Associate Director, Individual Giving

Art Center College of Design; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

ArtCenter College of Design seeks an experienced Associate Director of Individual Giving to manage donor relationships and support philanthropic efforts. This role involves developing donor engagement strategies and collaborating with multiple departments.

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of experience in fundraising. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential. The position offers a competitive salary and the chance to contribute to a welcoming and inclusive environment in Pasadena, California.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of fundraising, donor relations, or advancement experience.
• Ability to build cohesive one-on-one relationships with donors.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive workplace.

Responsibilities

• Manage a defined portfolio of mid-level donors through personalized cultivation.
• Design stewardship strategies for mid-level donors.
• Support volunteer and membership groups.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Oral communication

Negotiation skills

Experience with CRM systems

Flexibility and initiative

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Job description

ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Associate Director, Individual Giving to join our team.

Salary Range: $80,000.00 – $82,000.00.

Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

About ArtCenter

Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education with an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Essential Functions

Mid-Level Donor Portfolio Management (30%)

• Manage a defined portfolio of mid-level donors through proactive, personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
• Develop individualized engagement plans based on donor interests, capacity, and readiness to give.
• Execute renewal, upgrade, and retention strategies designed to grow philanthropic investment and long-term donor loyalty.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned donors, ensuring consistent, thoughtful, and donor-centered engagement.

Pipeline Development and Collaboration (15%)

• Identify and qualify donors with major gift potential and actively support pipeline development.
• Partner with Major Gifts, Annual Giving, and Advancement leadership to ensure seamless prospect transitions and strategy alignment.
• Collaborate with Annual Giving on segmentation, messaging, and coordinated outreach strategies for mid-level donors.
• Work closely with Alumni Engagement and Industry Engagement colleagues to leverage programs, events, and volunteer opportunities that deepen donor involvement.

Stewardship and Donor Engagement (20%)

• Design and execute stewardship strategies appropriate for mid-level donors, including personalized acknowledgements, updates, and engagement opportunities.
• Contribute to donor communications, briefings, and targeted initiatives that highlight the impact of philanthropy and reinforce donor connection to the College.
• Participate in donor-facing events and cultivation opportunities, including select evening and weekend activities.

Volunteer and Membership Program Support (20%)

• Support Advancement-affiliated volunteer and membership groups, including the ArtCenter100 Board.
• Assist in developing engagement strategies, communications, and stewardship plans for volunteers.
• Partner with internal teams to align volunteer engagement with fundraising and pipeline priorities.
• Foster strong relationships with volunteers to ensure a positive and mission-aligned experience.

Data Management and Performance Tracking (10%)

• Track donor engagement, solicitation activity, and progression within the CRM in collaboration with Advancement Services.
• Monitor performance metrics related to retention, upgrades, and pipeline movement and contribute to regular reporting and analysis.
• Maintain accurate, timely donor records and contact reports in accordance with Advancement protocols.

Non-Essential (5%)

• Maintain memberships and active involvement in applicable professional organizations.
• Assist with occasional advancement-related events.
• Serve on educational or college-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils.
• Follow all College policies, including safety protocols.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university or any equivalent combination of training and experience.
• At least 5 years of fundraising, donor relations, or advancement experience.
• Effective interpersonal skills, with an ability to build cohesive one-on-one relationships with donors and motivate them to support education.
• Excellent written and oral communication and negotiation skills; ability to translate complex academic, artistic, and technical concepts into language understandable by lay audiences.
• Experience with Raiser's Edge or other equivalent Customer Relations Management (CRM) systems.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with various internal and external stakeholders related to the ongoing operations of the division, including donors, volunteers, executive leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, students and alumni.
• Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a collaborative team environment to achieve institutional goals.
• Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion, recognizing the confidential nature of ArtCenter business.
• Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within ArtCenter’s diverse communities of faculty, staff, students and visitors.
• Ability to enforce and implement policies and procedures.
• Ability to work occasional weekends and evening hours, and to staff events.
• Ability to travel locally between campuses and for donor-related activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or a complex nonprofit environment.
• Familiarity with mid-level or pipeline fundraising strategies.
• Experience working with volunteer groups or advisory boards.
• Knowledge of annual giving, planned giving and major gifts programs.

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, dust and noise.

Physical: The position is generally performed in an office setting and events. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting or attend/work events; to stand or sit for prolonged periods; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 30 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Regular and consistent attendance are required for most positions. Domestic travel by car and airline and overnight travel, able to work nights and weekends to attend events.

Vision: Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.

Hearing: Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.

Diversity Statement

ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medical leave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductive health decision-making, off-duty and off-premises cannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professional development, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at [phone].

Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)

ArtCenter will not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from a criminal history about an applicant or employee’s prior cannabis use, unless ArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.

Employment At-Will

All employment with ArtCenter is for an unspecified term and is “at-will.” Employees are free to resign at any time, with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenter has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. This “at-will” employment, which includes the College’s right to transfer, discipline, demote, or change the conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without prior notice, cannot be modified, amended or waived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only by an express individualized written employment agreement signed by both the employee and the College president.

Mandatory Duty to Report

All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the Title IX Coordinator or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.

Child Abuse Reporting

Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.