Boston University (BU)seeks a collaborative, creative, and digitally forward Director of Annual Giving (Director) to lead Annual Giving’s omni-channel marketing efforts, using innovative solicitation strategies to expand the institution’s reach to alumni, parents, and friends of the University. BU has charted a stellar ascent in recent years under the leadership of President Robert A. Brown. Now ranked #42 by U.S. News and World Report, the University comprises 17 Schools and Colleges, including highly ranked graduate schools such as the School of Law, School of Management, School of Education, and College of Engineering.

Founded in 1839, BU has always been a hub for innovation. As one of the largest independent nonprofit universities in the country, it was the first university to open all divisions to female students in 1872. BU created one of the first study abroad programs, and, today, one third of the University’s 33,678 students come from countries outside the United States. This diversity is one of the greatest institutional strengths of the University, underpinned by its commitment to empowering students, staff, and faculty to cultivate diverse communities across a large, urban campus and around the world.

Sustaining strong, vibrant alumni networks is among the visionary initiatives President Brown has outlined in the new Strategic Plan for 2030, which will form the foundation for an upcoming multi-billion-dollar fundraising campaign. The five guiding university priorities are: ensuring a vibrant academic experience; diversity, equity, and inclusion; producing research that matters; creating community, big yet small; and fostering global engagement.

This is an exciting opportunity for an enterprising leader in annual giving marketing to join an institution at the outset of a comprehensive fundraising and engagement campaign that will propel ever-more ambitious achievement. In partnership with the Executive Director of Annual Giving and the Director of Leadership Annual Giving Programs, BU’s next Director of Annual Giving will develop and execute a strategy to increase giving by special constituencies including but not limited to leadership annual giving, young alumni, class gift, student philanthropy, and other affinity groups.

The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of eight years of experience, a keen understanding of best practices in annual giving, experience managing a team, and a demonstrated record of accomplishment in developing successful fundraising marketing strategies in a complex university. The successful candidate will have hands-on experience managing all facets of a large annual fund with a complex, multi-channeled marketing program, with expertise in innovative digital marketing and data analytics. The next Director should have a collegial, team-building style with a demonstrated ability to cultivate productive, collaborative relationships with colleagues across the University, utilizing the creativity, energy, and political savvy needed to introduce and champion new ideas. In accordance with its core values and mission, BU is especially interested in recruiting members of diverse communities and individuals with a commitment to multiculturalism.

Job Description: 

Reporting to the Executive Director, Annual Giving, the Director of Annual Giving is responsible for overseeing Annual Giving’s omni-channel marketing efforts—including direct mail, e-mail, social, digital, video, telefund, print outreach, and stewardship—utilizing advanced segmentation and data analytics techniques to solicit an alumni base of more than 400,000 graduates. The primary goal is to significantly raise participation rates, with an emphasis on undergraduate giving, while increasing revenue in accordance with Development and Alumni Relations initiatives at Boston University.

Essential Duties: 

• Collaborate with DAR colleagues and senior leaders (including Deans) across the university, including at 17 schools/colleges and Athletics, plus other targeted efforts (Center for Antiracist Research, Howard Thurman Center, Hillel, scholarship initiatives, etc.) to ensure the timely and accurate execution and fulfillment of broad-based solicitation programs including major digital campaigns: Athletics/Club Sports Challenge (October), Giving Tuesday (Nov./Dec.) and BU Giving Day (April).
• Plan and implement a comprehensive direct marketing strategy for Annual Giving in partnership with other DAR teams (Alumni Relations, Leadership Gifts, School/College/Athletics Development teams, Development Communications, Stewardship, DAR Applications, and Gifts & Records).
• Source vendors, monitor activity and sustain productive relationships to meet aggressive goals in participation through current-use giving.
• Oversee the day-to-day management of a staff of seven professionals (four direct reports), ensuring that performance goals and expectations are met.
• Conduct proactive analysis of segment and marketing channel performance and research (data mining, modeling, surveys, focus groups, benchmarking). Translate key findings into strategic and actionable recommendations. Communicate recommended strategies to senior DAR leadership and other constituencies through meetings, reports, and presentations.
• Along with the Executive Director and the Director, Leadership Annual Giving Programs, serve as a key member of Annual Giving’s leadership team as well as a member of the Alumni Engagement Leadership Team in the strategic planning and execution of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations goals to meet initiatives of the next Campaign.
• Serve as the lead project manager for BU Giving Day, an initiative that typically raises approximately $3 million annually from more than 8,000 unique donors.

Experience and Qualifications: 

The ideal candidate will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

• A Bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least eight years of directly related experience, including a minimum of five years of experience in development or alumni relations with demonstrated success in leading and growing an annual giving program, preferably in a complex institution of higher education.
• Hands-on experience managing all facets of a large annual fund with a complex, multi-channel marketing program, with expertise in innovative digital marketing, ideally in a higher education research institution in a campaign environment.
• Experience managing a large, diverse team of professionals performing in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with the ability to motivate, grow, and retain high performers.
• Knowledge and implementation of best practices in data analytics utilizing current industry trends.
• Exceptional reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills, including an ability to translate ideas and concepts into clear, actionable steps.
• Superb organizational and project management skills and the ability to multi-task.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills are required.
• Effective experience enlisting and interacting with senior-level volunteers and committees.
• Superb judgment and the sensibility to adjudicate wisely among competing priorities.
• A disposition to listen and circulate widely; outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently as well collaboratively with team members.

Boston University is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.