Associate Director Leadership Giving & Engagement

Annual Giving Network LLC; South Orange (NJ); On-site; USD 56,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Seton Hall University is seeking an Associate Director of Leadership Annual Giving. You will manage a portfolio of $1,000+ gifts to grow the Bayley Society and Reunion Program, using virtual and in-person meetings, calls, emails, and written communications.

The role partners with Alumni Engagement and University Advancement to broaden donor engagement, increase renewals, and grow the donor base through direct mail, social media, and digital campaigns, with some travel and event attendance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years of fundraising or related transferable skills.
• Strong communication skills and persuasive abilities.
• Flexibility to attend alumni events at night and on weekends.

Responsibilities

• Identify and solicit upper-level annual gifts ($1,000+), building Seton Hall University’s Bayley Society through a donor portfolio.
• Collaborate with University Advancement and Alumni Engagement to engage alumni and families.
• Support annual gift efforts across direct mail, social media, crowdfunding, phone, and digital marketing; help with Seton Hall Giving Day.

Skills

Fundraising

Cold-calling

Campaigning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Reporting to the Director of Philanthropic Engagement, the Associate Director of Leadership Annual Giving manages upper-level annual giving ($1,000+), focusing on building Seton Hall University’s Bayley Society and Reunion Program. Responsibilities include virtual and face-to-face solicitations, supplemented by phone calls, emails, and written communications. The primary audiences are alumni and families, especially those in reunion class years. The role involves high-volume, personalized outreach to maximize donor engagement and requires some travel and event attendance.
The Associate Director qualifies, engages, and acquires new donors, encourages current donors to renew and increase their giving, and assesses future major gift capacity. The position supports annual gift efforts across direct mail, social media, crowdfunding, and digital marketing to grow Seton Hall’s donor base, retention rate, and funds raised.
Additionally, the role involves all aspects of Alumni Engagement, including communication, digital, experiential, philanthropic, leadership giving, and volunteer engagement, working collaboratively within an integrated engagement team.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Responsible for the identification and personal solicitations of upper level annual giving ($1,000+), with special attention to building Seton Hall University’s Bayley Society, by managing a portfolio. Funds will be raised primarily through both virtual and face-to-face meetings, which are supplemented with phone calls, emails, as well as both written and verbal solicitations. Primary audiences for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship will be alumni and families of the University. Acquire new donors for the university as well as encourage current annual donors to increase their giving over time while assessing future major gift capacity. Build a stronger foundation for philanthropy by helping to create a more robust pipeline of gifts, which can lead to future major gift support. The Officer will deliver high-volume, personalized outreach to hundreds of donors and potential donors using an outreach cadence designed to maximize completed contacts. The individual will be asked to meet with a minimum of 100 individuals per year, with at least 75 of them taking place in person. Fundraising goals will include number of visits, number of donors, and amount of dollars raised, and will be evaluated and adjusted on a semi-annual basis. 70% of time

2. Work collaboratively with University Advancement and campus partners, and as an integrated member of the Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy team. Participate in all aspects of alumni engagement, including philanthropy, communication, digital, experiential, leadership giving and volunteerism. Build mutually beneficial relationships that inspire loyalty and financial support, strengthen the institution’s reputation, and involve alumni in meaningful activities to advance the institution’s mission. 15% of time

3. Assist the Director of Philanthropic Engagement with leading annual gift efforts across direct mail, social media, crowdfunding, phone, and digital marketing to reach campaign philanthropic engagement goals on behalf of the University. This will include assisting with designing, writing, and generating solicitation communications via a variety of channels. The Associate Director will help with the implementation of Seton Hall Giving Day, and will assist in overseeing engagement center students, who make phone calls on behalf of Seton Hall for fundraising and engagement purposes. 15% of time

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years of experience in fundraising, cold-calling marketing/sales, campaigning and or relevant transferrable skills. The successful candidate will possess very refined communication skills, is comfortable guiding a conversation along with individuals who are unknown; and must have the ability to be persuasive. Ability to attend alumni engagement events, which frequently occur at night and on weekends.
Position requires a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle for travel to meet with donors and prospects.

Desired Qualifications:

Experience with higher education fundraising highly preferred.

Licenses and Certificates:

Must possess a valid driver’s license

Salary Range:

$56,000 – $77,000

Exempt/Nonexempt:

Exempt

Physical Demands:

General Office Environment

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include the names and contact information for at least three professional references.