JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Vice Chancellor (AVC) for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving is a senior advancement leader responsible for setting the strategic direction, execution, and performance outcomes for a comprehensive alumni engagement and annual giving enterprise.

As a key member of the Advancement leadership team, the AVC designs and operationalizes integrated engagement and solicitation strategies that advance institutional priorities, strengthen alumni affinity, increase philanthropic participation, and build a sustainable donor pipeline in support of campaign and long-term fundraising goals.

This role provides leadership for alumni relations, annual giving, digital engagement, volunteer management, and participation-based fundraising initiatives, aligning these programs with institutional strategy, campaign priorities, and industry best practices.

The AVC serves as a strategic partner for university leadership and as the primary liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors, ensuring strong governance, volunteer leadership development, and alignment with institutional advancement objectives.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Advancement Integration – 20%

• Develop and lead a comprehensive, multi-year strategy for alumni engagement and annual giving aligned with institutional priorities and campaign goals.
• Integrate alumni engagement with the full advancement continuum (annual/major/principal giving) to strengthen donor pipeline development.
• Develop and manage annual business plans, budgets, and resource allocations for alumni engagement and annual giving.
• Provide administrative supervision to 6 employees, with responsibility for hiring, setting performance expectations, conducting annual reviews, performance management, coaching & discipline, and managing other employee relations matters.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior university leadership on engagement, participation, and philanthropic growth strategies.
• Represent Advancement on institutional committees and external engagement events and programs.

Alumni Engagement & Experience – 40%

• Oversee the design and delivery of innovative, comprehensive, and scalable alumni engagement strategies across lifecycle segments (students, recent graduates, alumni, retirees, parents, and friends).
• Lead programming including reunions, regional engagement, affinity groups, volunteer engagement, and lifelong connection strategies.
• Partner with advancement communications to align storytelling, brand, and digital engagement with fundraising outcomes.

Fundraising Strategy & Performance – 30%

• Direct a data-informed annual giving program, including segmentation, multichannel solicitation, digital campaigns, leadership annual giving, and mid-level giving strategies.
• Establish and drive measurable KPIs, including donor participation, acquisition, retention, upgrade rates, and revenue performance.
• Lead institution-wide participation initiatives (e.g., giving days, reunions, crowdfunding, and affinity-based campaigns).
• Manage a portfolio of 50–60 leadership annual giving prospects, with defined performance expectations for qualification, solicitation, and stewardship.

Volunteer & Board Leadership – 10%

• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
• Provide oversight of board governance, recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and policy compliance.
• Strengthen volunteer leadership pipelines that contribute to fundraising, advocacy, and engagement goals.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Thinking & Execution
• Data-Informed Decision Making
• Relationship Building & Influence
• Fundraising Acumen & Donor Psychology
• Organizational Leadership & Talent Development
• Change Management & Innovation

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work is performed in a variety of environments with regular interaction with alumni, current and prospective donors, and community leaders. The role requires travel, evenings and weekends, and the ability to maintain professionalism and composure in potentially stressful situations. The position involves sustained attention, multitasking, decision-making, and clear judgment.  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide administrative supervision to 6 employees, with responsibility for hiring, setting performance expectations, conducting annual reviews, performance management, coaching & discipline, and managing other employee relations matters.