Annual Fund and Alumnae Relations Manager

Incarnate Word Academy•Houston, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Annual Fund and Alumnae Relations Manager is responsible for the development, coordination, and implementation of the annual giving program and initiatives aimed at fostering meaningful relationships with the alumnae of Incarnate Word Academy (IWA). This pivotal role is focused on enhancing participation and financial contributions to IWA through effective fundraising strategies and active engagement with various constituencies, including current and past parents, board members, alumnae, faculty, and staff. The Manager collaborates closely with the Advancement Director, the President of the Academy, and additional stakeholders to ensure the overall success of the Annual Fund campaign and Alumnae Relations efforts.

Requirements

A 4-year degree from a college or university or an equivalent in-depth training program directly related to volunteer management, liberal arts, or communications.
At least 2 to 3 years of related job experience, including work with annual giving campaigns and alumnae relations.
History of soliciting and acquiring gifts, preferably in an academic setting.
Experience working with and overseeing committees.
Demonstrated ability to write a professional piece and content for various platforms and purposes including social media.
Knowledge of fund development principles.
Familiarity with databases, preferably Raisers’ Edge.
Excellent interpersonal skills and outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
A capacity to oversee multiple projects concurrently.
Strong word processing, desktop publishing, and spreadsheet experience.

Responsibilities

Implement short-term and long-term goals, objectives, and strategies to establish a financially effective Annual Fund.
Develop and execute strategies to engage all constituencies in support of the Annual Fund fundraising efforts.
Build a structured approach to increase giving by classification and create effective solicitation materials.
Research and implement best practices for soliciting donations using direct mail, email, and social media platforms.
Establish and lead an Annual Fund Committee to assist in monitoring and achieving Annual Fund goals.
Collaborate with Admissions to engage parents with financial capacity and develop targeted engagement plans.
Track Annual Fund gift acquisition and renewals with the assistance of the Database Coordinator, maintaining accurate records in the Raisers’ Edge database.
Assist with donor cultivation opportunities and analyze giving patterns to inform fundraising strategies.
Prepare content for emails, website updates, collateral materials, and phone scripts related to the Annual Fund.
Work with the Marketing and Communications Department to develop campaign materials that promote fundraising activities.
Manage grant submissions and reporting for funds supporting the Annual Fund, ensuring timely acknowledgment of donor gifts.
Develop a vision for Alumnae Relations that aligns with the mission of IWA, emphasizing sisterhood, mentorship, and loyalty.
Create short-term and long-term goals to enhance Alumnae engagement, events, and giving.
Establish an alumnae leadership committee to drive engagement initiatives and events.
Serve as the primary liaison for IWA alumnae, fostering ongoing communication and collaboration.
Track alumnae participation and giving in fundraising campaigns and events, working alongside the Special Events Manager and the Director of Advancement.
Coordinate cultivation opportunities for alumnae prospects and donors.
Prepare content for all alumnae communications, including newsletters, email blasts, and promotional materials beyond the quarterly newsletter.
Collect alumnae updates and highlight noteworthy alumnae in the Heart to Heart quarterly newsletter and the bi-annual Word Magazine.
Work with the Database Coordinator to manage and maintain alumnae records in the Raisers’ Edge database.
Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Department to ensure alumni-related content is current and impactful across digital platforms.
Create and distribute quarterly alumnae newsletters and monthly birthday communications.
Oversee the management of IWA alumnae social media accounts and organize community-building events to increase engagement.
Assists the Advancement team with special events as needed.
Other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement.