Summary: 

Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving, the Assistant Director of Annual Giving is to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual donors to the College with a particular focus on encouraging increased philanthropic support to The Wooster Fund through cultivating relationships with Wooster alumni, families, and friends. Additionally, the position will oversee programmatic responsibilities related to the Annual Giving department such as The Wooster Fund and Fighting Scots Fund stewardship program, the parent and family advisory council, faculty and staff giving, and / or coordinating Giving Days. The successful candidate will be a proven fundraiser with demonstrated ability in fundraising, program management, communications, and teamwork.

Essential Departmental Duties and Responsibilities: 

Qualification and Solicitation of Annual Gifts: 70%

• Develop and implement solicitation strategies for a portfolio of 125-150 donors and prospective donors with the capacity to give $1,000-$50,000, with an emphasis on securing unrestricted support for The Wooster Fund. Solicitation activities are primarily focused on monthly personal visits and substantial contacts.
• Identify and encourage increased philanthropic support for the College with a focus on the growing the donor pipeline for prospects with the capacity to give $3,000+
• At the end of the tax and fiscal year, make phone solicitations to those unable to be personally reached, or as reminder calls for donors.
• Partner with the Director of Annual Giving and the Director of Prospect Research to conduct feasibility of prospective donors comprised of alumni, parents, families, friends, faculty and staff, to determine annual travel schedule and establish goals to be met for the: 1) number of in-person visits 2) number of in-person solicitations 3) number of recommendations of prospects to the major gifts program based on an annual review and analysis of the potential donor pool. And 4) generating additional donors making gifts of $3,000 or more to The Wooster Fund.
• Develop and manage a budget for outreach, travel and cultivation activities with outreach and development efforts.
• Document all personal visits and appropriate phone and email contacts in the database. Ensure all next steps, pledges and recommended actions are recorded and follow-up on appropriately.

Annual Giving Program Oversight (30%)

• Provide day-to-day oversight for Annual Giving related programs within the department. These programs are designed establish and build relationships with our alumni, family, and friends, increase donor retention, and provide meaningful engagement.
• Programmatic oversight includes developing and implementing an annual comprehensive plan with the overall goal to build and cultivate relationships, increase donor retention, provide meaningful engagement, and move donors through the pipeline.
• Oversight can include partnering with Alumni and Family engagement to manage volunteers, Partnering with Advancement Services to implement a donor-centric and personalized stewardship process, and partnering with a variety of campus partners such as APEX, Athletics, and Campus Life for events.

Qualifications: 

To perform this job successfully, and individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability and willingness to travel and attend meetings and functions at various hours as required.
• Ability to work closely and congenially with volunteers and with members of the College’s administration and faculty.
• Ability to communicate effectively with others.
• Ability to be flexible in working in a fast-paced environment with numerous deadlines and pressures. 5. Ability to use technology to prepare reports and other written documents using word processing, spreadsheets, and the database.

Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• One or more years in development; thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of higher education development and fundraising with an understanding of individual giving programs, and detailed understanding of annual fundraising programs, such as direct mail, phonathon, and personal solicitation programs, strongly preferred.
• Proven record of leadership, management, and supervisory skills.
• A supportive and accessible management style, and a strong commitment to personal and professional development, with a proven track record motivating, training, and managing a staff with diverse skills and experience.
• Superior communication skills with the ability to connect to a variety of audiences; clarity, crispness, and persuasiveness in written and oral communications.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends and travel.
• Experience in personally soliciting gifts.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully and effectively with a wide range of constituents and manage complex relationships, proven collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment—with a mix of faculty, parents, alumni, and staff colleagues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, outstanding personal initiative.
• Knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques including data-based computerized information systems, data modeling, and models of analysis that lead to effective decision making on behalf of the program. Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred.

Language Skills:

Strong organizational, interpersonal and oral communication skills; above-average writing and editing skills. Above average writing and public speaking abilities.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:

Familiarity with word processing programs, spreadsheet applications, database concepts, financial and endowment accounting concepts, and planned giving software. Knowledge of Blackbaud, Raiser’s Edge, NXT is a plus.

Certificates, Licences, and Registrations: 

Must have a valid vehicle driver’s license.

Other Skills and Abilities: 

Must be a team player who can balance multiple tasks with accuracy to details and be able to meet deadlines; must be able and willing to travel on occasion and work some nights and weekends as needed; must uphold professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.

Other Qualifications:

Ability to articulate the characteristics of an independent liberal arts education, and to make a compelling case for support of The College of Wooster. Willingness to travel throughout the U.S. Qualities that add value: High energy, positive outlook, self-confidence, persistence, ability to be both self-reliant and a team player.

It is the policy of The College of Wooster to not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment, and to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment all persons, regardless of their status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy applies to all employment actions, including, but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training at all levels of employment. Employees of and applicants to The College of Wooster will not be subject to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination because they have engaged or may engage in filing a complaint, assisting in a review, investigation, or hearing or have otherwise sought to obtain their legal rights related to any federal, state, or local laws regarding EEO for minorities, females, qualified individuals with disabilities, or qualified protected veterans.