Assistant Director, Annual Giving (Class Giving Officer)

Santa Clara University • Santa Clara, CA

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

University Relations builds Santa Clara University’s excellence and character by strengthening relations with alumni, parents, and friends of the University, raising public awareness, and increasing private philanthropy. The Development Department works to develop and foster relationships with current and future supporters of the University, leading to philanthropic support for our strategic priorities. Within the Development Department, the Major and Parent Giving team is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors who can support the University with gifts and/or pledges of $100,000 and above. This position is eligible for a flexible work schedule: hybrid - work from office and home. This is an exciting opportunity for talented fundraisers and professionals with comparable skills to join a dynamic and collaborative Reunion Giving team, the dedicated frontline fundraisers in the Annual Giving Department at Santa Clara University’s Development office. The Assistant Director of Development (Class Giving Officer) plays a critical role in SCU’s effort to secure resources for its strategic funding priorities and deepen its relationship with undergraduate alumni. In furtherance of the University’s integrated strategic plan, the Assistant Director coordinates 2-4 undergraduate reunion campaigns including volunteer management, mail/email coordination and direct solicitation. Working in close collaboration with the University’s Major and Principal Gift Officers, Direct Mail team and Alumni Relations team, the Reunion Giving team strategically leverages the special opportunity of reunion to further and/or reengage alumni and develop a strong pipeline of philanthropic alumni leaders. The Class Giving Officer position emphasizes work with donors, projects, and volunteers who have the capacity to make annual gifts at the leadership-level ($1,000 to $100,000) within their assigned reunion classes. The Reunion Giving team is now seeking highly self-motivated candidates with outstanding initiative, a commitment to higher education, and a passion for Santa Clara’s mission to join our 7-person team that fundraised over $8 Million during the most recent reunion campaign and is expected to increase reunion giving over time.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience and interest in personal solicitation of large annual gifts ($1,000 to $50,000) as well as volunteer management and motivation.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team and to work collaboratively with other Development and Santa Clara Alumni Association staff.
• A commitment to higher education and ability to articulate a compelling case for annual discretionary support of undergraduate education and student life at Santa Clara University.
• Must be goal-oriented and self-motivated individual who can demonstrate accountability, initiative, creativity and focus in rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate, build alliances, and achieve results within a population that may possess competing interests, opinions and/or expectations.
• Demonstrate strong active listening skills and ability to negotiate positive outcomes.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, sound ethical judgment, and experience handling highly confidential information.
• Required to have a valid driver’s license and personal transportation vehicle available for frequent travel to business meetings (mileage is reimbursed under federal guidelines).
• Ability to use current desktop office and database technologies efficiently and effectively, and be able to adapt to and use future technologies.
• High energy level, enthusiasm, sense of humor, flexibility absolutely required.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage time and work load to multitask and achieve goals in a deadline driven environment.
• Demonstrate a genuine appetite to contribute to a collaborative, ethical and professional team environment.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Two to five years of related professional experience which includes one to three years of direct development, fundraising and/or transferable professional skills that includes sales and/or developing relationships with volunteers and/or high net worth clients or customers.
• Driver's License required.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Santa Clara University and its mission helpful.

Responsibilities

• Position requires extensive fieldwork locally and semi-annual travel out of the area to support volunteer recruitment and solicitation goals; emphasis on securing and conducting face-to-face visits, in addition to phone meetings for alumni leaders outside the Bay Area.
• Plan and execute high-end annual fundraising campaigns for 2-4 personally assigned undergraduate classes celebrating a reunion; work with Director of Reunion Giving to develop fundraising goals and strategies according to specific characteristics and capabilities of the assigned classes to achieve both high-end giving and broad class campaign participation; monitor and analyze results throughout campaign, and revise strategies as necessary in order to accomplish goals.
• Identify, recruit, train and solicit approximately 70-100 reunion volunteers annually (class sizes currently range from 750-1500); maintain frequent contact with these class leaders through meetings, visits, correspondence, and telephone in collaboration with the Alumni Relations Team and in accordance with the Reunion Giving Team Calendar; provide information and assistance to volunteers to support their ability to carry out peer solicitations and other assignments and steward volunteer efforts through regular contact and recognition.
• Coordinate with Major, Principal, and Planned Gifts teams on the reunion-year solicitation strategy of those prospects within the assigned reunion class and recruit these leaders to their reunion committees, as appropriate.
• Personally cultivate, solicit and steward high-level prospects, as appropriate, resulting in leadership gifts ranging from $1,000-$100,000 (generally includes volunteers themselves); develop strategies to ensure that all top reunion prospects are solicited during their reunion campaign at appropriate levels; annual fundraising expectations based on assigned classes.
• Coordinate the direct mail, email solicitations, and telemarketing efforts with volunteer leaders and colleagues to ensure broad class campaign participation.
• Produce well-written, accurate and timely reports documenting fieldwork, updating University records, and analyzing results; ensure reunion campaign pledges are accurately booked and appropriately stewarded.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees with programs and resources designed to promote and sustain personal health care, well-being, and the financial objectives of our employees and families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees