving staff.

Duties and Responsibilities Include: 

• Lead and help manage target audience solicitation and engagement strategies that will produce an annual increase in revenue and key participation goals with specific audiences.
• Work with Annual Giving team to develop and implement direct marketing solicitation, stewardship and communication strategies, copy, and design using industry best practices for integrated marketing including: staff and peer to peer personal cultivation and solicitation, direct mail, phone calls, special events and meetings, newsletters, email, video, web and social media channels.
• Strategic leadership of the education, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, stewardship, and retention initiatives directly pertaining to target audiences.
• Develop alumni-specific and constituent outreach strategies with volunteers. Create and modify, as needed, training handbooks and welcome guides for all volunteer roles. Develop and lead volunteer training on best practices with fundraising.
• Lead initiatives to successfully bridge students to alumni giving.
• Collaborate and coordinate with Annual Giving colleagues, colleges, university departments and units, NC State student organizations and student leaders and volunteers, the Alumni Association, and young alumni volunteers to maximize the impact of philanthropic efforts and educational opportunities for donors. Attend unit and university-wide engagement events to identify new leadership and donors.
• Develop projects, events, meeting agendas, plans, and materials to lead volunteer initiatives and training.

Minimum Experience and Education: 

Post-baccalaureate credentials or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus at least three or more years of experience in annual giving/development or relevant work experience are required.

Other Required Qualifications: 

• Broad knowledge of annual giving and engagement best practices and trends

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, complex, team-oriented environment

• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills with a strong attention to detail and deadlines

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong problem solving, research and analytical skills

• Ability to work independently, to be creative and exercise initiative

• Strong relationship-building skills; able to interface effectively with students, peers, faculty, administrators and external constituents

• Strong computer skills, particularly in Microsoft Office environment

• Experience with database management, preferably Advance

• High energy level and strong drive to be successful

• Unquestioned integrity in dealing with confidential information

• Open and accessible interpersonal style; good listener

• Optimistic, persistent and positive attitude

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Proven experience with annual giving in higher education

• Five or more years of professional experience in fundraising, student affairs, marketing, advertising, public relations, communications or a related field.

• Knowledge of principles, practices and ethics of fundraising

• Prior experience in a comprehensive capital campaign

• An understanding of the land grant, research Tier One university environment

• Familiarity with NC State University and the Triangle