Annual Giving Officer

Merrimack College Federal Cu; Andover (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrimack College is seeking an Annual Giving Officer to oversee the discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of Merrimack Fund donors. The role manages three donor segments and a portfolio of up to 200 prospects, engaging them via in-person, virtual, phone, and email outreach.

The position supports giving societies, collaborates with Major Gifts, and participates in campus and regional events, with some evening/weekend travel required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 1–3 years in development or related field.
• Experience in higher education preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Experience in fundraising, marketing, event planning, or volunteer management.

Responsibilities

• Manage and actively cultivate a portfolio of up to 200 Merrimack Fund donors and prospects across GOLD, under-4k annual donors, and mid-level donors with Major Gifts collaboration.
• Build and strengthen relationships with graduates of the last decade, donors under $5,000, and donors in the $5,000–$24,999 range to foster engagement and giving.
• Leverage face-to-face and virtual meetings, phone calls, emails, and other communications to build donor relationships and increase support.
• Execute outreach campaigns tied to College initiatives such as annual appeals, the Annual Day of Giving, and fiscal year-end efforts.
• Meet defined fundraising metrics, track activity in the CRM, and complete contact reports.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations and in collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, the Annual Giving Officer is responsible for the discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of Merrimack Fund donors. This position manages fundraising activity in three distinct donor segments:

• Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) – with an emphasis on cultivating leadership-level gifts.
• Annual Fund Donors under $5,000 – focusing on strengthening participation, retention, and upgrades.
• Annual Fund Donors ($5,000–$24,999) – in close partnership with the Major Gifts team to identify, engage, and steward these donors as part of the broader leadership giving pipeline. The officer will manage a portfolio of up to 200 prospects and execute engagement strategies across in-person, virtual, phone, and email channels with weekly outreach goals. The Annual Giving Officer plays a critical role in strengthening the culture of philanthropy at Merrimack College, consistent with the College’s Augustinian mission of educating the whole person.

Duty and Responsibilities:

• Manage and actively cultivate a portfolio of up to 200 Merrimack Fund donors and prospects across three areas: graduates of the last decade (GOLD), annual donors under $5,000, and mid-level prospects in collaboration with Major Gifts colleagues.
• Build and strengthen relationships with:
  • Graduates of the last decade to foster sustained philanthropy.
  • Annual donors under $5,000 to encourage retention, upgrades, and recurring giving.
  • Annual Fund Donors ($5,000–$24,999) to advance engagement strategies with the Major Gifts team.
• Leverage face-to-face and virtual meetings, phone calls, emails, and other communications to build strong donor relationships and increase philanthropic support.
• Execute outreach campaigns tied to College initiatives such as annual appeals, the Annual Day of Giving, and fiscal year-end efforts.
• Meet defined fundraising metrics, including donor meetings, solicitations, and proposals, as set annually by the supervisor.
• Track and document all prospect activity in the College’s CRM system through timely and accurate contact reports.
• Complete phone solicitations at calendar year-end and fiscal year-end to encourage giving and thank donors.
• Collaborate with the Annual Giving team to identify and engage donors through data analysis, targeted outreach, and personalized stewardship.
• Support giving societies through event planning, stewardship, and communications, and assist with cultivation and stewardship events both on campus and in regional markets.
• Partner with colleagues across Advancement, faculty, staff, and volunteers to strengthen alumni engagement and participation.
• Perform additional duties as assigned that further the mission and goals of the Office of Development & Alumni Relations.
• Some evening, weekend, and out-of-town travel required.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and 1–3 years of development or related experience, with preference for experience in a higher education setting.
• Track record of successful experience in institutional advancement, fundraising, marketing, event planning, and/or volunteer management.
• Sophisticated interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop relationships with individuals capable of making philanthropic contributions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our mission.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling and social work. The College’s suburban 220-acre campus is just north of Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.