Director of Annual Giving - Occidental College

Another Source•Los Angeles, CA

27d

About The Position

Another Source is excited to partner with Occidental College to recruit a Director of Annual Giving to lead the Oxy Fund and strengthen the College’s donor pipeline. This is a high-impact opportunity to join Oxy’s Advancement team during a moment of strategic evolution and help shape a modern, data-driven annual giving program. The Director will build and mentor a team, develop innovative multi-channel campaigns, leverage analytics and Salesforce, and introduce new approaches—from personalization to digital engagement—to deepen participation and fuel future major gift prospects. If you're energized by storytelling, strategy, and growing a high-performing annual giving vertical, this role is a compelling next step. Another Source is proud to partner with Occidental College in recruiting a Director of Annual Giving to join their Institutional Advancement team in Los Angeles, CA Founded in 1887, Occidental College (“Oxy”) is a nationally recognized, private liberal arts college located in the vibrant Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles. With approximately 2,000 students from across the globe, Oxy offers a distinctive combination of rigorous academic programs, small class sizes, close faculty-student collaboration, and a strong commitment to justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity. The College’s location in one of the world’s most dynamic cities provides students, faculty, and staff with unique opportunities for academic engagement, professional development, community partnerships, and cultural enrichment. Guided by its mission to provide a transformative liberal arts education, Occidental prepares students to think critically, act ethically, and make a difference in the world. Occidental College (Oxy) is entering an exciting period of renewal and forward momentum. With a new College President and a new Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the College is investing in a fresh vision for philanthropy, engagement, and strategic partnerships. This is a uniquely dynamic moment to join Oxy’s Advancement team as it strengthens its foundation, refines its structure, and builds the next chapter of a high-performing development organization. The Vice President is focused on fostering a collaborative, mission-driven culture grounded in trust, clear communication, and shared purpose. Incoming team members will have the opportunity to help shape new processes, contribute to a refreshed organizational strategy, and play a meaningful role in elevating philanthropy across one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges. It is an ideal environment for professionals who are energized by possibility, innovation, and the chance to help build something enduring. Occidental College is seeking a strategic, creative, and data-informed Director of Annual Giving to shape and lead a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program that strengthens the donor pipeline and inspires broad philanthropic engagement across the Oxy community. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Strategic Engagement, the Director will play a pivotal role in driving participation and revenue growth, advancing the College’s highest priorities through the Oxy Fund, and identifying leadership and major gift prospects. The Director will guide the vision, strategy, and execution of annual giving campaigns by leveraging data, segmentation, digital engagement, and compelling storytelling. This leader will manage an annual giving professional and a team of student ambassadors; partner closely with Advancement Communications, Individual Giving, Planned Giving, Alumni & Parent Engagement, and other campus units; and ensure annual giving is intentionally integrated into key events, milestones, and communications across the College. The Director will also serve as a collaborative thought partner across Institutional Advancement, helping build a campus-wide culture of philanthropy and leading signature initiatives such as Day For Oxy, the College’s annual giving day. This is an exciting opportunity for a results-oriented fundraiser who values innovation, authenticity, and the power of annual giving to both broaden participation and fuel long-term donor engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in annual giving or integrated marketing using digital engagement tools and CRM systems.
Demonstrated leadership in project management or volunteer management.
Strategic and analytical thinker with a deep understanding of donor motivations and giving behavior.
Demonstrated success in designing and managing multi-channel campaigns that drive measurable growth.
Exceptional writing, communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills.
An empathetic leader with a collaborative spirit; dedicated to the mission of Occidental College.
A commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning in fundraising practices.
Ability to analyze, synthesize and organize data, and to present findings effectively to different audiences.
Superb attention to detail.
Proficiency in the Google, Microsoft Office application suites, Adobe Acrobat or any combination of productivity programs applicable to position responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Experience with project management platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and assess a comprehensive, integrated annual giving strategy aligned with institutional priorities and Advancement goals.
Lead content development, segmentation, and strategy for all multi-channel annual appeals.
Partner with Advancement Communications to create compelling donor-centered messaging, visual storytelling, and a coordinated annual communications calendar.
Oversee planning and execution of giving days, including challenge campaigns, reunion giving, and affinity-based initiatives that motivate participation.
Collaborate with units across campus (Individual Giving, Planned Giving, Alumni & Parent Engagement, Donor Relations, Events, Advancement Services, Athletics, MarComm, and academic departments) to integrate annual giving strategies.
Conduct market research to shape marketing approaches for the Oxy Fund and other giving priorities.
Foster a culture of philanthropy by partnering with faculty, staff, and student leaders to promote participation.
Partner with Donor Relations to deliver strong stewardship and recognition programs that strengthen donor loyalty.
Optimize use of Salesforce to enhance segmentation, testing, automation, analytics, and donor experience across channels.
Work with Advancement Services to ensure data integrity, strengthen reporting, and develop actionable insights.
Develop and refine donor segmentation strategies to support pipeline development and personalized donor journeys.
Establish and track KPIs (retention, acquisition, upgrade rates, and participation), sharing outcomes, trends, and ROI with Advancement leadership.
Leverage Oxy’s event platform (Blackthorn) to enhance analytics and engagement tracking.
Use benchmarking, peer comparisons, and best practices to continually refine strategies and elevate results.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate professional staff and oversee student ambassador operations to cultivate a high-performing, inclusive team culture.
Manage the annual giving budget and steward institutional resources responsibly.
Serve as an advocate for Institutional Advancement and uphold ethical standards (including the Donor Bill of Rights).
Contribute to strategic planning and participate in key “tent-pole events,” including Homecoming & Family Weekend, Day for Oxy, Founders Day, and Reunion Weekend.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision insurance options
Life insurance coverage
Free access to campus fitness and wellness facilities, including the swimming pool, tennis courts, gym, and weight room
On-campus wellness programs and classes, including discounted Weight Watchers
Participation in a 403(b) retirement savings plan
Access to Glendale Area Schools Credit Union membership, including financial services such as share accounts, checking, and credit options
Library borrowing privileges and access to the Academic Commons
10% discount at the Oxy Bookstore on most items
Discounts through the Working Advantage program for entertainment, travel, shows, and more

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