Assistant Director, Philanthropy (Leadership Annual Giving)

Rice University•Houston, TX

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Philanthropy (Leadership Annual Giving) is an ambitious, collaborative, and aspirational fundraiser who is eager to grow in the field of higher education fundraising. This role supports building an inclusive leadership giving and pipeline program to identify, engage, qualify, solicit, and steward the next generation of donors for Rice University. Using proven techniques and with attention to the art and science of fundraising, the Assistant Director will help expand Rice’s leadership annual giving program, focusing on donors with the potential to make gifts of $5,000+ and contributing to the growth of unrestricted annual giving. The role is designed to provide scaffolding for the Assistant Director to build a strong foundation in relationship management, digital outreach, and front-line fundraising. Working in close collaboration with colleagues across the Individual Giving team in the Development and Alumni Relations division, the Assistant Director ensures prospective donors have a seamless experience—whether through joint visits, coordinated outreach, or referrals to other fundraisers. The Assistant Director will manage an evolving portfolio of philanthropic individuals and contribute to annual fundraising and donor engagement goals with success measured through qualifications, visits, commitments secured, and fundraising revenue, which grow as their portfolio matures. The ideal candidate is eager to learn about leadership-level fundraising, donor qualification, and partnering with campus colleagues to strengthen donor engagement. They are motivated to help build a sustainable higher education donor pipeline by combining emerging digital strategies with traditional fundraising practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
2+ years of related experience in fundraising, program development, sales/relationship development, and/or related experience (experience may be gained while a student)
Strong verbal and written communications skills
Curiosity and interest in learning about people and their passions
Desire to be in a position where growth and change are intrinsic
Ability to work well under pressure, balance multiple priorities, and manage time and projects simultaneously
Strong organizational and time management skills
Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office suite
Strong understanding of data analysis and its potential uses
Ability to work independently and as part of a team to meet solicitation metrics
Collaborative team player
Understanding of problem solving, creating contingency plans and handling issues as they arise
Strong attention to detail
Strong client service orientation
Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and/or at fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

Nice To Haves

Three or more years of experience in donor engagement or fundraising, preferably at a non-profit organization or an institution of higher education
Experience making personal solicitations, especially at a leadership giving level ($2,500 and above)
Understanding of leadership giving and prospect management best practices
Experience using generative or predictive artificial intelligence to develop fundraising strategies
Personal initiative, curiosity to learn and flexibility to adjust one’s schedule to accomplish important tasks
Experience in manipulating data with tools like Excel or Tableau
Ability to demonstrate good judgment in dynamic situations
Demonstrated desire to help grow a strong program into an even stronger one
Knowledge of fundraising database software
Interest in being a part of the evolution of fundraising through the use of emerging technologies
Familiarity with fundraising in a higher education environment

Responsibilities

Works with a portfolio of assigned prospects/donors with capacity of making gifts from $5,000 – $99,999 to cultivate, solicit, and steward their philanthropic support
Creates and executes strategies for assigned prospects to move opportunities forward, pivoting as needed
Organizes and prioritizes prospects, prepares for visits, and follows up to create a positive experience for the donor
Serves as a collaborator in developing a donor pipeline for fundraising initiatives
Establishes ongoing relationships with individual alumni, campus partners, and builds a bridge to higher levels of giving when necessary
Performs all other duties as assigned