Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $72,000 – $82,000 annually. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

About Alumni Relations and Development
Alumni Relations and Development appreciates that the collective sum of our individual differences, experiences, knowledge, and self-expression is crucial for our success. We strongly invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply and to participate fully and authentically in our workplace.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet 100% of the preferred qualifications.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Alumni Relations and Development is committed to genuine inclusion. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Elizabeth Frisch at [email protected]  Consistent with its obligations under the law, Northwestern will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential job responsibilities.

Job Summary:
Functional expert with responsibility for yielding high-impact results through the management of a creative and comprehensive donor solicitation and stewardship program. Determine best strategies for recognizing, interacting with, and retaining the university’s most loyal donors. Manage a loyalty giving society. Manage bi-weekly email acknowledgements. Manage recurring giving stewardship and similar renewal vehicles to improve donor retention. Facilitate the recognition of donors in web publications. Maintain expertise on NU Loyal data and reporting, and train colleagues as necessary.

This position: Responsible for maintaining consistent calendar of solicitation and stewardship appeals and overseeing the timely and accurate execution of multiple direct mail and email solicitation campaigns that secure thousands of donors and millions of dollars every year. The primary focus will be on loyalty/stewardship projects but this person assists the entire Direct Appeals team in executing direct mail and email campaigns. Manage bi-weekly acknowledgement emails. Maintain excellent customer service when responding to donors through the NU Loyal email inbox. The ideal candidate will be experienced in annual giving project management with exceptional attention to detail and focus on customer service to retain our most loyal donors.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Oversees Annual Giving’s Loyalty and Stewardship program, focusing primarily on NU Loyal solicitations via mail and email as well as mass stewardship
• Functions as in-house expert on NU Loyal data, gift clubs, and reporting
• Monitors and analyzes program metrics, including gift club membership, donor retention, and alumni giving goals
• As a project manager on the Direct Appeals team, executes selection of appeals set by Annual Giving leadership to reach collective goals
• Manages Loyalty and Stewardship budget and completes annual zero-based budgeting process
• Employs project management tools as needed to support on-time and accurate completion of simultaneous communications across multiple channels (mail, email, web).
• Works with ARD colleagues, including Marketing and Communication and professional schools, for marketing collateral, as well as external vendors for artwork, mailhouse fulfillment, and product procurement
• Provides work direction and training to staff in Annual Giving as well as Alumni Relations and Development on NU Loyal program, including responding to donor inquiries via the NU Loyal email inbox, updating online honor rolls, and completing small monthly lapel pin mailings
• Optimizes the use of technology for marketing, communications, data reporting, and analysis
• Analyzes results and suggests and implements improvements to achieve department goals

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 4 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Ability to work well in a team-oriented environment and collaborate closely with others on the team, across groups, and one on one
• Strong organizational and proficient project management skills with ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Consistently achieve project deadlines and communicate project status regularly
• Reviewing letters, emails, or newsletters for accurate spelling, grammar, etc. (This position is not a copy editor but does review documentation before final approval).
• Project Management (including timeline creation, clear communication to stakeholders, follow up on deadlines)
• Proficient knowledge of MS Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint)
• Excellent communication skills, including strong writing and presentation skills
• Strong attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with mass communication: mail, email, newsletters.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit fundraising, marketing, or alumni relations.
• Proven success in Excel including basic functions: sum, filter/sort, count
• Proficient with MSOffice, familiarity with databases, e-communications tools, HTML and/or project management tools

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.