Annual Fund Director

Coe College; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Coe College is seeking an Annual Fund Director to strategically lead their annual giving program. This full-time role involves developing comprehensive fundraising campaigns and collaborating with various campus partners to enhance donor relationships.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and experience in fundraising or a related field. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for success in this engaging role, with the opportunity to significantly impact the College's philanthropic growth.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in fundraising or similar field with strategic engagement.
• Experience supervising staff and managing operations preferred.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the College’s annual giving program.
• Develop multichannel fundraising campaigns.
• Manage donor portfolios and engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with campus partners for fundraising initiatives.

Skills

Fundraising

Communication

Project Management

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM systems

Job description

Coe College seeks qualifed candidates for the position of Annual Fund Director. This role is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for the College’s annual giving program in support of institutional fundraising priorities and operating needs. The Director develops and oversees multichannel fundraising, donor engagement, stewardship, and leadership annual giving strategies designed to strengthen donor participation, retention, and long-term philanthropic investment. This position collaborates closely with campus partners across academic, athletic, arts, alumni engagement, and advancement initiatives to enhance donor relationships, grow giving societies, and support the College’s future philanthropic pipeline.

Work Schedule:Primary office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm*, full-time 1 FTE

* This position requires a flexible schedule to support alumni engagement, donor cultivation, stewardship activities, campus events, and other Advancement initiatives that may occur during evenings and occasional weekends.

• Direct all phases of the College’s annual giving program, including annual strategy development, multichannel fundraising campaigns, donor engagement, stewardship, leadership annual giving initiatives, and collaborative fundraising partnerships across academic, athletic, and arts programs.
• Develop and execute comprehensive annual giving communication, solicitation, and engagement strategies across print, digital, email, social, and emerging platforms to strengthen donor participation, retention, and philanthropic growth.
• Lead the development of annual giving campaigns and initiatives from concept through execution in collaboration with the Communications Coordinator, Marketing Department, and Advancement partners.
• Utilize donor analytics, campaign performance data, and philanthropic trends to inform annual giving strategies, strengthen donor retention, and support advancement-wide fundraising efforts and pipeline development.
• Manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving donors and prospects, achieving fundraising and donor engagement goals through cultivation, stewardship, and relationship-building strategies.
• Guide the fundraising strategy and giving initiatives associated with the 50th Reunion campaign in collaboration with the Annual Fund Assistant Director and Alumni Engagement team.
• Collaborate with the Alumni Engagement team and other campus partners to create meaningful engagement opportunities that strengthen constituent relationships and encourage long-term philanthropic investment.
• Lead and supervise the Annual Fund team, overseeing departmental operations, strategic growth initiatives, budgeting, implementation of systems and processes, and general office policies and procedures.
• Monitor and communicate annual giving performance, campaign outcomes, and fundraising strategies with Advancement leadership and constituent leadership groups including the Alumni Council, President’s Advisory Council, and Board of Trustees.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Three to five years of experience in fundraising, advancement, marketing, communications, sales, or a related field involving strategic engagement, relationship development, and multichannel communications preferred.
• Prior experience supervising staff, leading collaborative teams, or managing departmental operations preferred.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of donor engagement, alumni activities, and College events.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States as we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
• Successful completion of a driver and criminal background check in accordance with Coe College policy.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

Position Specific:

• Highly motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences and constituencies.
• Demonstrated professionalism, sound judgment, confidentiality, and discretion in interactions with colleagues, donors, and constituents.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and utilize data and fundraising metrics to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Strong organizational, project management, and strategic planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; familiarity with CRM and fundraising database systems preferred.
• Every Coe employee shares one mission: to recruit, retain and prepare students for a lifetime of personal and professional success.
• Dedication to the educational mission of a private, residential liberal arts college.
• Ability to maintain positive relationships in a collaborative and diverse team atmosphere.
• Commitment to excellent customer and/or student service.
• Demonstrated ethical and responsible decision making.
• Consistent attendance and accountability necessary to meet position objectives.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Typical office environment with regular use of computers, phones, and virtual communication platforms; occasional attendance at campus events and constituent engagement activities required.

Coe College is an equal opportunity employer.