AST DIR, Donor Relations

Much of the work that The College of Education does is made possible through of philanthropy. Under the guidance of the Executive Director of Advancement, the Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Donor Relations is responsible for providing stewardship, engagement, and cultivation touches for the College’s most generous donors. Through correspondence, stewardship reporting, and engagement programming, they will seek to convey gratitude to the COE’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 college based on demonstrated interests. The Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Donor Relations will also support the annual giving efforts of COE 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. Works closely with colleagues to create, sustain, and further cultivate positive relationships with donors, University of Florida COE stakeholders, and Central Advancement team members.

Annual Giving Fundraising

• Manage and facilitate fundraising projects initiatives and develop long-term strategic plan for growing annual fund, including direct marketing and digital and web-based marketing, to raise funds for college 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 College of Education 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 the college.
• Perform copywriting and editing for college and department fundraising communications as needed.
• Develop Giving Day campaign strategies and Dean’s Leadership Circle initiatives, including solicitations, content, and volunteer management in coordination with the Communications team.
• Educate prospects about College priorities; and secure leadership annual fund gifts ($1K to $10K) through in-person visits and digital touch points.
• Introduce constituents to the Dean’s Leadership Circle and annual giving priorities, establish rapport and trust, and set the stage for alumni and friends to help support the college.
• Coordinate with UF Advancement and COE Communications staff on marketing/fundraising events.
• In conjunction with the Executive Director, coordinate annual gift outreach activities.
• Record donor/prospect communications in the CRM database and manage prospect tracking on annual giving donors.
• Serve as the COE liaison for Annual Giving.
• 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 COE Communication’s office to produce and distribute promotional material that highlights annual giving programs and college news.
• Participate as needed in alumni events, volunteer activities and programs.
• Draft communications for direct mail appeals, personalized letters to donors and potential donors, fundraising brochures, proposals, tailored pledge forms. Requires excellent writing skills to draft communications for the COE Communication’s office.
• Request and analyze data from UF Advancement (UFA) – Prospect Strategy and Research (PSR) and Computer Services departments to compile data for mass mailings, including segmented mailings to new donors, lapsed donors, and repeat donors.
• Manage online giving program for the college and development of social media campaigns.
• Coordinate with UF Advancement and COE Communications staff on marketing/fundraising events including alumni reunions.
• In conjunction with the Executive Director, coordinate annual gift outreach activities, including private recruitment and solicitation events.
• Manage annual gift donor stewardship program for COE, including thank you letters, donor recognition levels and societies, Donor Wall, naming opportunities, and plaques, all in compliance with UF and UFA. Collaborate with UFA Donor Relations staff on stewardship opportunities within the annual giving program.
• Record donor/prospect communications in Advance database and manage prospect tracking on annual giving donors.
• Prepare reports and presentations on annual giving trends.
• Identify and call upon donors and prospects to encourage and facilitate attendance at development events.
• Serve as the COE liaison for Annual Giving, Alumni Relations and Donor Relations.
• 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.
• In conjunction with the UFA Donor Relations team, implement programs which recognize, encourage, and reward ongoing and increasing levels of annual support.
• Work with COE Communication’s office to produce and distribute promotional material that highlights annual giving programs, alumni news and college news.
• Participate as needed in alumni events, volunteer activities and programs.

Donor Relations

• In collaboration with the Associate Director of Alumni Affairs & Strategic Partnerships, 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.
• 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 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 for COE, 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 staff on stewardship opportunities within the annual giving program.
• Serve as the COE liaison for Central Donor Relations. 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.

Perform related duties as required or deemed appropriate to the accomplishment of the responsibilities and functions related to this position.

THE GOLD STANDARD CULTURE
At UF Advancement we are committed to “The Gold Standard Culture” and live it through:
Our Vision: To be ranked among the best, as measured by Voluntary Support of Education
Our Mission: To be a catalyst in securing and managing private support for university priorities
Our Values:
    • Excellence – Strive for greatness as an institution that brings out the best in each individual.
    • Discovery & Innovation – Collaborate on the uncharted frontiers of knowledge to seek truth and make the world a better place.
    • Inclusion – Demonstrate commitment to contributing to a respectful and caring community for all, and seek to provide equitable access to opportunity.
    • Freedom & Civility – Embrace the freedom to inquire and express ideas without condemnation, and to show respect for the right of others to do the same.
    • Community – Create a safe, welcoming community and a shared purpose that builds a sense of belonging and togetherness.
    • Stewardship – Show respect for those who came before us, responsibility for those now with us, and the commitment to leave a just and habitable world for those who come after us.

