Classification Title:

AST DIR, Donor Relations

Job Description:

Much of the work that the Division of Student Life does is made possible through philanthropy. Under the guidance of the Senior Director of Advancement, the Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Donor Relations is responsible for providing stewardship, engagement, and cultivation touches for Student Life’s most generous donors. Through correspondence, stewardship reporting, and engagement programming, they will seek to convey gratitude to Student Life’s most loyal alumni and friends. Visits, both in person and remotely, are with alumni and friends to educate them about college priorities and present opportunities for giving back (through annual fund donations, volunteer opportunities, and other engagement). They are responsible for engaging prospects as appropriate in our fundraising pipeline through the annual fund or in the life of the division based on demonstrated interests. Additionally, the Assistant Director will support the annual giving efforts of Student Life through designing and crafting annual giving solicitations (mail, phonathon, email, and digital), supporting department and program annual giving fundraising, assisting with Giving Day fundraising efforts, and working on young alumni or other targeted fundraising strategies.

Annual Giving Fundraising

Manage and facilitate fundraising projects initiatives and develop a long-term strategic plan for growing annual fund, including direct marketing and digital and web-based marketing, to raise funds for division-wide and department/program priorities. This includes setting the strategy, budget, timeline, and tactics for each project, managing them throughout the production process, analyzing results, and optimizing ROI. Effectively move annual donors through the solicitation pipeline, working with our annual giving, digital fundraising, and major gift teams in the Division of Student Life and at UF. Participate in the fundraising and annual giving planning process; contribute to team meetings to help create team norms and processes Participate in goal setting with annual giving and fundraising teams, both for the year and our upcoming campaign Research and stay up-to-date on trends in the field of higher education advancement, annual giving, and philanthropy. Suggest new initiatives and/or improvements in annual giving outcomes. Utilize data and reporting information to strategically enhance annual giving direct marketing efforts. Create dynamic annual giving messaging that will connect with alumni, parents, and friends of Student Life. Perform copywriting and editing for division and department fundraising communications as needed. Develop Giving Day campaign strategies, including solicitations, content, and volunteer management in coordination with the Strategic Communications, Marketing & Engagement (SCME) team. Educate prospects about priorities; and secure leadership annual fund gifts ($1K to $10K) through in-person visits and digital touchpoints Introduce constituents to annual giving priorities, establish rapport and trust, and set the stage for alumni and friends to help support Student Life. Coordinate with SCME team on marketing/fundraising events. In conjunction with the Senior Director, coordinate annual gift outreach activities. Record donor/prospect communications in the CRM database and manage prospect tracking on annual giving donors. Formulate funding priorities and opportunities related to annual giving gifts at the assessed level. Must develop comprehensive understanding of mission, strategy and goals as they relate to fundraising. Work with SCME team to produce and distribute promotional material that highlights annual giving programs and division news. Participate as needed in alumni events, volunteer activities and programs.

Donor Relations

Coordinate and arrange logistics for the Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars (MFOS) Program Leadership Council. Specifically, prepare all meeting logistics such as managing/planning activities, strategic communications, agendas and note taking during meetings, distributing post-meeting documents to appropriate stakeholders, and ensure proper follow up for next steps. Engage and communicate directly with volunteers and prospects in support of activities and events. Draft all large group communication for volunteer councils. In collaboration with the Senior Director, develop a recognition guideline to standardize expectations of engagement and gift follow-up. Administer a comprehensive recognition program that creatively and strategically engages prospects and donors, as well as recognizes them for their contributions and informs them about the use of their gifts to the university. Use tools such as texting, ThankView, Evertrue (and others you/we discover) to create a meaningful and successful communication journey to secure annual gifts. Review stewardship communications and implement new strategies as needed (using existing and new tools). Write and produce meaningful and memorable stewardship correspondence in collaboration with our Communications team and Student Life leadership team. Execute proactive, timely, and innovative strategies to effectively steward donors in a way that inspires them to renew and increase their support in future years. Participate in strategy sessions for top and annual donors. Work with the UF Advancement’s Donor Relations team to manage annual endowment reporting. Identify and call upon donors and prospects to encourage and facilitate attendance at development events. In collaboration with development colleagues, execute stewardship plans for donors, including developing recognition touches, etc. Manage annual gift donor stewardship program, including thank you letters, donor recognition levels and societies, naming opportunities, and plaques, all in compliance with UF and UFA. Collaborate with UFA Donor Relations team on stewardship opportunities within the annual giving program. In conjunction with the UFA Donor Relations team, implement programs which recognize, encourage, and reward ongoing and increasing levels of annual support. Oversee special donor relations projects to assist with stewardship and cultivation of major gift donors i.e. personalized milestone birthday and anniversary recognition pieces. In conjunction with the UFA Donor Relations team, implement programs which recognize, encourage, and reward ongoing and increasing levels of annual support. Devise and use consistent, accurate, and appropriate information-sharing mechanisms for stewarding prospects and donors. Develop and assess policies and procedures for the university that are essential for a comprehensive donor relations program. Assist UF Advancement as needed with donor related events.  Expected Salary:

$55,000-$65,000; commensurate with education and experience.

Exceptional Benefits We Offer

Affordable State Health Plans: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance Comprehensive Coverage: Life and Disability Insurance Secure Retirement Options: Generous plans to safeguard your future Inclusive Paid Time Off: Including 11 paid holidays, as well as family, sick, and vacation leave Professional and Personal Growth: Opportunities through UF Training & Organization Development, leadership development, LinkedIn learning, and more Tuition Assistance: Benefit from the UF Employee Education Program PSLF Eligibility: We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer

The University of Florida offers a competitive benefits package. Click here to learn more. 

Minimum Requirements:

Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization; or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and one year of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess:

Experience in donor relations, annual giving or transferable field such as customer service, sales, etc. One to three years of fundraising, development, sales or related experience.  A high level of energy, a positive “can-do” attitude, and the ability to function at peak levels in a high expectation environment. Superior interpersonal skills and a capacity to engage, inspire, and persuade faculty, University administrators, officers, volunteers, donors, prospects, and staff, both within the University and beyond. These skills should be combined with the ability to make the appropriate connections among members of these groups and to nurture strong and long-lasting institutional relationships. Prior experience in a university or nonprofit environment. General knowledge and understanding of business/economic environment.  Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards. Demonstrated successful experience in prospect identification, relationship building, solicitation and stewardship. The ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers. Ability to work collaboratively and is a team player. Competency in problem solving.  Exceptional written and verbal communication skills and the capacity to engage effectively with a wide range of individuals are essential. A commitment to and support for workplace inclusion in all its forms; demonstrated success collaborating with stakeholders; strong project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; excellent organizational abilities; and the capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others are essential. Proficient in the following areas: Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, as well as internet browsers and email platforms. Familiarity with donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking systems is also highly preferred.   Special Instructions to Applicants:

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter, resume and three references. Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required: No