Assistant Director of Annual Giving

Washington and Lee University•Lexington, VA

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving is part of an eight-member team responsible for raising in excess of $11 million annually in direct support of Washington and Lee University’s operating budget. The primary responsibility of this position is maximizing annual fund gifts to Washington and Lee through management of the alumni Class Agent program. To achieve our mission as a liberal arts university, we continually strive to foster a welcoming campus community, which recognizes the value of all persons. Our department is committed to contributing to an educational environment that is rich with a wide range of intellectual perspectives and backgrounds.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to navigate complex, sophisticated conversations that range from small talk to explaining philanthropy’s role in university finances, and personal motivations for giving.
Demonstrated initiative, careful attention to detail, the ability to work within specific deadlines, and the ability prioritize and to maintain multiple tasks.
Willingness to fundraise and a desire to learn the unique characteristics and culture of Washington and Lee and appreciate the passion and expectations of its alumni.
Familiarity with technology is required.
Ability to work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines while cultivating relationships with volunteers, students, and donors.
Evening and weekend work is required during volunteer and alumni weekends and during other specific times during the year.

Nice To Haves

Prior fundraising or related experience is desirable.
Experience with a fundraising CRM is desirable.
Data analysis skills are advantageous.

Responsibilities

Identifies, recruits, onboards, retains, motivates, and manages the work of the volunteer Class Agent team in each assigned class.
Inspires continued engagement through cultivation and stewardship visits (in-person or virtual) to agents and other class leaders as needed.
Collaborates with volunteers from assigned classes to set and achieve class-based dollar, donor, and participation goals.
Interprets data related to class giving patterns, campaign and appeals effectiveness, and class interests to support strategic planning.
Cultivates a strong sense of community among Class Agents, fostering camaraderie within and across class years through relationship-building, shared learning opportunities, and recognition efforts.
Maintains CA Volunteer Management Portal (electronic) and related resources.
Plans and delivers CA webinar and virtual training.
Partners with the Senior Associate Director of Development Communications and CA team to organize, execute, and evolve class-based solicitation and stewardship content and schedules with an aim of continuous learning and improvement.
Utilizes a variety of communications for solicitation and stewardship (may include print, email, text, video, phone, social media, and in-person messages).
Develops program materials, including monthly newsletters, micro-appeal toolkits, and annual reports, so that volunteers are equipped with timely campus updates, clear guidance on how and when to connect with classmates, motivating and meaningful messaging to support successful outreach, and clear demonstration of their impact.
Participates in development meetings, trainings, conferences, and other training & education events to stay abreast of important issues and successful annual fund trends.
Networks with colleagues from peer institutions to learn from and stay competitive with their programs and to acquire pertinent best practices strategies.
Serves as a W&L Fund and University liaison to all constituencies.
Represents W&L Advancement interests to other campus departments and to the Washington & Lee community.
Adapts to changing strategies and practices in Annual Giving to contribute as a dynamic team member; identifies needs of constituent groups and Annual Giving efforts as a whole and works with larger team to brainstorm and propose solutions.
Other related duties as assigned.