"Executive Director, Annual and Leadership Giving Programs - 2024-08438"

SLU Saint Louis, MO

time type

Full time

posted on

Posted 5 Days Ago

job requisition id

2024-08438

Who is Saint Louis University? Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities. SLU, which also has a campus in Madrid, Spain, is recognized for world-class academics, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service.

All About You

JOB SUMMARY:

The Executive Director of Leadership and Annual Giving Programs is responsible for the development, execution and management of a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program as well as the management of a fundraising team of leadership annual giving officers.  This position balances high level strategy and organizational leadership with tactical efforts to create and execute fundraising solicitations through the Annual Giving team and the Leadership Annual Giving team. 

JOB DUTIES:

Execute a Comprehensive Annual Giving Program

Execute a multi-channel annual giving fundraising program each year, utilizing direct mail, telephone, email, texting, social media, crowdfunding, video, and any other communication channel available. Write and design solicitations for all communication channels, in partnership with Development Communications and the Annual Giving team. Carefully coordinate and manage a comprehensive solicitation calendar that interfaces with an overall communication strategy for the SLU Development Division. Partner with colleagues across the University and throughout the Development Division to execute targeted solicitations and campaigns. Contribute to the Division’s efforts to create and steward the University’s donor pipeline. Design and execute strategies to maximize donor retention, move entry-level annual giving donors from the first gift to leadership and on to major gift giving levels. Utilize data to develop and deploy fundraising strategies that optimize fundraising results. Develop and closely monitor a comprehensive set of metrics to achieve annual giving fundraising goals that include total giving, alumni donor participation, donor acquisition and retention, as well as fundraising performance by appeal, segment, and channel.

Lead an action-oriented Leadership Giving Program

Lead a team of fundraisers who identify, cultivate and solicit gifts from $1K to $100K. Coach fundraisers on an aggressive outreach program that utilizes both digital and face-to-face interactions to increase giving to the University.   Assist Leadership Giving fundraisers in building their major gift portfolios as well as in referring donors to other major gift fundraisers.  Use modern data analytics in close coordination with Annual Giving and Prospect Management to identify prospects for the Leadership Giving team and to churn high numbers of potential donors. 

Campus Engagement and Coordination

Foster an environment for successful fundraising across all north and south campus units. Collaborate effectively with partners across the University to identify and support annual giving opportunities. Approve, coordinate, and collaborate on all annual gift fundraising campaigns on campus. Provide advice on industry best-practice for annual and leadership giving solicitation methods. Coordinate with Development Services to maximize data integration and with the Alumni Engagement staff to coordinate messaging and fundraising opportunities.

Supervision and Leadership

Manage the Annual Giving and Leadership Giving teams; appropriately assign and distribute responsibilities; support staff learning and development; and provide guidance to staff as they accomplish their work plans. Manage personnel actions, including hiring, performance appraisals, and promotions for the Annual Giving and leadership Giving teams Develop and manage a budget to accomplish identified strategic initiatives.

Other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Experience as a frontline fundraiser and manager of an annual giving program.  Strong strategic thinking skills - ability to envision, plan, and execute solicitation initiatives.
• An ability to analyze complex data and develop insights to drive direction.
• Excellence in written and oral communication, as well an ability to convey complex ideas in a concise and comprehensible fashion to build collaboration across organizational units.
• Experience effectively managing a team and supervising employees.
• Evidence of sound leadership judgment, including tact, diplomacy, discretion, confidentiality, and a strong sense of integrity.
• High levels of emotional intelligence, including flexibility, creativity, tolerance for ambiguity, and a sense of humor.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to the University’s Jesuit mission of Cura Personalis and an ability to meaningfully apply this principle to strategy development and implementation.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Ten (10) or more years of fundraising and fundraising management experience within a higher education or non-profit setting, or a combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities can be demonstrated.
• Driver’s License - must be maintained throughout the duration of employment in this role.

Function

University DevelopmentScheduled Weekly Hours:

40Saint Louis University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for the position applied for without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors. We welcome and encourage applications from minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities (including disabled veterans). If accommodations are needed for completing the application and/or with the interviewing process, please contact Human Resources at 314-977-5847.