Associate Director, Annual Giving
Summary
The Associate Director of Annual Giving is focused on managing and enhancing the institution’s annual fundraising efforts and is often involved in overseeing the strategy, execution, and evaluation of annual giving campaigns, cultivating donor relationships, and working with other departments to align fundraising efforts with the broader goals of the university.
Examples of Work
Job functions are specific duties that would be included in the essential functions of the job description. These functions are not all-inclusive nor do they cover the full extent of the duties performed.
• Develop and implement comprehensive annual giving strategies, including direct mail, telefunding, digital campaigns (email and social media), and crowdfunding efforts.
• Lead the design and execution of annual giving campaigns for specific donor segments such as alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the institution.
• Set revenue and participation goals for annual giving, track progress, and provide regular reporting on performance against goals.
• Cultivate relationships with mid-level donors and leadership donors, identifying opportunities to upgrade donors to higher levels of giving or move them toward major gifts.
• Manage targeted campaigns aimed at increasing recurring giving, leadership-level gifts, and donor retention.
• Ensure consistent stewardship and recognition for donors, fostering long-term relationships and continued engagement.
• Analyze donor giving patterns and campaign performance to refine future strategies. Use donor data to identify potential high-value donors, improve segmentation, and personalize solicitation approaches.
• Oversee and manage specific fundraising initiatives such as giving days, peer-to-peer campaigns, reunion giving, and other special fundraising events.
• Manage a portfolio of marketing projects for medium size colleges and units.
• Provide logistical support for donor recognition events, alumni reunions, and other donor engagement activities.
• Collaborate with the Alumni Relations and Communications teams to align event planning, communications, and fundraising efforts.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings to help ensure that the annual giving program supports the larger goals of the development office, such as capital campaigns and major gift initiatives.
• Work with communications teams to create compelling and donor-centric materials, including email appeals, social media content, and printed solicitation materials.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on campaign performance, key metrics, and any changes in donor behavior.
• Use data to assess donor satisfaction and campaign effectiveness, suggesting adjustments for future efforts.
• Stay current with emerging fundraising trends and best practices in higher education development. Experiment with innovative techniques such as crowdfunding, digital marketing, and social media to engage a younger, tech-savvy donor base.
Education and Experience
Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and one year of appropriate experience in annual giving or related field; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in annual giving or related field.
Licensure and Certification
N/A
Supervision
This position may have supervisory responsibility.
To see common career pathways for each position at the University of Florida please visit the Career Paths section of the UFHR website.