Director, Annual Giving
Summary
The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the institution’s annual giving strategy. This role is pivotal in ensuring the university or college meets its annual fundraising goals by developing, managing, and executing comprehensive campaigns that engage alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and other supporters.
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 lead the strategic direction for the institution’s annual giving program, ensuring alignment with the broader fundraising goals and the institution’s mission.
• Set and monitor annual giving revenue and participation goals, ensuring campaigns are designed to engage a broad spectrum of constituents, including alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the institution.
• Continuously assess the effectiveness of annual giving strategies and recommend adjustments to improve donor engagement and retention.
• Oversee the planning, execution, and evaluation of annual giving campaigns, including direct mail, email solicitations, telefunding programs, giving days, crowdfunding initiatives, and peer-to-peer campaigns.
• Lead the design of targeted campaigns for leadership donors, young alumni, mid-level donors, and other key segments.
• Manage a portfolio of marketing projects for medium to large size colleges and units.
• Ensure campaigns use innovative fundraising strategies, incorporating both traditional methods and emerging digital tools to reach a diverse donor base.
• Cultivate strong relationships with key donors, including mid-level and leadership-level donors, moving them toward increased giving or transitioning them to major gift officers for further cultivation.
• Develop engagement strategies for recurring donors and sustained giving, ensuring that donors feel valued and informed about the impact of their gifts.
• Work closely with major gifts and planned giving teams to identify potential prospects for larger gifts and legacy giving.
• Lead and manage a team of annual giving professionals, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.
• Set clear objectives for the team and ensure performance goals are met while fostering a collaborative and motivating work environment.
• Use donor data and analytics to segment donor populations and personalize fundraising approaches, ensuring the right message reaches the right audience.
• Oversee the tracking and reporting of campaign results, providing regular updates to unit partners.
• Partner with the marketing and communications departments to ensure consistent, compelling messaging across all campaign materials, including print, digital, and social media.
• Develop strategies for recognizing donors at various levels, including special donor societies, annual recognition events, and impact reports.
Education and Experience
Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in annual giving or related field; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and five years of appropriate experience in annual giving or related field.
Licensure and Certification
N/A
Supervision
This position does 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.