"Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Communications"

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Communications is responsible for the organization, planning, and management of the University's annual giving program to seek annual gifts from alumni, staff and university friends. This position manages a program to establish, identify, cultivate, and broaden a base of annual contributors and volunteers for the future major gift efforts. The Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Communications is also responsible for collaborating on communications projects with Advancement and University Communications and executes strategies to raise the visibility of the University and to increase engagement with key audiences.

Core Competencies:

1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
2. Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and examined lives. Our singular goal is to empower our students to achieve lasting personal and professional success.
3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned, including voluntary participation in university committees, activities and events.

• Develops and implements a comprehensive annual giving program to acquire, retain, and upgrade annual donors.
• Collaborates with University partners on philanthropic communications via email, direct mail, phone, online giving, social media and targeted digital outreach to execute effective solicitation and engagement campaigns.
• Coordinates annual giving initiatives including the AU Day of Generosity, reunion class giving, and affinity-based campaigns.
• Serves as the liaison between OPE and University Marketing Communications, ensuring alignment and collaboration on messaging, branding, and promotional strategies for fundraising, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship initiatives.
• Develops tools, processes, procedures, policies and materials to support the annual giving program, peer-to-peer fundraising efforts, and campus partners to ensure a seamless and positive donor experience.
• Acts as prospect manager for select annual fund gift prospects, donors and volunteers.
• Directs the development of comprehensive annual fund strategies in alignment with University and department-approved priority projects.
• Develops the annual donor materials and all other OPE communications.
• Researches, writes, and edits a variety of communications, publications, and reports.
• Develops and manages digital and print communications projects.
• Acts as content development resource for the Office of Philanthropy & Engagement.

Education: Bachelor's degree required

Experience: At least three years of successful experience with a fundraising program.