Associate Director, Leadership Annual Giving - West Coast Regional Office

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

About Alumni Relations and Development

Alumni Relations and Development appreciates that the collective sum of our individual differences, experiences, knowledge, and self-expression is crucial for our success. We strongly invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply and to participate fully and authentically in our workplace.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet 100% of the preferred qualifications.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Alumni Relations and Development is committed to genuine inclusion. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Elizabeth Frisch at efrisch@northwestern.edu. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Northwestern will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential job responsibilities.

Job Summary:

Functional expert/manager responsible for developing & managing group (market/region) and/or broad-based strategic relationship management plans, programs & events designed to strategically identify & cultivate prospects, students & alumni in meaningful ways that transition into engaged volunteers & donors. Participates in donor relationship management. Strategically identifies activities, events &/or programs that will increase prospects, students & alumni engagement and participation and may manage activities of larger groups of volunteers. Reviews programs; analyzes responses & outcomes & recommends changes to increase goals & objectives. Serves as liaison to both University and Northwestern Alumni Association (NAA). May supervise groups of volunteers &/or support staff.

This role is a part of the central Annual Giving team. The position is located in Northwestern's West Coast Regional Office in San Francisco.

As part of the central annual giving team within Alumni Relations and Development (ARD), and in collaboration with the team director, the Associate Director, Leadership Annual Giving executes a robust individual solicitation plan for annual donors who give at the leadership giving level. Incumbent will seamlessly utilize best practices in personal outreach, individual solicitation, peer-to-peer engagement, leveraging membership in a leadership giving society, and donor pipeline building, including:

• conducting 1-4 personalized touchpoints a year each among 300+ assigned leadership level donor prospects, prioritizing one-on-one solicitations at the $5,000-$10,000 annual levels, including asks for renewals, upgrades, and reactivations
• managing select members of two boards each of 30-45 diverse, high-level volunteers (alumni, parents, and friends) with the purpose of inspiring philanthropy through program engagement, peer-to-peer engagement through events, and leadership annual giving-level solicitations
• recruiting new Board members, in partnership with team leaders
• strengthening the donor pipeline by renewing and upgrading donors' annual gifts while qualifying and referring donor prospects for major gift and planned giving programs

The position is an integral member of the central annual giving team in support of achieving annual fundraising targets for schools and programs and a collaborator with the broader ARD team in support of building the donor pipeline.

Travel is required. Availability for evening and weekend events is required.

Specific Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Primary responsibility for administering & maintaining existing strategic plans relating to specific market segments, programs, events, support teams or high level donors to meet goals for engagement & participation.
• Recommends changes & improvements to processes, objectives, and goals based on evaluation of completed programs to dramatically increase engagement & participation & maximize & ensure most effective & efficient use of resources.

Collaboration

• Involves moderate- to-high-level of collaboration with both internal department partners and moderate level of collaboration with broader University partners to identify & integrate resources in order to accomplish strategic goals & objectives.
• Key partnerships and work involved below:
• Leadership Giving team colleagues
• Reunions team
• Central Major Gift and Schools & Programs regional officers
• Prospect Research & Management team

Prospects & Gifts

• Responsible for relationship management of volunteers and donors.
• Identifies prospects.
• Develops and implements individual engagement plans.
• Personally solicits gifts.
• Plans and/or executes stewardship.

Volunteers

• Recruits, engages, trains, and manages volunteers.
• Coordinates volunteer strategies with other development staff, including volunteer events, programming, marketing materials and social networking efforts.

Events

• Develops, plans & implements strategies, goals & approach for 1 large or a number of portions of the less complex programs &/or events that promote engagement & philanthropic opportunities.
• Identifies target audience(s).
• Recruits & manages volunteers.

Administration

• Manages development and execution of programming and marketing related to engagement and solicitation.
• Articulates goals and timelines.
• Provides work direction to colleagues or collaborators.
• Provides necessary documentation and follow-up to donors, volunteers & internal contacts and inputs all volunteer and alumni activity in database.
• Ensures that proper stewardship and gift pledge follow-up occurs.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of industry best practices.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 4 years development, marketing, sales or the equivalent experience is required.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Organization; analytical thinking; big-picture thinking; curiosity; independent teamwork/collaboration

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 6 years' experience in fund-raising, preferably in an educational setting; at least two years should include significant personal solicitation and/or volunteer management activities.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Excellent communications skills coupled with strong writing and presentation skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills are required, both written and oral, as well as a high level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional setting;
• Strong organizational and creative skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a team environment;
• Discretion and an ability to interact with high-level donors and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality;
• Computer skills, familiarity/comfort working in a Windows software environment; familiarity with fundraising/relational databases is a plus.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $80,000-$95,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.