Director, Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving

LaGrange College; LaGrange (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

LaGrange College invites applications for the Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. Under the general supervision of the Vice President for Advancement, this role oversees alumni and parent engagement programs, solicits prospective donors, and helps grow annual support from alumni, parents and friends.

Responsibilities include planning programs, building relationships regionally and internationally, managing annual giving with gift officers, and coordinating events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 4+ years in alumni engagement, development, or fundraising.
• Experience in fundraising for educational institutions is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement and promote alumni programs aligned with the college’s strategic goals and fundraising campaigns.
• Build relationships with alumni locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Manage and direct Annual Giving activities with gift officers on unrestricted gifts.
• Conduct a minimum of four donor/prospect meetings per month with follow-up and next steps.
• Oversee communications, events and volunteer opportunities for alumni programs and giving.

Skills

Phone solicitations

Public speaking

Strategic planning

Written communication

Relationship building

Event coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of the Vice President for Advancement, the Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving oversees alumni and parent engagement programs, solicits prospective donors, and administers programs to grow a renewable base of annual support from alumni, parents and friends.

Job Duties (but not limited to):

• Plans, implements and promotes alumni programs that support the college's strategic plan as well as the goals of any fundraising campaigns in collaboration with colleagues within the Advancement Division and throughout the college
• Establishes and builds relationships with a wide range of alumni, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, especially in Troup County and Georgia
• In collaboration with Director of Philanthropy, manage and direct the activities of the Annual Giving program; work with all gift officers on their responsibilities pertaining to annual giving, particularly unrestricted annual gifts.
• Conduct a minimum of 4 individual meetings with donors and prospects per month to include timely follow-up, detailed contact reports and strategic next steps.
• Oversee the strategies and goals of alumni programs and giving, including communications, events and volunteer opportunities.
• Plan a comprehensive schedule of annual cultivation and solicitation activities including direct mail, phonathon and personal solicitations; analyze and report on the outcomes of these activities.
• Educates students about alumni benefits and engages them in programs
• Work with other campus departments and affinity groups to maximize giving to the College.
• Identify and implement new programs to increase participation in annual giving and gifts at the leadership level of $1,000 and above.
• Coordinate the logistics and produce materials for special events related to annual giving (e.g., giving societies, meetings, recognition events, reunion class giving).
• Recruit and train volunteer solicitors including members of Alumni Executive Committee, Reunion Giving Committees and a possible future President’s Circle Council; solicit gifts from some of these volunteer leaders.
• Represent the College at special events and in the community in order to cultivate future and steward current donors.
• Assists the Vice President, directors and other colleagues in other duties as assigned to meet the challenges and opportunities of LaGrange College's advancement goals.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree; 4+ years of experience in alumni engagement/development/fundraising or similar professional background. Experience in fundraising for educational institutions preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to solicit alumni, parents and friends using the telephone in a professional and strategic manner.
• Skills in written and verbal communication with the ability to use considerable tact and diplomacy.
• Skills in strategic planning with the ability to synthesize multiple ideas into a cohesive plan of action.
• Skills in public speaking and in presenting to internal and external audiences.
• Knowledge of database management; Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
• Significant skill in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word

LaGrange College is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.