Overview: 

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving is responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive annual giving program to establish and expand a culture of engagement and philanthropy across numerous alumni and student constituencies. In their role, the Assistant Director is also responsible for development, execution, stewardship, and frontline fundraising for key annual and affinity programs including reunion, leadership annual giving, and current student giving. This person is a critical member of the advancement team, ensuring a strong base of charitable giving to enable the Law School to further its ambitious goals. The Annual Giving Officer reports to this position. The salary range is $70-$73K, depending on experience and qualifications.

Responsibilities: 

Annual Giving Program Fundraising, Strategy and Stewardship Direction (40%)

Plan and execute a complex multi-segment, multi-channel annual giving program, including reunion giving, leadership annual giving (Lockhart Club), current student philanthropy, and regular solicitations (mail, email and phone) in partnership with the Foundation. Develop both annual and long-term strategies and goals that grow retention, activation, and dollars raised for the Law School annual giving programs:

Annual Giving Solicitations:

• Use strategic input from the Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, and plan and direct the work of the Annual Giving Officer to develop and execute a complex multi-segment, multi-channel annual giving program.
• Work with Annual Giving Officer and University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) staff to manage project deadlines, mailing list segments, printing, and mailing for multiple centralized mailings and communications each year. Other special appeals as assigned.
• Write, edit, and/or review targeted solicitation letter text, email copy, and call center scripts.
• Work with Annual Fund Officer to plan and execute event-based giving and stewardship events including Give to the Max Day, Gopher Gratitude Day, and other solicitation events as necessary.
• Execute best-practice fundraising through careful management, reporting, testing, and analysis.
• Coordinate with Advancement Staff and UMF efforts to develop and execute stewardship programs for annual giving and affinity donors.

Reunion Giving and other Affinity Giving Fundraising

• Manage and enhance the school’s existing Reunion program to inspire alumni to support their alma mater through philanthropy and volunteerism.
• Create the tools and be a resource to Advancement staff managing and supporting Reunion committees and efforts. Work with staff to ensure each class sets goals for dollars, participation, and attendance.
• Create annual program progress reports and analysis for Law School leadership and annual grant report for the Robina Foundation. Continually evaluate and recommend improvement opportunities.

Student Philanthropy Engagement and Fundraising:

• Execute and evaluate programs that create a culture of giving with current Law School students, with a special focus on awareness, education, and participation including Gopher Gratitude Day and Give to the Max Day.
• Staff lead for Student Philanthropy Board (SPB).
• Staff lead for Graduating Class Gift

Lockhart Club Program Management (20%)

• Execute and grow the Lockhart Club program (Law School’s leadership annual giving society), targeting leadership gifts of $2000 and up.
• Integrate leadership giving message throughout all annual and affinity giving efforts as appropriate.
• Evaluate and improve solicitions, marketing, retention, and participation efforts to grow and sustain the Lockhart Club.
• Coordinate with Donor Relations Specialist, who is responsible for stewardship and recognition programs for Lockhart Club members.

High-level Alumni Volunteer Management and Annual Giving Officer Supervision (20%)

Volunteer Management

• Provide professional-level support to some of the Law School’s most engaged and important volunteer leaders. Identify and recruit successful volunteers, work closely with alumni leaders to set goals, lead meetings, and execute plans and events to enhance fundraising and alumni engagement.
• Develop and refine powerful volunteer recruitment and management strategies and ensure that Reunion, Class Agent, and other volunteers are proactively encouraged, trained, and supported.
• Identify, cultivate, and recruit successful Class Agents. Serve as the primary relationship manager for Class Agents as appropriate, and/or coordinate with primary managers.
• Interface directly with UMF leaders, Law School Advancement colleagues, the dean of the Law School, faculty, and other alumni leaders, to collaborate and involve them as needed in stewarding and motivating class agent volunteers and other aspects of the program.

Annual Giving Officer

• Supervise and manage Annual Giving Officer providing direction on annual giving efforts
• Direct and guide in coordinating efforts aligning with strategy and growth of the Annual Fund
• Selects, develops, and evaluates personnel to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Annual Giving Officer’s work as part of the overall Annual Giving goals
• Provide coaching, counseling, and disciplining; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; conducting training; implementing enforcing systems, policies, and procedures.

Front Line Leadership Annual Giving (15%)

• Build and manage a small portfolio of annual giving prospects; secure philanthropic investments in support of the Law School’s priorities.
• Cultivate relationships with alumni and assigned annual giving prospects and donors through one-on-one visits and digital platforms (email, social media, phone calls).
• Actively solicit annual fund gifts for the Law School from current members and prospects; maintain current contact reports on all prospect interactions.
• Provide reports on both personal and volunteer-led prospect cultivation and solicitation, and complete and file thorough contact reports in Donor Management System (DMS) of all contacts in a timely manner.
• As needed, refer qualified prospects to development officer colleagues.

Other Duties (5%)

• As an integral part of the Office of Advancement, assist as needed in other core program areas, including managing one or more reunion outreach committees, assisting with and attending donor and alumni events, and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:

• BA/BS degree and six years of progressive responsibility in fundraising (preferably annual giving), alumni relations, volunteer relations, or other related fields
• Superb organizational, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment successfully and with a sense of humor.
• Excellent relationship-building skills and experience in leading and motivating volunteers
• Strong judgment and ability to work well independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated success in valuing and actively promoting diversity
• Robust attention to detail
• Familiarity with, and commitment to, the mission of a top-ranked law school.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated success in program management, development, and evaluation
• Experience managing and supporting volunteer fundraisers
• Demonstrated success in soliciting and closing individual contributions from donors at the leadership annual ($2K+)

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.