The Director of Annual Giving Data and Outreach is responsible for the strategic planning, execution and management of communications and solicitations to all constituents, including alumni, donors and friends of the College, in order to increase fundraising through targeted outreach. This position will manage all annual giving processes end-to-end; this includes planning communications throughout the year, drafting messages, segmenting audiences within College Advancement’s database, Ellucian CRM Advance, extracting lists and reporting on progress toward goals.

Job Requirements & Essential Functions of the Job: 

• Create an annual giving strategy which engages relevant constituencies, with a focus on increasing unrestricted dollars for the campus
• Draft written appeals, giving content and other solicitation materials
• Generate constituent lists for solicitations and other advancement communications
• Leverage CRM Advance and other software platforms as necessary to track data analytics for annual giving, measure progress toward goals, inform future outreach, and report out to multiple constituencies, including executive leadership and foundation/alumni board trustees
• Manage Reunion giving efforts, affinity giving programs and special fundraising appeals such as days of giving; collaborate with campus partners to assist with targeted fundraising campaigns
• Work with stewardship team to implement programs which increase donor retention
• Maintain a calendar of all College Advancement communications with relevant information regarding audience, timeline, and objectives to ensure coordinated and consistent outreach
• Coordinate and execute all advancement mass email communications, utilizing appropriate software applications independently and with little-to-no oversight, to both engage alumni and solicit potential donors
• Manage a small portfolio of active annual giving donors/prospects and friends
• Develop and manage the overall budget for the annual giving program, including assessing the return on investment of outreach initiatives
• Maintain positive relationships with donors, volunteers, colleagues and other internal and external constituencies
• Actively participate in Advancement team meetings and in Potsdam College Foundation and Alumni Board and committee meetings, as needed
• Represent Advancement on campus committees, task forces and community groups, as requested
• Attend professional development conference/trainings/webinars as necessary/requested and when budget resources allow

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3-5 years of professional work experience
• Exceptional communication skills, with an emphasis on both written and oral communication
• Proficiency at an intermediate level using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Technologically savvy, possesses the ability to teach oneself new skills, self-motivated, analytical, adaptable and flexible
• Abiding commitment to public higher education
• Commitment to the College’s efforts in support of inclusivity and diversity
• We are seeking candidates who possess communication and interpersonal skills sufficient to work effectively with an increasingly diverse array of students and colleagues and who have demonstrated a commitment to creating, fostering and sustaining an inclusive environment in and out of the classroom.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience using relational databases, preferably Ellucian CRM Advance
• Experience managing giving platforms, preferably GiveCampus
• Experience with email marketing software, preferably Emma
• Ability to manipulate data using Excel formulas with ease highly desirable.
• Experience in gift solicitation, through written appeals, in person, and over the phone
• Experience working in higher education and/or fundraising
• We are, especially, seeking candidates who have engaged in professional development activities to enhance knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion and have worked collaboratively across various departments in fostering success of underrepresented groups and a supportive and inclusive environment for all.

Required Documents: 

• Resume
• Cover Letter 
• Other Document 1