Senior Manager of Engagement and Philanthropy

University of Austin; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Austin in Austin seeks a Senior Manager of Engagement and Philanthropy to lead broad-base fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship. You will craft donor-centered experiences, drive campaigns, and build scalable donor journeys to strengthen affinity for UATX.

The role focuses on activation, events, campus engagements, and regional gatherings to grow donor participation and revenue while delivering timely acknowledgments and impact reporting.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of annual giving, donor engagement, stewardship, and fundraising communications.
• Demonstrated ability to build and execute successful donor acquisition and retention strategies.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to build new programs and test innovative approaches.

Responsibilities

• Own acquisition, retention, and donor upgrade strategies for supporters giving up to $25,000 annually.
• Develop, manage, and execute annual giving campaigns across direct mail, digital fundraising, and other broad-base channels.
• Oversee donor stewardship initiatives, including acknowledgments, impact reporting, and donor recognition.
• Refine and manage the annual donor communications and stewardship calendar.
• Lead strategy for donor engagement opportunities, including campus tours, regional gatherings, and other cultivation experiences.
• Design segmented donor journeys that deepen engagement, increase retention, and strengthen philanthropic support.
• Identify emerging major gift prospects for referral to frontline fundraisers.
• Leverage HubSpot to track donor engagement, campaign performance, stewardship activity, and fundraising outcomes.
• Serve as the primary owner of broad-base fundraising performance and donor engagement outcomes.
• KPIs: 100% of gift acknowledgments deployed within 48 hours, impact reports and annual report delivered on schedule, donor retention, upgrade, and acquisition goals achieved, four broad-base fundraising campaigns deployed annually, year-over-year growth in broad-base donor participation and revenue

Skills

Annual giving

Donor engagement

Project management

Communication

Entrepreneurial mindset

Collaborative work

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

Job Summary

UATX seeks an entrepreneurial and relationship-driven Senior Manager of Engagement and Philanthropy to serve as the lead strategist for broad-base fundraising, donor engagement, and stewardship. This role is responsible for building and growing a sustainable community of supporters through thoughtful acquisition, retention, stewardship, and donor upgrade strategies.

The Senior Manager serves as a key ambassador for UATX, representing the university with professionalism and enthusiasm through donor interactions, events, campus visits, and community engagement opportunities. In partnership with colleagues, this individual will create meaningful donor experiences that deepen affinity for UATX, strengthen long-term engagement, and cultivate future major gift prospects.

This position is ideal for an entrepreneurial fundraiser in pursuit of excellence who enjoys building systems, creating donor-centered experiences, and developing innovative approaches to philanthropy. The successful candidate will play a critical role in building a best-in-class fundraising program at the nation\'s newest university.

Responsibilities

• Own acquisition, retention, and donor upgrade strategies for supporters giving up to $25,000 annually

• Develop, manage, and execute annual giving campaigns across direct mail, digital fundraising, and other broad-base channels

• Oversee donor stewardship initiatives, including acknowledgments, impact reporting, and donor recognition

• Refine and manage the annual donor communications and stewardship calendar

• Lead strategy for donor engagement opportunities, including campus tours, regional gatherings, and other cultivation experiences

• Design segmented donor journeys that deepen engagement, increase retention, and strengthen philanthropic support

• Identify emerging major gift prospects for referral to frontline fundraisers

• Leverage HubSpot to track donor engagement, campaign performance, stewardship activity, and fundraising outcomes

• Serve as the primary owner of broad-base fundraising performance and donor engagement outcomes

• KPIs: 100% of gift acknowledgments deployed within 48 hours, impact reports and annual report delivered on schedule, donor retention, upgrade, and acquisition goals achieved, four broad-base fundraising campaigns deployed annually, year-over-year growth in broad-base donor participation and revenue

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of annual giving, donor engagement, stewardship, and fundraising communications

• Demonstrated ability to build and execute successful donor acquisition and retention strategies

• Excellent project management and organizational skills

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to build new programs and test innovative approaches

• Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced and mission-driven environment

• Demonstrates discretion, sound judgment, and professionalism in handling sensitive donor and institutional information

• Passion for higher education and the mission of UATX