Department Purpose: Annual Giving exists to create a wide and deep pool of highly engaged donors to programs and units across OSU, helping donors discover their philanthropic passions and implementing strategic tactics and partnerships to aid donors in realizing their full philanthropic potential.

Primary Purpose: Develops and executes Annual Giving direct mail and social media strategy by collaborating with internal partners and external vendors to increase short-term and long-term support for OSU.

Key Areas of Focus: 

•  Maintain master calendar and serve as project manager for all Annual Giving appeals
• Execute Annual Giving direct mail projects by coordinating with key partners including vendors, Marketing & Communications, and Data Services
• Develop a segmentation plan for direct mail and email appeals and collaborate with Data Services, Marketing and Communications, and the Direct Marketing Associate to execute the strategy
• Create and send mass solicitation emails using Marketing Cloud
• Coordinate with campus partners such as the Alumni Association and Athletics to ensure our communication plans and calendar complement one another
• Work closely with the development units to help them execute their appeals efficiently
• Oversee the Digital Ambassador Program
• Collaborate with Marketing & Communications to develop a social media strategy for Annual Giving

Other duties as assigned.

Job Competencies and Experience: 

 Education & Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, non-profit management, or a related field

Experience:

• Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects at a time
• 2-4 years of experience in a marketing, donor/customer service, or fundraising role
• Knowledge of higher-ed fundraising best practices, particularly in digital channels, is preferred
• Experience using Scale Funder, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Salesforce CRM, or other similar fundraising tools is a plus!

Organizational Competencies:

• Effective Communication: Proactively ensures effective communication throughout the organization; makes relevant contributions to discussions and meetings, giving clear and concise explanations and sticking to the point; chooses language and communication method to suit the audience, reframes and articulates to help others understand; asks questions to check understanding when disseminating information
• Execution & Initiative: Motivates self and others to achieve the best results, displaying energy, drive and a desire to succeed; enlists the support of others as necessary to overcome resistance; supervises cross-functional project team execution on tasks to meet stated objectives; helps other employees’ gain the skills and experience they need to contribute; pro-actively outlines milestones, outcomes and deliverables and effectively communicates them to internal and external stakeholders
• Teamwork/Interpersonal Skills: Develops and nurtures formal & informal relationships with a wide circle of people beyond those involved in current activities, including potential donors, stakeholders, and information links; encourages collaboration among colleagues, departments and entire organization to achieve results; compromises, handles conflicts, seeks common ground, articulates own and others goals; stays focused on positive win-win outcomes; seeks input on how to leverage existing processes to improve the donor experience; translates ideas into action
• Problem Solving/Judgment: Gains understanding of how to apply approved policies and procedures; when and why escalation of issues is needed and to whom and communicates decisions and desired outcomes to others; anticipates the outcome of  a single decision; recognizes problems in advance, systematically gathers information to define the root cause, breaks down complex information into component parts, develops alternatives, seeks input from others, selects and recommends the best solution
• Adaptability/Flexibility:  Embraces complex or first time problems as opportunities to learn and incorporate new skills; flexes style based on immediate needs; accepts responsibility for implementing change; evaluates and manages resources needed to implement change; personally supports (in words and actions) organizational direction and change agenda
• Courage & Conviction: Takes responsibility for individual & project outcomes regardless of success and learns from all results; encourages candid responses, feedback, new ideas and conflicting opinions
• Donor Centered: Takes time to actively learn about the stated needs by asking questions, exploring how to unite the donors and university’s passions and priorities; anticipates customer needs and proactively makes recommendations

Preferred Qualifications: