Assistant Director, Annual Leadership Giving

Northern Kentucky University Foundation, Inc.; Highland Heights (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Assistant Director of Annual Leadership Giving at Northern Kentucky University leads a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects and donors, building meaningful relationships through personalized outreach and engagement strategies to upgrade giving levels from $1,000 to $50,000.

This role communicates NKU's priorities and student impact, uses fundraising databases and engagement technologies, and supports Founders’ Day and other campaigns, including occasional evening hours.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Comfort with high-volume personalized outreach.
• Ability to manage multiple constituent interactions simultaneously.
• Comfort using fundraising databases and engagement technologies.

Responsibilities

• Build meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and donors through personalized outreach and engagement strategies.
• Manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects and donors to upgrade giving levels from $1,000 to $50,000.
• Cultivate, solicit, and communicate NKU priorities and student impact to donors through multiple channels.
• Support Annual Giving campaigns and special initiatives, including Founders’ Day, with evening hours as needed.

Job description

Position Title: Assistant Director, Annual Leadership Giving

Position Type: Regular

About the Role

The Assistant Director of Annual Leadership Giving is a key member of the Annual Giving team and is responsible for building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and donors through personalized outreach and engagement strategies. This position manages a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects and donors, with an emphasis on identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals capable of upgrading their current level of support or making annual gifts at leadership giving levels of $1,000 - $50,000. Working within a donor-centered fundraising model, the Assistant Director leverages a variety of communication channels, to strengthen constituent engagement and inspire philanthropic support. The position serves as an ambassador for Northern Kentucky University, effectively communicating the university’s mission, priorities, and impact while connecting donor interests with institutional needs. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, comfort with high-volume personalized outreach, and the ability to manage multiple constituent interactions simultaneously. The Assistant Director must be comfortable with utilizing fundraising databases, communication platforms, and emerging engagement technologies to advance prospects through the donor pipeline and achieve annual fundraising goals. Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors, developing and executing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies to increase engagement and philanthropic support in the $1,000–$50,000 giving range. Conduct outreach through phone calls, email, text messaging, video messages, virtual meetings, and personal visits. Maintain regular contact to strengthen relationships, increase participation, secure gift upgrades, and achieve fundraising goals. Qualify prospects for leadership annual giving opportunities and identify individuals with the capacity and inclination for increased philanthropic investment using predictive analytics and upgrade scoring models. Identify, cultivate, and solicit prospects for Founders’ Day match and challenge gifts to support annual participation and fundraising goals. Develop engagement, impact and solicitation strategy for high net wealth Parents. Maintain accurate and timely records of prospect activity, qualifications, proposals, solicitations, and outcomes in the Blackbaud Raisers’ Edge NXT database. Develop a comprehensive understanding of NKU’s priorities, philanthropic opportunities, student impact initiatives, and alumni engagement programs. Use this knowledge to align donor interests with institutional needs, deepen donor relationships, and strengthen the pipeline for future major gift support. Support Annual Giving campaigns, projects, and special initiatives, including Founders’ Day and other strategic fundraising efforts. Serve a backup to Engagement Center manager, occasionally requiring evening hours.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Drivers License and reliable vehicle required.

Posted Salary

Posted Salary:

Why Work at Northern Kentucky University

At NKU, our work revolves around three things: opening doors, helping people finish what they start, and connecting learning to real life. Those pillars-Access, Completion, and Career & Community Engagement-aren’t just strategic-plan wallpaper. They shape how we hire, how we serve students, and how we show up for the region. If you want your work to matter-NKU is a place where you can see your impact every day.

About NKU

Northern Kentucky University is a public, student-centered institution located just minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Our vision is clear: to be nationally recognized as a student-ready, regionally-engaged university that empowers diverse learners for economic and social mobility. We focus on opening doors, supporting students through graduation, and connecting learning to real opportunity in our region. NKU offers the reach of a comprehensive university with the feel of a close, collaborative campus.