Director of Annual Giving

Thomas Aquinas College; Santa Paula (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance after 1 year

403(b) employer match + 5%

Paid time off and holidays

Job summary

Thomas Aquinas College seeks a Director of Annual Giving to lead the institution's annual giving program. You will oversee strategy, donor acquisition, retention, and a data-driven, multi-channel fundraising plan aligned with the College's Catholic liberal education mission.

You will manage the advancement database and services staff, collaborate with alumni relations, marketing, and major gifts, and drive fundraising performance toward annual goals and KPIs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience in annual giving fundraising and staff supervision.
• Familiarity with Catholic higher education preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a comprehensive annual giving program focused on unrestricted support for operations and student financial aid across both campuses.

Skills

Fundraising strategy

Donor relations

Data analytics

Digital campaigns

Budgeting & reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Location: Santa Paula, CA
Department: Advancement Office
Reports to: Executive Director of Development
Employment Type: Exempt; Full Time
Salary Range: $90,000 to $115,000

Summary

The Director of Annual Giving reports to the Executive Director of Development and provides strategic leadership for the College's annual giving program, including the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-channel fundraising strategy to increase donor participation and revenue. The Director manages the advancement database and service staff, while fostering a high-performing, mission-driven team.

Leveraging data analytics, digital engagement, direct mail, and emerging best practices, the Director will expand the College's donor base, strengthen donor retention, and identify and cultivate annual donors with the capacity for major gifts. The Director collaborates closely with colleagues in alumni relations, marketing and communications, and major gifts to deliver a cohesive donor experience aligned with the College's unique program of Catholic liberal education and is responsible for achieving annual fundraising goals and key performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a comprehensive annual giving program focused on unrestricted support for operations and student financial aid across both campuses.
• Develop and execute multi-channel fundraising strategies, including direct mail, digital campaigns, giving days, donor acquisition campaigns, and donor outreach.
• Plan, execute, and evaluate annual appeals and giving-week campaigns for alumni, parents, and friends, including audience segmentation and targeted messaging.
• Grow and strengthen the President's Council ($1,000+ giving society), including cultivation, engagement, and stewardship.
• Identify, qualify, and develop a pipeline of annual donors with the capacity for leadership and major gifts, in partnership with major gift officers.
• Oversee donor stewardship strategies for annual giving, ensuring timely, meaningful engagement and retention.
• Collaborate with alumni relations, marketing and communications, and other campus partners to enhance donor engagement and participation.
• Manage inbound donor and prospect engagement, including inquiries, visits, and campus tours.
• Promote and manage the matching gifts program to maximize philanthropic support.
• Supervise advancement database and services staff (2-3 team members), ensuring data integrity, gift processing, and reporting effectiveness.
• Recruit, train, and supervise students and volunteers supporting annual giving and stewardship efforts.

Performance Metrics

• Achievement of annual unrestricted fundraising goals.
• Growth in total donors and alumni participation.
• Donor retention and reactivation rates.
• Expansion and retention of President's Council ($1,000+ giving level).
• Identification and conversion of annual donors to major gift levels.
• Effective management of annual giving channels, including cost efficiency and ROI.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required.

Experience

• 3-5 years of experience in annual giving fundraising and staff supervision, preferably in higher education or a Catholic non-profit.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strategic vision and the ability to translate institutional priorities into multi-year fundraising plans.
• Digital fluency and ability to use donor data to drive fundraising strategy.
• Proficiency in fundraising software and databases.
• Enthusiasm for Thomas Aquinas College's program of Catholic liberal education and ability to communicate its distinctive mission to donors and prospective supporters.
• High level of integrity and professionalism.
• Creative problem solver.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Life insurance available upon completion of one year of employment.
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% employer match when employee contributes 5%.
• Paid time off, which includes accrued vacation and sick days, and some paid holidays.