Director of Development & Alumni Engagement

Western-Connecticut-State-University; Germantown (CT); On-site; USD 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Connecticut State University is seeking a Director of Development & Alumni Engagement to lead fundraising and alumni relations strategy. The role includes managing high-potential donor portfolios, guiding staff, and leveraging data to inform campaigns and engagement.

The position drives diversified revenue through major gifts, planned giving, corporate partnerships, and foundations, while supervising staff and reporting progress to university leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s preferred.
• Six (6) years of progressive fundraising or alumni engagement experience.
• Proven track record of closing major gifts and increasing donor participation.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for fundraising and alumni relations initiatives.
• Manage a portfolio of high-potential donors and alumni prospects.
• Guide staff to achieve fundraising goals and use data to inform strategy.
• Lead comprehensive alumni relations programs and donor stewardship.
• Develop diversified revenue strategies through major gifts, gifts planning, and partnerships.
• Establish and monitor fundraising performance metrics and provide strategic adjustments.

Skills

Major gifts

Alumni relations

Donor stewardship

Communication

Project management

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's preferred

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

CRM systems

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Western Connecticut State University is pleased to announce applications are being accepted for Director of Development & Alumni Engagement.

Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) is committed to enhancing our diverse university community by actively encouraging people with disabilities, members of LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities, veterans, and women to apply. We take pride in our pluralistic community and continue to seek excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion. WCSU is honored to be awarded the federal designation as a Hispanic Servicing Institution (HSI). This accomplishment marks a pivotal moment in our progress toward fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within our campus community.

This position sits within the Office of Institutional Advancement, the university’s fundraising and external engagement division. Institutional Advancement is responsible for securing philanthropic support to advance the university’s mission, strategic priorities, and student success initiatives. Information on the University may be found on www.wcsu.edu.

Position Summary

Provides strategic leadership for fundraising and alumni relations initiatives that advance institutional priorities, strengthen donor and alumni engagement, and increase philanthropic support. Manages a portfolio of high-potential donors and alumni prospects, guides development staff in achieving fundraising goals, and uses pipeline, campaign, and alumni engagement data to evaluate progress and inform strategy. Leads a comprehensive alumni relations program, cultivates campus and community partnerships, supports volunteer leadership, and develops diversified revenue strategies through major gifts, alumni giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and campaign initiatives. Supervises professional and/or support staff.

Position Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of high-potential donors and alumni prospects by developing and implementing individualized cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and major gift strategies in support of institutional priorities and fundraising goals.
• Implements data-informed fundraising, campaign, and alumni engagement strategies that increase donor engagement, alumni participation, philanthropic support, retention, and revenue growth.
• Oversees development staff by monitoring portfolio activity, tracking progress toward individual and team fundraising goals, and providing guidance to ensure consistent performance.
• Uses pipeline activity, alumni engagement data, and CRM/Raiser’s Edge records to assess donor movement, identify gaps, document interactions, and report progress toward fundraising and engagement benchmarks.
• Leads a comprehensive alumni relations program that strengthens lifelong alumni connection through events, communications, volunteer leadership, affinity groups, reunions, regional engagement, student-to-alumni initiatives, and donor stewardship.
• Serves as the primary liaison to alumni boards, committees, class ambassadors, and volunteer leaders in support of University and Foundation priorities.
• Partners with campus departments, faculty, athletics, admissions, career services, student affairs, and community organizations to create meaningful alumni participation opportunities.
• Cultivates relationships with alumni, parents, faculty, donors, businesses, and community partners to advance engagement, stewardship, visibility, and philanthropic support.
• Collaborates with Advancement leadership, university administrators, deans, and faculty to identify funding opportunities, alumni stories, campaign priorities, and engagement strategies.
• Develops and implements strategies that diversify philanthropic revenue through major gifts, alumni giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and comprehensive campaign initiatives aligned with institutional priorities.
• Establishes and monitors fundraising and alumni engagement performance metrics, evaluating progress toward institutional goals and recommending strategic adjustments to improve outcomes.
• Prepares, briefs, and supports the President, in partnership with the Director of Institutional Advancement, for donor, alumni, community, and institutional advancement engagements that advance university priorities.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities related to those enumerated above which do not alter the basic level and responsibilities of the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s preferred.
• Six (6) years of progressive, successful experience in fundraising, alumni relations, advancement, constituent engagement, or related nonprofit/higher education work.
• Proven track record of closing major gifts ($25,000+) and strengthening alumni participation, volunteer engagement, and philanthropic support.
• Background in capital campaigns and higher education advancement preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to create compelling, donor-centric cases for support and alumni-centered engagement opportunities.
• Excellent oral and written communication, relationship-building, event planning, organizational, analytical, and project management skills.
• Experience with constituent relationship management systems like Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Outlook platforms, advancement communications, data-informed engagement strategies, and AI-based tools for fundraising and alumni outreach preferred.

Salary & Benefits

The hiring salary is $115,773. WCSU offers a comprehensive benefits package. Additional information on benefits can be found at www.wcsu.edu/hr/benefits/. All employment, if offered, is contingent upon proof of citizenship or employability under the requirement of the Immigration and Control Act (IRCA) and the successful passing of a background check. WSCU is committed to providing a safe campus community. Background investigations include reference checks, employment verifications, and a criminal history record check.

Western is an affirmative action equal opportunity educator/employer