Vassar College is mid way through its ambitious and historic $500 million comprehensive campaign that will deepen our investment in financial aid and student life, expand research opportunities for our world-class faculty, and provide critical support for curricular innovation, racial justice and community engagement, environmental sustainability, admissions and career education. The successful candidate will join a dynamic and ambitious team that is charged with growing Vassar’s participation and raising $71 million across our five-year campaign.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 200 highly rated prospects and lapsed donors with capacity ratings of $25,000 to $100,000.
• Meet with donors in-person to cultivate relationships with Vassar and solicit donors for a leadership annual fund gift of $1,500 or more.
• Partner with the Prospect, Development and Research team to identify unassigned donors in the tri state area.
• Promote current giving opportunities through the Fearlessly Consequential campaign and crowdfunding projects like Generation Vassar.
• Demonstrate to donors the impact of their giving. Provide information on college developments and programs relative to their interests.
• Maintain a broad knowledge of the College, such as admissions, athletics, the arts, etc.
• Collaborate effectively with other members of Annual Giving, Advancement Communications, etc. as part of a comprehensive multi-channel marketing program, including direct mail, email, social media and telefund channels.
• Identify potential major gift prospects to build our pipeline for our leadership gifts team.

Generation Vassar Team Lead

• Serve as the Vassar Fund team leader for the annual giving challenge, Generation Vassar.
• Host Generation Vassar info and debrief sessions with key stakeholders.
• In collaboration with Advancement Communications, develop an effective communication strategy to the Vassar community that includes direct mail, email, phonathon, and texting.
• Develop the social fundraising platform through GiveCampus for Generation Vassar.
• Make strategic recommendations through an annual report to improve the giving challenge based on industry best practices and debrief sessions.
• Recruit Generation Vassar advocates and social media influencers to highlight why they give to Vassar and fundraise during the challenge.

Qualifications

Required

• Two to four years of professional experience in direct sales, fundraising, or marketing; higher education fundraising experience preferred. Education and experience equivalencies will be considered.
• Ability to travel frequently (~two weeks per month).
• Adept at using social media, text, phone, and Zoom.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and goals as directed by supervisor.
• Ability to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, and goal-oriented environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong work ethic and readiness to engage alums in a personalized manner.
• Skilled at navigating and using databases, familiarity with CRM systems and entering contact reports.
• Comfortably solicit donors on a daily basis, articulating a strong and compelling case for support.
• Follow high standards of ethical and honest relationships with donors and colleagues.
• May require occasional weekend and evening work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working in annual giving at a higher education institution.
• Experience working as a frontline fundraiser, developing giving day challenges, and direct marketing.