Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving

LaGrange College; LaGrange (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LaGrange College is seeking a Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving to lead programs, solicit donors, and grow annual support from alumni, parents and friends.

Under the supervision of the Vice President for Advancement, you will plan and implement alumni events, cultivate relationships regionally and nationally, manage the Annual Giving program, and coordinate with gift officers to increase unrestricted gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 4+ years in alumni engagement, development, or fundraising.
• Experience in fundraising for educational institutions preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to solicit alumni, parents and friends by phone in a professional, strategic manner.
• Strong planning, public speaking, and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of database management; Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.

Responsibilities

• Plans and promotes alumni programs aligned with the college's strategic goals.
• Builds relationships with alumni locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• Manages Annual Giving program with gift officers for unrestricted gifts.
• Conducts at least four donor meetings monthly with follow-up and next steps.
• Oversees communications, events and volunteer opportunities for giving programs.
• Coordinates cultivation and solicitation activities and reports outcomes.
• Educates students about alumni benefits and engages them in programs.
• Collaborates with campus departments to maximize giving.
• Identifies new programs to increase participation at leadership levels.
• Recruits and trains volunteer solicitors and coordinates donor recognition.
• Represent the College at events to cultivate and steward donors.

Skills

Alumni engagement

Fundraising strategy

Public speaking

Verbal communication

Written communication

Database management

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Telephone solicitations

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge

Job description

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.