University Advancement - Executive Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement

Sacred Heart University • Fairfield, CT

1d

About The Position

The Executive Director of Annual Giving & Donor Engagement is a campus leader who creates, implements, and evaluates a year-round fundraising program that generates long-term support for Sacred Heart University. The Executive Director will achieve success through a comprehensive fundraising strategy based on industry best-in-class practices, which will engage constituencies across the University and align with SHU’s brand. This critical work will be achieved through a multifaceted program that includes direct mail and email solicitations, an annual giving day, volunteer fundraising (ex. reunion and class ambassador giving programs), senior class gift, leadership giving societies, stewardship, and other new and emerging methods. The Annual Giving Office aims to drive alumni donor growth and to support the University's major and leadership giving identification conducted by prospect research and frontline fundraising teams. The Executive Director is responsible for analyzing the results, identifying donor trends, and refining plans in order to yield the best return on investments. This role will be active within the division and collaborative across campus teams, deploying resources in smart, innovative ways that maximize annual growth and expand Sacred Heart’s base of support and alumni participation rates.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, or a related field required
• 7+ years of experience in annual giving, preferably within a higher education or nonprofit fundraising environment.
• Proven expertise in developing and executing integrated marketing and communication strategies that drive donor engagement and philanthropic support.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with a strong ability to craft messaging aligned with the university’s voice, tone, and brand standards.
• Strategic understanding of how marketing and communications efforts impact donor engagement, pipeline development, and annual giving outcomes.
• Experience managing budgets and vendor relationships with a focus on ROI and efficiency.
• Ability to thrive under pressure with strong project management skills, balancing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized, with a proactive and solutions-driven approach to challenges.
• Advanced proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge NXT), email marketing platforms (e.g., Blackbaud Luminate, Gravty), Microsoft Office Suite, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create a strategic and comprehensive annual plan and oversee its implementation using innovative solutions and data analyses to increase dollars raised, acquire and retain donors, increase alumni participation and qualification of major gift prospects.
• Define and execute the strategies, processes, and procedures for delivering results-driven crowdfunding campaigns and an annual day of giving in coordination with key Advancement and Alumni Engagement colleagues, volunteers, campus partners, and student leaders.
• Lead an effort to build a culture of digital philanthropy by understanding and deploying best practices in social media, web-based target marketing, interactive appeals, and other emergent digital trends.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive donor relations and stewardship program to thank and cultivate both current and new donors, with a primary focus on donor fund reporting and high-touch stewardship.
• Partner with the Advancement Services team and gift officers to identify leadership annual giving prospects, determine targeted ask amounts, research and qualify prospects, and develop solicitation strategies.
• Work strategically and collaboratively with, and be supported by, the Marketing & Communications department to design and implement annual giving appeals and communications for the University’s various constituent audiences.
• Manage department operating budget, efficiently using program resources and maximizing program results in a complex University environment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

What This Job Offers

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