Associate Director of Leadership Annual Giving

Quinnipiac University•Hamden, CT

5d•$65,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Quinnipiac University is hiring an Associate Director of Leadership Annual Giving to increase philanthropic support and engagement among alumni, parents, and friends through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership annual giving donors and prospects. Reporting under the direction of the Senior Director of Annual Giving, this role focuses on expanding alumni participation, improving donor retention, increasing average gift size, and growing membership in the President's Club and PC BOLD giving societies. The officer manages a portfolio of prospects capable of annual gifts up to $9,999 and solicits unrestricted support for the Quinnipiac Fund. Through strategic outreach, relationship building, and personalized engagement, the role strengthens donor loyalty and advances a culture of philanthropy supporting Quinnipiac's mission and priorities. The position also collaborates across university teams, participates in alumni engagement, athletic, and campus events, and uses donor data and analytics to guide portfolio management and fundraising strategies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Two to three years of fundraising or closely related experience.
Proficiency in Windows-based applications, particularly Microsoft Office word processing, spreadsheet, and database management tools.
Ability to learn new systems and interpret analytic reports to produce action-oriented results.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, tact, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, creativity, and demonstrated success managing multiple projects.
Accuracy and attention to detail.
Time management and prioritization skills for daily operations.
Communications expertise, from writing to analytics, as they relate to RIO and engagement success.
Experience with email programs and web applications.
Experience handling and tracking program budgets.

Nice To Haves

Higher education or annual giving background.
Experience with CRMs and crowdfunding websites.

Responsibilities

Manage and qualify a portfolio of up to 200 alumni, parents, and friends capable of making annual gifts up to $9,999.
Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans for assigned prospects.
Conduct in-person visits, phone calls, virtual meetings, email outreach, and other meaningful interactions.
Solicit leadership-level gifts to the Quinnipiac Fund and other university priorities as appropriate.
Collaborate with major gift officers to identify and transition prospects with major gift capacity and interest.
Secure recurring gifts, monthly giving commitments, and annual fund pledges with terms of three years or longer.
Develop and implement strategies to increase President's Club membership among annual donors giving $2,500 or more.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward new and renewing President's Club members.
Work with Directors of Development and the AVP for Advancement to improve retention and upgrade rates among existing President's Club donors.
Promote the impact and benefits of leadership-level giving through personalized communications and donor engagement opportunities.
Collaborate with the Associate Director of Annual Giving to expand PC BOLD participation, especially among alumni who graduated 5–10 years ago.
Identify young alumni with leadership annual giving potential and develop targeted outreach and upgrade strategies.
Create stewardship and engagement opportunities that encourage lifelong philanthropic involvement.
Partner with Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement colleagues to increase overall alumni donor participation.
Cultivate, solicit, and secure leadership-level commitments for Bobcat Challenge, Bobcats Unite, and annual hallmark giving campaigns.
Improve donor retention and recapture lapsed leadership annual giving donors.
Analyze donor behavior and giving trends to identify opportunities for increased engagement and long-term donor loyalty.
Represent the university and communicate the importance of philanthropy in advancing its mission.
Work with Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, Athletics, Advancement Services, Advancement Communications, and Major Gifts teams on integrated fundraising strategies.
Maintain accurate donor records and activity reports in the CRM system.
Track progress toward fundraising, participation, retention, and donor society goals.
Use donor data and analytics to guide portfolio management and strategy development.
Participate in alumni engagement, athletic, and campus events to build relationships with alumni, parents, donors, and friends of the University.