Manager of Annual Giving and Advancement Communications

Husson University • Bangor, ME

1d

About The Position

Working under the direction of the Vice President for University Advancement, the Manager of Annual Giving and Advancement Communications leads Husson University’s comprehensive annual giving program and develops marketing and communications strategies supporting fundraising, donor engagement, and alumni participation. The role grows annual philanthropic support through direct mail, digital communications, Giving Day, crowdfunding, social media, and other targeted outreach. It collaborates across University Advancement to strengthen donor acquisition, retention, participation, and engagement, and to build a pipeline of donors with potential for increased philanthropic support. It also partners with University Marketing and Communications to align Advancement communications with the University’s brand, messaging, and institutional priorities.

The position plans and executes annual solicitations and communications, leads the University’s annual Giving Day, develops targeted strategies for key constituencies, and creates donor-centered content communicating the impact of giving. It sets and evaluates program goals using performance data and prepares regular reports for the Vice President for University Advancement and University leadership. The role also represents University Advancement at University events as appropriate and performs other duties in support of Advancement and University priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Progressively responsible experience in annual giving, fundraising, marketing, communications, advancement, alumni relations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute fundraising, marketing, or constituent-engagement strategies.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to establish goals, evaluate results, identify trends, and use data to inform strategy.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including writing, editing, presentation, and storytelling abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective digital, email, social media, and direct-response communications.
• Strong commitment to donor service and relationship building.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a results-oriented team environment.
• Professional demeanor and ability to appropriately handle confidential donor and University information.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to establish priorities and accomplish goals with limited supervision.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for University events, fundraising initiatives, and other Advancement activities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supervising student employees, volunteers, or professional staff.
• Experience using Raiser's Edge NXT or another constituent relationship management/database system.
• Graphic design, digital content, or web content management experience.
• Knowledge of fundraising and alumni engagement best practices.
• Familiarity with Husson University and the greater Bangor and Maine philanthropic communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive annual giving program to acquire new donors, retain and upgrade existing donors, increase alumni participation, and build a culture of philanthropy among alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends.
• Develop and execute an annual solicitation and communications calendar using direct mail, email, digital giving, social media, crowdfunding, Giving Day, and other targeted fundraising strategies.
• Lead the planning and execution of the annual Giving Day, including campaign strategy, messaging, audience segmentation, volunteer engagement, marketing, digital communications, and post-campaign analysis.
• Help establish annual fundraising and participation goals and evaluate program performance using giving trends, response rates, donor retention, acquisition, and other key performance indicators.
• Develop strategies to identify, retain, and upgrade annual donors, and collaborate with Major Gifts staff to identify donors with interest and capacity for increased philanthropic engagement.
• Develop targeted fundraising strategies for alumni, parents and families, faculty and staff, students, athletics supporters, and friends of the University.
• Direct Advancement marketing and communications for annual giving, donor engagement, and alumni participation, including segmented emails, solicitation appeals, giving-page content, digital campaigns, social media, and other donor communications.
• Develop philanthropic messaging and donor-centered content that communicates the impact of giving and connects donors with University priorities, students, programs, scholarships, athletics, and other philanthropic opportunities.
• Coordinate with University Marketing and Communications to align Advancement materials with Husson University brand standards and institutional messaging.
• Develop regular reports on annual giving activity, campaign performance, donor participation, retention, acquisition, and other key metrics for the Vice President for University Advancement and University leadership.
• Maintain knowledge of trends and best practices in annual giving, digital fundraising, donor engagement, and advancement communications.
• Represent University Advancement at University events and activities as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of University Advancement and Husson University goals and priorities.

What This Job Offers

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