Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving

Posted on 11/11/2021

Ball State University Foundation

Muncie, IN

Would you like to work with an energetic group of staff at a unified foundation, one with no barriers between advancement, alumni relations, and stewardship?   Now is your chance to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to reinventing higher education through philanthropy and cutting-edge partnerships. You’d be joining our team as we embark on our most ambitious fundraising goal ever — to take student support to the next level, both financially and academically.

We currently have two openings for the position of Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving. If you’re looking for a high-achieving work environment with a culture of camaraderie and a mission to change lives, check out the job details below.

At Ball State University, we are committed to excellence through a talented and diverse faculty and staff. Inclusiveness and freedom of expression are a part of our enduring values and inform all of our efforts. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world. We are excited that you want to join us in these endeavors!

Position Function: 

The Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving is a high-energy, self-fundraiser responsible for soliciting leadership annual gifts. The primary objective is to increase the number of donors who give annually at the $1,000+ level, ultimately increasing the amount of private support raised each year. A specific concentration on renewal, upgrades and acquisition will result in more private support each year as well as enhancing the major gift pipeline.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

  • Qualify, cultivate, and solicit Ball State alumni/ae and friends capable of making leadership annual gift commitments of $1,000+ to the university.
  • Devise and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies (including ask amounts) and meet activity and revenue goals by planning, managing, and maintaining an aggressive meeting schedule.
  • Execute cultivation and solicitation methods including telephone, email, and personal visits with alumni and friends.
  • Work with colleagues to build fundraising strategy for their assigned units.
  • Increase the number of mid-level donors who give annually, ultimately increasing the amount of private support raised from university constituents each year; concentrate on renewal, upgrades and acquisition within the prospect pool to assist in raising more private support each year and enhance the major gift pipeline.
  • Using various platforms and tools, develop data-inspired fundraising strategies.
  • Plan all work thoroughly and carefully, including goals, timetables and steps to be taken to achieve objectives.
  • Provide regular foundation board and internal updates on leadership-level donor giving.
  • Review all pledge reminders and correspondence for leadership giving donors.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Mimimum Education:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Minimum Experience: 
At least one year of higher education, sales, and/or non-profit fundraising work experience. This is to include successfully serving in roles such as a student caller, alumni ambassador and related giving/engagement roles during college.
Other Requirements: 

History of proven fundraising success while as a college/university student or professionally after graduating; experience with using data to drive strategy; ability to work as part of an organization without direct daily supervision; outstanding oral, written and listening communication skills in order to articulate departmental and institutional viewpoints, goals, priorities, and needs; strong organizational and interpersonal skills; willingness and ability to travel; possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and be insurable under the university’s auto fleet policy; proficient in Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel.

Preferred Education:
Master’s degree.

Preferred Experience:
Two or more years of successful fundraising experience in a higher education setting (phonathon, leadership giving, etc.) and/or within non-profit fundraising.

Preferred Other Requirements: 

Self-motivation and ability to motivate others, including alumni, staff, faculty and volunteers; ability to work as a team member within a complex institution; knowledge of or experience in an educational setting; flexibility and willingness to change fundraising tactics and strategy mid-year to achieve stated program goals; supervisory experience.

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 120 undergraduate programs. We offer more than 140 master’s, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees, with many of them ranking among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

To apply for this job please visit bsu.peopleadmin.com.