Associate Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Engagement

Colorado Christian University•Lakewood, CO

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Engagement reports to the Vice President of University Advancement and is responsible for planning, implementing, and continuously assessing a comprehensive annual giving program that strategically engages alumni, parents, athletic sponsors and contributors, friends of the University, and other key university community segments. This role is charged with generating $1.5 million or more in annual gifts as a vital component of Advancement’s annual comprehensive raise. The Associate Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Engagement works collegially with the Advancement team leadership to lead a multi-channel annual giving campaign, manage key engagement initiatives with a focus on alumni and parent relations, and develop a personal portfolio of approximately 100 donors giving in the $1,000 to $25,000 range. The position utilizes data-informed analysis and donor-facing fundraising to move donors toward deeper engagement and higher levels of generosity.

Requirements

A personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and a lifestyle that reflects biblical values; able to articulate a clear testimony of faith and a call to serve in Christian higher education.
A willingness to uphold the University’s Statement of Faith, community standards, and strategic priorities.
A Bachelor’s degree (preferred) from an accredited institution in a related field such as marketing, communications, nonprofit leadership, business, or a related discipline.
Three to five years of experience in fundraising, marketing, higher education, or related advancement work, with direct involvement in annual giving or donor relations strongly preferred.
Demonstrated ability to manage multi-channel campaigns and multiple projects simultaneously in a high-energy environment, meeting deadlines and revenue goals.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write appeals, emails, and event content, and communicate effectively in person and in public settings.
Proven proficiency with CRM platforms, Microsoft 365 tools, email and social media platforms, and basic data analysis for segmenting and reporting.
Demonstrated commitment to donor-centric service, teamwork, discretion, and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a related field such as marketing, communications, nonprofit leadership, business, or a related discipline.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage a written annual plan and calendar for all annual giving solicitations (print, digital, phone, and in-person) designed to generate $1.5 million or more in annual gifts and address institutional priorities.
Plan and execute segmented appeals for alumni, parents, athletic program support and scholarships, employees, friends of the University, and strategic donor segments, using tailored messaging, channels, and timing.
Create or coordinate copy and design for annual campaigns and appeals (letters, emails, landing pages, video scripts) that clearly communicate funding priorities and inspire Christ-centered generosity.
Collaborate annual giving efforts with the Major Gifts team to ensure annual donors are appropriately identified, qualified, and moved through the pipeline toward major and planned gift opportunities.
Manage vendor relationships related to annual giving platforms, direct mail, digital giving days, and other campaign needs, ensuring projects are on-time, on-budget, and on-message.
Lead the planning and execution of signature annual giving initiatives, such as CCU Gives Day and similar digital campaigns (such as Athletics and similar affinity groups), including project management of vendors, internal partners, and volunteer champions.
Work with faculty, coaches, and staff to identify compelling projects for crowdfunding or micro-campaigns, gathering stories, photos, and impact data to support donor engagement.
Integrate strategic engagement tactics (social media campaigns, challenge gifts, peer ambassadors, alumni and parent volunteers) into annual giving initiatives to broaden reach and participation.
Build and manage a personal portfolio of approximately 100 annual and mid-level donors in the $1,000 to $25,000 range, with clear goals for retention, upgrades, and total dollars raised.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned donors through personalized outreach, visits, calls, and digital engagement, employing donor-centric strategies and moves management principles.
Ensure that each donor in the portfolio is actively giving and is invited into pathways for increased giving and deeper engagement with university priorities, events, and volunteer opportunities.
Collaborate with Major Gifts, Planned Giving resources, and the AVP of Advancement to transition appropriate donors from the annual giving portfolio to major gift portfolios as capacity and interest grow.
Engage Alumni and Parents with programming (events, communications, volunteer councils, career networking platforms) tied to annual giving goals and strategies.
Coordinate with Athletics staff to design and support sponsorship and annual giving efforts for athletic programs and teams, integrating them into the overall annual giving strategy.
Support strategic donor events such as donor receptions, scholarship events, and other Advancement gatherings, ensuring that engagement activities connect clearly to annual giving objectives.
Coordinate strategic communications and content for alumni, parent, and annual giving audiences (e.g., e-newsletters, social media campaigns) that promote giving opportunities and highlight impact stories.
Partner with Advancement Services to segment audiences, pull lists, and analyze annual giving results by channel, segment, and campaign.
Track and report key performance indicators for the annual giving program (e.g., participation rates, average gift size, renewal and upgrade rates, revenue by segment) and recommend adjustments based on data.
Maintain accurate and timely records in the Advancement CRM (e.g., Raiser’s Edge or equivalent), including contact reports, appeal codes, proposal records, and donor preferences.
Use analytics and A/B testing to refine messaging, timing, and segmentation strategies to improve response rates and ROI across channels.
Serve as an active member of the University Advancement team, participating in regular staff meetings, planning sessions, and strategic discussions related to Advancement’s comprehensive fundraising goals.
Collaborate with Creative Services, Marketing/Communication, Admissions, Student Life, and other campus partners to align messaging and leverage institutional events for donor engagement.
Work with the Vice President of Advancement on special projects, new initiatives, and other duties as assigned.