Manager, Appeals

Pepperdine University; Malibu (CA); On-site; USD 41,052 - 43,656; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Pepperdine University seeks a Manager for Appeals in Malibu, CA, to enhance donor participation and engagement. The role involves developing annual giving campaigns, digital content creation, and managing events for donor outreach. Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree, two years of experience, and proficiency in communication and project management tools like Microsoft Office and Raiser's Edge. The expected pay ranges from $29.80 to $31.69 per hour, with competitive benefits provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of full-time professional experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for correspondence and reports.
• Ability to work cross-functionally while building and maintaining relationships.
• Proficiency in time management and project organization.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Experience in initiating and managing workflow independently.

Responsibilities

• Aid in the development and execution of annual giving campaigns.
• Develop and oversee digital content and direct mail campaigns.
• Collaborate on strategy for donor engagement events.
• Manage student employees and outreach for increased engagement.
• Track annual giving goals with frontline fundraisers.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

Skills

Written and verbal communication skills

Time management

Project organization

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

Google suite

Raiser's Edge or equivalent

Notion

Job description

The Manager, Appeals plays a key role in increasing donor participation and engagement, especially among alumni, parents, and other constituents, to ensure the university meets its annual giving targets. This role includes both strategic and tactical responsibilities, with a focus on donor cultivation, stewardship, tracking, and campaign management.

Duties

• Aid in the overall development, execution, tracking, and evaluation of annual giving campaigns and appeals, including two annual giving days, direct mail, email appeals, and digital fundraising initiatives.
• Develop digital content, including website updates and email appeals, ensuring efforts meet the goals of the department and stakeholders. Create and oversee corresponding direct mail campaigns when applicable.
• Collaborate on strategy for events designed to engage donors, including in-person activations, digital presence, and stewardship.
• Manage student employees and student outreach, working to increase student engagement.
• Set and track progress toward annual giving goals, ensuring campaigns are on target to meet participation targets, working with frontline fundraisers and digital gift officers to cultivate constituents properly.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

Skills and Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of full‑time professional experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to compose, proofread, and edit correspondence and reports for correct grammar.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally while building and maintaining relationships.
• Proficiency in time management, project organization, and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Ability to initiate, work independently, and adept at setting priorities and managing workflow to fulfill objectives and meet goals according to deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite and Google suite of applications, specifically database (Excel and Sheets) programs.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field with at least two years of experience in marketing, nonprofit, higher education, event planning, or a similar domain.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace.
• Experience with donor databases, preferably Raiser's Edge or equivalent, and the use of databases to generate reports.
• Prior experience in digital solicitations and crowdfunding outcomes in a fundraising or constituent‑driven environment.
• Goal‑oriented, self‑motivated, and adaptable to evolving environments.
• Proficiency in Notion, Raiser's Edge CRM, and GiveCampus.
• Commitment to respecting workplace differences and working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Benefits

Expected Pay Range: $29.80 – $31.69 per hour. The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.