The Director of Digital Fundraising (DF), in collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving and External Relations, creates the vision for digital fundraising in the college, and aligns the vision with the Office of University Development goals. The Director of Digital Fundraising then creates the strategy and plans the tactics to achieve organizational fundraising goals while leveraging technology, marketing, annual giving, and stewardship. The ideal candidate has the proven ability to create an innovative plan to raise money and engage supporters with inspiring digital communications across a variety of channels. The director sets ambitious goals and delivers results using a number of digital strategies and tools for our targeted audiences including young alumni, current donors, lapsed donors, non-donors, parents, faculty, staff, and students.

Responsibilities

The following responsibilities are done individually as well as collaboratively within a team. They are conducted in trust, with authenticity and integrity, and are inspired by curiosity, creativity, and fun. Each of us strives to be an effective and positive member of Advancement to grow our culture based on what we do, how we do it, and our commitment to each other. As such:

• We thrive in a collaborative, team-based, positive work environment
• We foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team climate
• We actively participate in development team and Advancement discussion groups to address opportunities and best practices that promote the Advancement model
• We solve problems creatively and strategically, making decisions that support short-term goals and consider long-term objectives in collaboration with partners

Digital giving strategy & tactics (25%)

• Develop and execute digital/online strategy and tactics
• Lead efforts to raise annual funds across all online/digital platforms
• Create plan for a consistent, quality, innovative, delightful, online giving experience for donors
  – Lead the execution of that plan, bringing in key stakeholders as needed
• Optimize existing digital fundraising tools and make recommendations for future needs
• Train staff and volunteers how to leverage online tools to solicit and steward donors and maximize results
• Facilitate online giving requests from departments and units through ticketing system with excellent, and on-time, customer service
• Supervise student employee to steward online donors using ThankView platform and other tools as needed

Giving Blueday and Giving Tuesday at LSA (25%)

• Create and execute digital fundraising plan for Giving Blueday, implementing digital fundraising platform, texting, social ads, and email segments to increase donations on the day.
• Build a robust fundraising platform so all departments, programs, and initiatives have a compelling presence
• Grow Giving Blueday results with a focus on donor count and dollars: Target audiences (i.e., alumni, parents, recent grads, students, etc.) gifts (i.e., first time, annual, and major), and matches to stimulate giving
• Build relationships with LSA Department and Unit colleagues to train on best practices at strategy sessions and in one on one meetings
  – Make recommendations and help them develop a plan and solicit for matching dollars
• Collaborate with marketing groups on Giving Blueday. Lead development of LSA’s own Giving Blueday look/feel; produce LSA’s Giving Blueday video(s); train social/web colleagues; collaborate on giving day plan with the Office of University Development
• Create and execute a digital fundraising plan for Giving Tuesday, our second (and more targeted) giving day in the fall. This includes a similar plan to Giving Blueday, but focused on one LSA fund

Raise money for LSA priorities through crowdfunding campaigns (20%)

• Provide oversight and training to departments and programs on crowdfunding campaigns.
• Provide recommendations to departments/units on strategy, goal setting, and a marketing plan with the designated department/program
• Report on results on a quarterly basis to LSA Advancement leadership and the Dean’s Cabinet group
• Conduct college-wide crowdfunding projects; identify a need and a set of lead donors to visit prior to campaign; set goal and work on the full execution (email, social, offline, web) of crowdfunding project
• Demonstrate leadership on university wide digital fundraising taskforce

Drive new digital fundraising initiatives (15%)

• Develop and execute an online Leadership Annual Giving program to grow the amount of money raised from mid level annual fund donors
• Research and identify a list of best practices and benchmark with other universities; track and measure success
• Grow International Fundraising online. Identify prospects; collaborate with international fundraiser on appropriate strategy; continue to explore alternate payment options for international alumni/donors
• Create and execute digital fundraising ambassador plan; work with College Connections to recruit; develop relationship with ambassadors and incentivize them to post about giving to LSA

Lead staff and perform as a positive team member (15%)

• Develop staff to make sure they have the skills to successfully complete their work; grow their knowledge and abilities to take the digital fundraising/stewardship program forward
• Meet weekly with team to launch new projects, share updates on ongoing assignments, and focus on deliverables
• Actively participate in the fundraising and annual giving planning process; contribute to team meetings to help create team norms and processes
• Adhere to department customer service standards
• Foster an inclusive and supportive team climate; and display authentic, positive engagement in meetings and events

Qualifications & Position Criteria
Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Five or more years of experience in development with a focus on annual giving and digital fundraising.
• Proven success raising money online, via email, social media, online giving sites, giving days, and crowdfunding campaigns
• Proven success soliciting and stewarding annual giving level donors via digital technology, tools, and platforms

Department Summary

LSA Advancement champions the liberal arts at the University of Michigan by creating access and opportunities for learning, engagement, and giving that will improve the world.We are more than 70 professionals building apositive work environmentthat supports the excellence and transformative power of the college’s liberal arts mission through values-based fundraising, marketing, and communications.To learn more about what we do, ourculture (including our practice of positive organizational scholarship), and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit our Join Our Team Website.