Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship

Posted on 10/28/2021

Olivet College

Olivet, MI

Job Summary: 

The Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship (“Director) reports to the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving and collaborates regularly with all members of the advancement department and frequently with colleagues across campus.

The Director serves as a representative for Olivet College, especially among constituents with a record of, or the potential for, making annual gifts. They are primarily responsible for the strategic execution and management of a comprehensive annual giving and stewardship program. The director develops a coordinated matrix of solicitation strategies and is responsible for coordinating an inclusive and efficient stewardship program that consistently promotes interaction with and recognition of donors at all levels. The director provides strategic direction through annual and multi-year planning for their area of responsibility in the context of growing the annual giving and stewardship program while supporting the further achievement of advancement department and college goals.

Success is defined by the degree of success the director achieves in developing and retaining lasting annual giving relationships leading to increased annual support and increased donor participation for the college. In addition, the director will foster the growth of best practices in the supporting areas of gift processing, data management, budget considerations, and donor relations as related to annual giving and Olivet College as a whole. The director will have a keen appreciation for the foundation of annual giving as the enabling component of successful major and gift planning programs. The director is responsible for ensuring that Olivet College is a leader among peers as measured externally in terms of total dollars, total donors, percentage of participation, consistency of giving and average gift size and measured internally in terms of clean data, ease of access to data and timely donor stewardship.

Responsibilities: 

  • Design and implement strategies to grow the annual giving program in both dollars and participation across all constituencies: alumni, friends, trustees, parents, students, faculty & staff, community, and corporate partners; achieve this by managing a comprehensive program including direct mail, email, video, personal visits, social media, and event fundraising channels
  • Manage the overall stewardship and donor relations plan including donors at all giving levels
  • Create a case for giving that connects the heart of the donor with the core of the college’s mission. Coordinate with colleagues in the Office of Marketing and Communications to find and share the college’s most impactful stories
  • Responsible for the development of all annual giving materials and communication vehicles
  • Develop solicitation requests for the monthly E-newsletter and bi-annual alumni magazine
  • Guide information tracking and reporting processes regarding acknowledgement, recognition, on-going communications and continued cultivation of past and current donors to enhance their relationship with the college and increase the likelihood of continued contributions
  • Collaborate with Advancement Services to refine and develop new elements for the college’s donor acknowledgment and stewardship process. This currently includes tax receipts, thank you letters, donor reminder cards, thank you phone calls, and the honor roll of donors
  • Utilize direct mail, digital media, groundbreaking and ribbon cutting ceremonies, donor plaques, scholarship luncheons and other donor events, and the President’s Honor Roll/Annual Report to engage donors and the campus community in stewardship
  • Provide thorough, accurate and timely responses to all donor requests for information; demonstrate exemplary customer service in all exchanges
  • Perform comprehensive analysis related to all aspects of the annual giving and stewardship program. Use statistics to evaluate the program and make recommendations to meet annual goals and to improve future performance. Evaluate outcomes and report progress and suggestions to the Vice President and others as appropriate
  • Represent the Annual Giving department and Office of Advancement at both internal and external campus events and activities

Qualifications: 

  • Education: bachelor’s degree required. A strong commitment professional growth is essential
  • Required Fundraising Experience: a minimum of five years of work in the Development field or in a field requiring comparable skills and experience. Previous experience in higher education desired, writing sample, portfolio of work and corresponding demonstrated experience of increasing the number of donors and dollars raised required.
  • Writing and Verbal Skills: must be able to present a written message in a clear, concise, interesting, and effective manner. Needs to possess strong verbal communication skills; specifically, the talent to speak effectively and make oneself understood in both informal settings and before a group and refined listening skills to effectively acquire relevant information
  • Analytical Skills: strong experience in analyzing and interpreting data to drive donor strategies with the ability to conceptualize, develop, implement, and assess strategic development activities • Technology Skills: proficiency with Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel, is essential. Strong computer software skills, database experience and technical aptitude strongly desired
  • Initiative: must be able and willing to work in accordance with high, self-imposed standards and discipline; be a self-starter; devote extra effort to get the job done whenever necessary. Must be able to work in fast-paced, demanding, and results-oriented environment
  • Planning and Organizing: possess the discipline to structure personal activities to maximize productivity and efficiency; arrange documentation and information in a systematic manner; establish objectives and plans for accomplishment of goals; set priorities; meet deadlines
  • Flexibility: ability to adapt and respond appropriately to the demands of a very fluid environment. This includes working early mornings, evenings and weekends on occasion
  • Judgment and Decision Making: proven ability to think on one’s feet; evaluate relevant information, recognize alternatives, and reach logical conclusions based on the information available; handle day-to-day problems in a practical and effective way
  • Empathy and Relationship Skills: the sensitivity to perceive and react with consideration to the needs and feelings of others; competence in developing relationships that enhance understanding, communication, and friendliness.

Compensation:

Olivet College is a professional liberal arts college offering employees career opportunities built around growth and development, team spirit, work/life balance, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits package. An attractive and competitive salary/benefits package commensurate with experience will be offered to the right candidate.

Olivet College is an equal opportunity employer and does take affirmative steps to employ women and minorities. Founded in 1844, Olivet College was the first college by charter in Michigan to admit women and people of color. As part of its commitment to a values-based mission of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility, the College actively seeks diversity in its students, faculty and staff. Women and members of historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

To apply for this job please visit workforcenow.adp.com.