Director of Development & Alumni Engagement

Kansas City International; Northern, Danbury (KY, CT); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 133,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Connecticut State University is seeking a Director of Development & Alumni Engagement to lead fundraising and alumni relations, managing high-potential donor portfolios and guiding staff toward strategic goals.

You will develop diversified revenue strategies—including major gifts, planned giving, and partnerships—while strengthening donor engagement and campus partnerships across the university's mission and priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred.
• Six years of progressive fundraising or alumni relations experience.
• Proven track record in closing major gifts ($25,000+).
• Capital campaigns and higher education advancement experience preferred.
• Ability to craft donor-centric cases for support and engagement opportunities.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and project management skills.
• Experience with CRM systems like Blackbaud Raiser's Edge and related tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-potential donors and alumni prospects with tailored strategies.
• Lead data-informed fundraising, campaigns, and alumni engagement initiatives.
• Supervise staff and monitor progress toward fundraising goals.
• Collaborate with campus partners to create alumni participation opportunities.
• Develop and implement diversified revenue strategies through major gifts, planned giving, partnerships, and grants.
• Establish and monitor fundraising and alumni engagement metrics; adjust strategies as needed.
• Prepare materials for the President and Advancement leadership for donor and alumni engagements.

Skills

Fundraising

Alumni relations

Major gifts

Campaign management

Donor engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Blackbaud Raiser's Edge

Microsoft Outlook

AI fundraising tools

Job description

Western Connecticut State University
Institutional Advancement
Director of Development & Alumni Engagement

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

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 and inclusion. WCSU is honored to be awarded the federal designation as a Hispanic Serving 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 onwww.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 atwww.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