Job Details

Job Category: Professional/Administrative

Position Title: Director of Annual Giving

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Division: Office of Advancement

Department: Annual Giving

Work Arrangement type: Hybrid/Partial Remote – a combination of on-site and remote work. Specific schedules (e.g., 3 days on-site, 2 days remote) are determined by the department based on operational needs.

Hiring Wage/Salary Range: $95,000-$110,000

Professional Experience/ Qualifications:

• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in annual giving, fundraising, or advancement in a higher education or nonprofit setting.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and volunteers.
• High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience in planning and executing multi-channel solicitation strategies.
• Prior supervisory experience, including managing staff performance and development.

Education: A Bachelor’s degree is required.

Certifications: Driver License required.

Other Information: Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Accountabilities:

The Director of Annual Giving is a key leader in Colgate University’s Advancement Division and is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, and management of the University’s annual giving program. Reporting to the AVP for Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, the Director develops and oversees a multi-channel solicitation strategy for the fiscal year to maximize gifts of current-use dollars and achieve alumni participation goals.

The Director will be responsible for a strong donor experience, pipeline development, and donor acquisition. The Director is expected to serve as the campus lead for annual giving campaigns and supervise a team of Annual Giving staff members aligned to renewal, stewardship, class management, volunteer/affinity fundraising, leadership giving societies, recent alumni/student philanthropy, and digital gift officer coverage.

The Director partners with colleagues across Advancement—including frontline fundraisers, athletic fundraising staff, alumni engagement, and communications—and with campus collaborators to promote a culture of philanthropy and engagement.

In partnership with the Annual Giving and Communications team, develop and execute an annual giving strategy for all communication channels. Develop a strategy focused on a strong donor experience, personalized asks, and an ability to track donor progression. Lead the planning and implementation of university-wide annual giving campaigns. Serve as a partner with frontline fundraising colleagues in support of the Colgate Fund and other designated annual giving funds, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and donor interests. Develop and oversee strategies for engaging and managing volunteers to support annual giving goals. Serve as the strategic manager of the Presidents’ Circle, a leadership giving society, working to deepen donor commitment and retention at the leadership annual giving level. Directly supervise and coach a team of full-time Annual Giving staff members, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Work Schedule: Weekdays with occasional weekends