Director, Annual Giving & New Donor Initiatives

The University of Dayton is a top-tier Catholic, Marianist research university with academic offerings from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. Our mission is to educate the whole person and link learning and scholarship with leadership and service. University Advancement promotes a culture of philanthropy, volunteer engagement and lifelong relationships in support of the University’s mission. As we enter into a comprehensive fundraising campaign, we are growing our exceptional team of passionate, mission-driven Advancement professionals, looking for a Director of Annual Giving & New Donor Initiatives. This position is responsible for the strategic execution, leadership and development of a comprehensive Annual Giving program which generates interest and connects donors with their passions to attract funding for scholarship, experiential learning and faculty lead innovative programming.

The Director of Annual Giving & New Donor Initiatives is responsible for the strategic execution, leadership, and development of a comprehensive annual giving program at the University of Dayton. The director will have responsibility for managing a team that focuses on increasing the alumni participation rate, retention of donors, and targeted acquisition. The director will be held accountable for achieving annual giving targets, in donors, dollars, and by increasing the number of Front Porch Society members (consecutive donors for 3 or more years). Responsible for the overall direction of the annual giving department, including but not limited to a robust multi-channel direct mail strategy, email solicitations, giving day campaign, faculty/staff campaign, peer-to-peer program, phone/telefund efforts, student philanthropy and young alumni giving, and crowdfunding. The director will bring to the position a strong knowledge and appreciation of annual giving strategies as they pertain to the overall success of advancement initiatives and the campaign goals of University Advancement.

The Director will develop a strong collaboration with University Marketing & Communication, Advancement’s largest partner and liaison, to ensure all Annual Giving projects follow appropriate University brand, messaging, and guidelines.
This position will also play a significant role in UD’s comprehensive campaign as Annual Giving will represent an integral component in the overall dollar, participation, and engagement goals.

This position will also be responsible for successful collaboration with diverse groups including internal Advancement teams, external constituents, units on campus including deans, vice presidents and the board of trustees. In addition, the director will develop relationships with outside vendors, be responsible for the budget, and conduct analysis related to all aspects of the annual giving program; using statistical analysis to evaluate current programs and identify and implement opportunities to improve programs and campaign performance.

This position reports to the Executive Director of Annual Giving and Leadership Annual Giving.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required
4 years of prior Annual Giving experience
2 years of successful supervisory experience
Experience leading targeted efforts by using analytical, judgement, and problem solving skills
Experience meeting targeted fundraising goals and objectives
Ability to work on a team and meet performance deadlines in a dynamic environment
Excellent communications skills, including writing and presentations
Experience working with and analyzing large sets of data
Experience collaborating with members of multiple units/divisions/campus partners in a professional manner
A self-starter with the ability to multitask
Proficiency in MS Office Suite
Must have a valid driver’s license, possess a low risk driving record and be insurable by the University
Must be willing to work some weekend and evening hours on occasion.

Preferred Qualifications

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

5 or more years of prior annual giving experience, preferably at a higher education institution
3 or more years of successful supervisory experience
Higher education development and/or annual giving experience during a comprehensive campaign
Proven experience collaborating with members of Advancement staff and individuals throughout a campus community
Experience working with Advancement donor database (i.e. Raiser's Edge, SalesForce, etc.)
Experience working with socially and culturally diverse communities
Proven experience in creating and implementing strategies for diversity and inclusion
Demonstrated ability in managing and coaching employees in an inclusive culture
Commitment to personal integrity and a strong work ethic that align to the University's Catholic/Marianist character
Ability to complete projects on time and on budget, and report on status and progress
Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to balance and move forward multiple projects

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply please submit a cover letter addressing each minimum qualification and applicable preferred qualifications that you meet.

A federal court on December 7, 2021, issued a ruling that suspends the COVID-19 vaccine requirement that applies to federal contractors nationwide. With this development, the University will pause any enforcement action against employees who have not complied with the requirement to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, 2021 or to have requested an exemption to maintain their employment status.

The University will continue to monitor the state of the pandemic on campus and in the community as well as developments in federal and state requirements, and also will continue to regularly consult with public health officials and our medical panel. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, our protocols and requirements are subject to change depending on conditions on campus or in our community, and government requirements.

Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.