Assistant Director, Student & Young Alumni Giving

Union College; City of Schenectady (NY); On-site; USD 58,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & personal time

Health insurance

On-campus fitness facility access

Tuition exchange

Job summary

Union College in Schenectady, NY invites applications for the role of Assistant Director, Student and Young Alumni Giving. You will lead the GOLD program, manage student philanthropy initiatives, and oversee the Phonathon program to support Annual Giving goals.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree with 2+ years in annual giving or related fields, and a proven ability to engage students and young alumni while collaborating with campus partners and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher with 2+ years in annual giving, development, alumni relations, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of philanthropy trends and best practices in higher education fundraising.
• Experience in managing and motivating student workers or volunteers.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies for students and young alumni.

Responsibilities

• Lead and champion the GOLD program, driving a volunteer-led fundraising strategy for young alumni.
• Oversee the GOLD Committee to develop initiatives increasing participation and lead fundraising for Reunion Committees.
• Cultivate and steward GOLD leadership donors and prospects to identify major gift potential.

Skills

Alumni relations

Fundraising

Communication

Data analysis

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Fundraising software

Job description

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

The Assistant Director of Student & Young Alumni Philanthropy leads the strategic development and execution of programs designed to build a culture of giving among students and recent graduates. This role directs the GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) program, manages student philanthropy initiatives, and oversees the Annual Giving Phonathon program, directly contributing to the College’s engagement and fundraising goals.

Position Title: Assistant Director, Student and Young Alumni Giving

Pay Status and Classification: Exempt, Regular Full-time. This position is not eligible for relocation assistance or visa sponsorship.

Supervisor: Director of Annual Giving

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

Young Alumni Philanthropy:

• Program Management: Lead and champion the GOLD program, driving a volunteer-led fundraising strategy for young alumni. Collaborate with Alumni & Parent Engagement to align philanthropic initiatives with broader engagement goals.
• Volunteer Management: Oversee the GOLD Committee to develop initiatives that increase young alumni participation. Lead fundraising efforts for 1st, 5th, and 10th ReUnion Committees.
• Portfolio Management: Cultivate and steward a portfolio of GOLD leadership donors and prospects, strategically advancing relationships to identify major gift potential.

Student Philanthropy:

• Program Management: Expand student philanthropy program, including the senior class gift campaign, to educate students on the impact of giving
• Volunteer Management: Recruit and lead the Senior Class Gift Committee to champion the class campaign.

Phonathon:

• Program Management: Oversee a dynamic Phonathon program that integrates with the Annual Giving solicitation strategy. Analyze performance data and prepare statistical reports for the Director of Annual Giving to refine program efficacy.
• Student Supervision: Recruit, train, and mentor student workers, fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performance environment that motivates student callers to achieve fundraising goals

General College Relations:

• Participates in the development and execution of an annual strategic plan for the Office of Annual Giving.
• Staff College Relations events as needed, including Homecoming and Family Weekend and ReUnion.
• Contribute to other campus initiatives and key college priorities if and when opportunities arise.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and two or more years of experience in annual giving, development, alumni relations, or related fields, or a combination of relevant education, training, certifications, and/or work experience.
• Strong understanding of philanthropy trends and best practices in higher education fundraising.
• Experience in managing and motivating student workers or volunteers.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies for students and young alumni.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and foster an inclusive environment among students, alumni, and colleagues.
• Proficiency in data analysis and utilizing metrics to inform decision-making.
• Familiarity with fundraising software and Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel, work occasional weekends, and participate in evening events as required.
• Passion for higher education and the mission of the College.
• Ability to exercise exceptional judgment, ensure strict confidentiality, and demonstrate outstanding professionalism in a range of situations.

Compensation:

The annual salary range for this position is $64,000. Except for roles with a set rate of pay, the wage/salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring rate/range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the rate/range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Location: Schenectady, NY

We know some job seekers may not apply for career opportunities unless they meet every qualification in the position description including the preferred qualifications. We are most interested in hiring the best staff and faculty colleagues, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career path. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our preferred qualifications.

We offer exceptional benefits including:

• Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time
• Winter Recess Break in Addition to Paid Holidays (in accordance with policy)
• Healthcare: Medical (PPO & HDHP), Dental, and Vision Insurance (Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts)
• Free On-Campus Fitness Facility Access and Discounts for On-Campus Wellness Programs
• Pre and Post Tax participation in a 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Salary Continuation Program in the event of Disability
• Tuition Exchange

Background Checks: In accordance with our background check policy, finalists for hire will undergo a background check that includes education, employment, and criminal convictions.

E-Verify Participation: Union College participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify and your Right to Work (Derecho a Trabajar).