Chief of Class Giving & Alumni Engagement

MaineGuide; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Colby College invites applications for the Director of Class Philanthropy and Engagement. The role leads class-based fundraising and engagement, focusing on reunions, volunteer leadership, and lifelong alumni connections to grow participation and gifts.

You'll oversee the Class Philanthropy and Engagement team, partner with College Advancement, and direct reunion programs, volunteer strategies, and a donor pipeline from identification to stewardship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience.
• At least 5 years of fundraising experience in a college, university, or similar setting, with demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors and achieving fundraising goals.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing staff, working effectively with volunteers, managing complex relationships, and collaborating across teams to advance shared goals.
• Demonstrated ability to think and plan long-term while successfully attending to more immediate goals and tasks; strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including superb relationship skills across power levels.
• Willingness to meet multiple deadlines, including occasional nights and weekends, and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement reunion and class philanthropy strategies to drive alumni participation and giving.
• Develop and execute class and reunion fundraising to meet revenue and participation goals.
• Lead milestone 25th and 50th reunion fundraising programs, including committees and mass communications.
• Collaborate with Advancement fundraisers to set target asks for top prospects and drive strategy.
• Establish measurable fundraising goals and evaluate performance for future planning.
• Manage a portfolio of alumni prospects with moves management from identification to stewardship.
• Build relationships and personally cultivate, solicit, and steward donors for annual goals.
• Lead team and mentor staff to align with Colby Advancement goals.
• Partner with colleagues to coordinate class and reunion fundraising with broader donor strategies.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Staff supervision

Relationship building

Donor stewardship

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

fundraising databases

Job description

Colby College invites applications for the Director of Class Philanthropy and Engagement. The role leads class-based fundraising and engagement, focusing on reunions, volunteer leadership, and lifelong alumni connections to grow participation and gifts.

You'll oversee the Class Philanthropy and Engagement team, partner with College Advancement, and direct reunion programs, volunteer strategies, and a donor pipeline from identification to stewardship.