Director for Affinity Giving & Engagement

Posted on 07/01/2024

Trinity University

San Antonio, TX

Provides overall direction in the planning, managing, and executing Affinity giving programs, marketing campaigns, and events to identify annual leadership and major giving level opportunities, devise fundraising plans, broaden the financial support from new donors, and increase commitments from existing supporters of Trinity alumni and student affinity groups. Deepens relationships with potential supporters and leads the planning and execution of special events that cultivate new and existing affinity groups such as Greek Life, Athletics, and Healthcare Administration (HCAD). Creates an annual plan to expand support for high-priority Greek Life, Athletics, and HCAD projects and programs through effective collaboration with the Student Life staff, including the assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, Athletic Directors and head coaches, HCAD Department and their Alumni Association, and the rest of the ARD division.

  • Leads University affinity fundraising efforts, including securing challenge gifts or working with Major Gift Officers to secure challenges, creating mailings, social media content, and e-solicitations to encourage financial support. Handles all alumni and student affinity requests and strategic planning on these events and fundraising efforts within the Annual Giving solicitation calendar and the University-wide events calendar. Serves as the University representative for affinity groups.

  • Responsible as the liaison for Greek alumni advisors, including on-boarding and continued training, and a liaison between the Greek alumni and their respective student Greek groups.  Works closely with existing volunteer affinity groups (PAWS, Fastbats, and Friends of Soccer), and develops alumni and parent affinity groups to support Athletics and supports them in organizing their own engagement events. Works collaboratively with the HCAD Department Chair and the HCAD Alumni Association to manage all board of directors-related activities, including executive committee meetings, committee work, and quarterly board meetings. Maintains ongoing communication with members of the board to ensure meaningful involvement.

  • Develops and implements purposeful engagement opportunities for University leaders, specifically the President, Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development, and others as appropriate.  Plans and executes strategic event planning, networking events, chapter events, and tailgating opportunities in conjunction with the Alumni Relations & Development teams and student-athlete and parent-facing groups. Oversees the selection of HCAD alumni association awards that recognize outstanding alumni achievements and develops and executes the annual HCAD alumni dinner.

  • Participates in developing a strategy for assigned and prospective donors to secure appointments for personal visits, cultivation, and solicitations. Defines and tracks key metrics to measure performance and fundraising.

  • Provides direction to Annual Giving, Alumni Relations, Strategic Communications and Marketing, and Athletics Sports Information staff to create social media and/or multimedia (photo, video, etc.) assets to encourage engagement and giving to raise money for affinity groups. Represents the University on University social media platforms; has authority to change content and pause posts as needed.

  • Responsible for planning, developing, and exercising approval authority for expenditures for affinity engagement and fundraising within the Annual Giving budget. Analyzes the effectiveness of efforts and institute changes to the budget to deliver the best results. 

  • Serves as the University liaison to Fraternities, Sororities, and Athletics to celebrate milestone reunions or accomplishments and ensure a fundraising element to the planning. Has the authority to make decisions on these events to serve the strategic priorities of the University best.

  • Coordinates student volunteers for Fraternity, Sorority, Athletic engagement events, and fundraising campaigns with Alumni Relations and Development teams.

  • Assists with logistics and coordination of the Athletics Hall of Fame, as needed.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

  • Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience and integrity to provide professional leadership during emergencies.

  • Complies with all Trinity University policies and guidelines.

  • Serves on university committees as needed.

  • Performs other duties as required.

  • Adheres to NCAA Rules and Regulations.

EDUCATION

Required:

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Preferred:

  • Master’s degree or university program certificate.

EXPERIENCE

Required:

  • 5 or more years of experience in sales and/or fundraising for nonprofit and/or higher education institutions. 
  • Experience in solicitation, both in-person and via written format (online and direct mail).
  • Experience with affinity groups.

Preferred:

  • Five years or more of experience in sales and/or fundraising in collegiate athletics.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Required:

  • Knowledge of annual giving fundraising, donor information systems, and databases.
  • Willingness to make cold calls and conduct personal visits with prospects in affinity campaigns.
  • Self-starter with strong written and verbal communication skills and experience organizing, coordinating, and developing programs and activities with and for volunteers, preferably in a higher education setting.
  • Understanding and appreciation of a private liberal arts education and demonstrated knowledge of college athletics.
  • Unquestioned personal integrity, credibility, maturity, independent initiative, as well as an ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
  • Ability to work in a collaborative environment, to handle multiple tasks, to meet deadlines, and to work independently and creatively.
  • Self-starter with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to work non-traditional business hours and weekends.
  • Volunteer management experience with high-level volunteers.

To apply for this job please visit trinity.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com.