Director/Executive Director of Annual Giving

University of Mary Washington • Fredericksburg, VA

16d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Mary Washington is seeking qualified candidates for the next Director/Executive Director of Annual Giving. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Alumni and Donor Engagement, the Director/Executive Director of Annual Giving provides strategic leadership, tactical direction, and overall management for the University’s comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program. This position balances high level strategy and organizational leadership with tactical efforts to create and execute fundraising solicitations. The position oversees and implements global solicitation and stewardship strategies for the Fund for Mary Washington, athletics fundraising, reunion giving, young alumni giving, parent and family giving, and leadership annual giving, as well as other programs that support the University’s fundraising priorities. The position will be filled at either the Director or Executive Director title based on the selected candidate's experience and qualifications.

Requirements

• Strong managerial, leadership and supervisory skills.
• Demonstrated organizational and communication skills, as well as ability to mentor, collaborate with, and motivate other development professionals and volunteers.
• Demonstrated success and progressive achievements in a goal-driven and empirically measured fundraising role.
• Excellent skill and understanding of fundraising software and constituent relationship management systems.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel and to work nights and weekends, as required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and work effectively with others to establish priorities, set objectives, and achieve goals, including peers and colleagues in other academic and administrative departments.
• Excellent written communication skills and strong presentation skills.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in annual giving in higher education or a complex non-profit setting (for Director title).
• At least 2 years of management experience (for Director title).
• At least 5 years of professional experience in annual giving in higher education or a complex non-profit setting (for Executive Director title).
• At least 3 years of management experience (for Executive Director title).
• At least 1 year of director-level or equivalent leadership experience in annual giving operations (for Executive Director title).
• Applicants with equivalent experience demonstrating the required level of strategic leadership may be considered for the Executive Director position.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university in a related field.

Nice To Haves

• Strategic thinker with the ability to harness the creativity of others, and the power of technology, to develop and implement effective fundraising campaigns across the University’s many constituent groups.
• Ability to translate organizational strategic imperatives or vision into actionable unit-level strategy and operational plans.
• Highly organized with the ability to analyze and communicate information to a wide range of audiences and constituent groups.
• Strong understanding of annual giving and direct marketing best practice in higher education, including knowledge of relevant research and current trends in crowdfunding, email marketing, digital engagement, and social media.
• Experience leading annual giving operations within higher education or a complex non-profit environment.
• Extensive experience in testing and evaluating direct marketing propositions, copy and design.
• Experience leading the development of strategy for complex direct response marketing or annual giving operations.
• Experience leading a leadership annual giving program and/or managing a portfolio of donors for individual cultivation, solicitation and stewardship.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership, tactical direction, and overall management for the University’s comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program.
• Balances high level strategy and organizational leadership with tactical efforts to create and execute fundraising solicitations.
• Oversees and implements global solicitation and stewardship strategies for the Fund for Mary Washington, athletics fundraising, reunion giving, young alumni giving, parent and family giving, and leadership annual giving, as well as other programs that support the University’s fundraising priorities.

Benefits

• The University of Mary Washington adheres to the principle of equal opportunity.
• UMW Values Veterans: UMW is a proud member of the Commonwealth of Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, authorized under the Code of Virginia (§2.2-2001.2). We are committed to recruiting, hiring, and retaining qualified Veterans and their spouses.
• Veterans who are hired into state positions may be eligible for additional leave accruals based on their total years of service in the military, National Guard or Reserve.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director