Assistant Director of Annual Giving
About The Position
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary is a multidenominational, evangelical graduate school committed to equipping Christian leaders to think theologically, engage globally, and live biblically. With nearly 1,400 students across campuses in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Florida, and online, Gordon-Conwell’s student body represents more than eighty-five denominations and fifty countries. The seminary offers master’s and doctoral programs—delivered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese—that combine academic excellence, spiritual formation, and a deep commitment to Scripture. Its 12,000 alumni serve Christ through ministry in the church, the academy, and the workplace. Gordon-Conwell is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the New England Commission of Higher Education, and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Position Summary Reporting to the Senior Director of Alumni Engagement, the Assistant Director supports and manages year-round annual fundraising efforts, including direct mail, digital campaigns, monthly giving, donor acquisition, and stewardship. The Assistant Director works within the Advancement team to expand the donor base, steward donors with care, increase donor loyalty, and achieve annual revenue goals through data-driven outreach.
Requirements
- Excellent administrative, organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities in short-term and long-term objectives. Comfort working with data reports, spreadsheets, and basic analytics.
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills, including the ability to work independently. Must have meticulous attention to detail. Must maintain professionalism and confidentiality.
- Commitment to collegiality, diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Demonstrated ability to collaborate and serve in a team environment that requires collegiality and regular collaboration across matrixed, multi-campus environment.
- This position requires some familiarity with the legal, accreditation and operational requirements for postsecondary/graduate level institutions. The person in this position must be comfortable researching and staying up to date on the evolving nature of these requirements. Experience with documentation or policy development is a plus.
- Must have strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Demonstrated ability to collaborate and serve in a team environment that requires collegiality and regular collaboration across multiple locations and modalities.
- Basic research skills and the ability to leverage technology is required. Required competency with Microsoft Office, prioritizing Word and Excel. The ability to use web conferencing software (e.g., Zoom) preferred. Experience in digital fundraising or email automation (Mailchimp, HubSpot, Pardot, etc.) and familiarity with donor databases (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, Bloomerang, DonorPerfect) preferred.
- Clear understanding of the mission of the Seminary and willingness to abide by the Statement of Faith and Community Life Statement of GCTS.
- Bachelor’s degree required; graduate degree preferred.
- 2–4+ years of experience in fundraising, marketing, digital engagement, campaign management, or related areas.
- Understanding of annual giving pipelines, donor segmentation, and stewardship best practices.
- Familiarity with, and experience working within, the context of Christian higher education, especially graduate theological education.
Responsibilities
- Execute the annual giving calendar, including seasonal appeals, Giving Tuesday, year-end, and targeted campaigns
- Coordinate print and digital solicitations—email, direct mail, texting, and social media
- Develop campaign messaging, donor segmentation, and audience targeting in partnership with Alumni Engagement, Partnership Program, and Marketing & Communications
- Manage monthly giving programs, recurring gift upgrades, and donor re-activation efforts
- Coordinate prompt gift acknowledgements and stewardship touchpoints
- Collaborate with Advancement Services, Director of Development, and the Alumni team on thank-you messaging, impact updates, and recognition
- Support cultivation strategies for first-time donors, pledge reminders, and renewal campaigns
- Work with Advancement Services to pull lists, track results, and maintain donor records
- Segment donor audiences (LYBUNT/SYBUNT, new donors, lapsed donors, Partnership Program donors, alumni donors, sustainers)
- Produce campaign performance reports, ROI analysis, donor retention trends, and acquisition costs
- Support messaging and outreach for events, peer-to-peer campaigns, and crowdfunding initiatives
- Partner with Advancement Services on accurate gift coding and reconciliation
- Coordinate with Marketing & Communications on appeal content
- Personally engage $1,000-$2,500 donors by phone/Zoom
- Assist with donor service inquiries via phone, email, or social outreach channels
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