Competitive benefit package and salary is commensurate with experience: salary range $61,000- $63,000

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. A valid Florida driver license is required.

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. 
• Must be an outstanding communicator and possess excellent written and verbal communication skills; interpersonal skills; and the ability to work collegially and interact effectively with a broad constituency.
• Proven success working with stakeholders; project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; organizational skills; and the ability to lead, influence and motivate others are required.
• Working knowledge in these areas:  Windows, Microsoft Word, Microsoft..  Working knowledge of a donor database.

*Business expenses are reimbursed through a standard accounting system.  The ability to pay for expenses using your own personal credit card or funds and have them reimbursed is essential. 

UF Advancement has defined the following critical competencies for organizational and position specific success:

• Collaboration - Ability to work cooperatively with others to achieve the goals of the organization.
  • Shares own experience, resources and expertise with others breaking down barriers or organizational boundaries to ensure team’s success.
  • Assists in keeping levels of team performance and morale high.
  • Works cooperatively and recognizes diversity as a strength and uses it to the benefit of projects and goals.
  • Works to meet individual, business unit and university goals with the acknowledgment of, and cooperation with the achievement of others' goals.
• Stakeholder Focus - Centralizes all efforts and tasks around meeting the needs of stakeholders to support the University of Florida.
  • Addresses stakeholder needs in a positive, timely and efficient manner by involving the right people and resources at the right time.
  • Understands the audience and seeks feedback to identify opportunities to improve the relationship and deliverables.
  • Creates stakeholder value utilizing service processes that attract, solidify and expand the total stakeholder relationship.
  • Considers the impact on all stakeholders when taking action, or carrying out one’s own job responsibilities.
• Manages Execution - Consistently maintains a high level of action and results while working with effectiveness and determination.
  • Executes functional tasks in pursuit of the larger vision (thinks big, acts small).
  • Pursues goals with persistence, energy, drive, a positive attitude and a need to finish.
  • Consistently prepared with a high level of productivity, prioritizing tasks to work effectively and efficiently to make and meet expectations.
  • Uncovers problems and issues and removes barriers in order to move the work forward.
• Accountability - Takes responsibility for work activities, personal actions and self-development.
  • Acts resourcefully, ensuring work is completed on time and to quality standards within legal guidelines and policies. 
  • Finds opportunities for personal and professional development keeping up-to-date on technical and functional aspects of one’s job.
  • Assumes personal ownership of complications immediately and follows through until resolved.
  • Accepts feedback openly, acknowledging and learning from mistakes, without becoming defensive.
• Adaptability/ Innovation - Applies original thinking in approaching job responsibilities, overcoming challenges and adjusting to changes in one’s environment.
  • Sustains effectiveness in varying environments with different tasks, responsibilities, and people in the face of ambiguity or uncertainty.
  • Courageous with ideas; generates new ideas and creative solutions that impact results.
  • Maintains flexibility to accept, embrace and lead change.
  • Responds effectively to unique needs, adapting solutions and providing creative and/or flexible options.
• Effective Communication - Ability to listen and effectively relay information to others in all forms of communication.
  • Communicates effectively and shares information appropriately with internal and external constituents through multiple mediums.
  • Interprets information, ideas, and instructions clearly in verbal and written communication.
  • Demonstrates active listening: checks for understanding and clarity by asking the right questions.
  • Maintains composure and communicates in a direct, truthful, transparent and positive manner.
• Critical Thinking - Ability to obtain, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information effectively.
  • Utilizes logical reasoning to make judgments in accordance with established professional and organizational criteria.
  • Objectively identifies goals and makes decisions by considering both short-term and long-term implications.
  • Creatively identifies opportunities to increase efficiency, simplicity and revenue (understands finite resources).
  • Effectively recognizes and considers the forces, events, entities, and people that effect a situation before making a conclusion.
• Organizational Acumen - The ability to understand and navigate governance, administration, and culture in the internal and external environment demonstrating commitment to organizational mission.
  • Acts in a decisive, timely and appropriate manner that is congruent with the organization’s values and goals.
  • Integrates and balances big picture concerns related to political, social and economic issues effecting the organization with day-to-day activities.
  • Knowledgeable of policies, practices, trends and information that impact the organization.
  • Demonstrates understanding of, alignment with, and a commitment to the university’s mission in serving our constituents.

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

This requisition has been reposted. Previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply.