The Office of Advancement is in the first year of an exciting restructuring that includes the bringing together of a comprehensive Engagement Team, reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Engaged Philanthropy. The annual giving, engagement programs, special events, and advancement communications teams are working together to redefine engaged philanthropy and find opportunities for strategic collaboration. 

The Annual Giving effort is vital to the current campaign where we are in the second public year of a $600 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, the largest in school history, and are more than a year ahead of schedule. While raising financial support for key University initiatives, the campaign also aims to broaden Wesleyan’s donor base and build a pipeline of donors for the future. Working with an alumni body of more than 30,000, as well as current and past parents, the Advancement team inspires the Wesleyan community and cultivates support for university initiatives through outreach activities, including development/ fundraising, alumni & parent relations, and both on- and off-campus events. Wesleyan’s fundraising dollars have increased consistently over the last ten years. In addition to meeting fundraising goals, the campaign also aims to broaden Wesleyan’s donor base and build a pipeline of donors for the future.

Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving, the Senior Associate Director is responsible for leading Wesleyan’s reunion giving program, which includes the 5th, 25th and 50th milestone giving efforts, cultivating alumni through and beyond their reunion cycle.  

This position is responsible for developing, managing, and executing a comprehensive strategy around reunion philanthropy for each reunion cycle. This includes collaborating with other development staff, including gift planning, principal gifts, major gifts, alumni & parent relations, and Advancement leadership to reach reunion goals through implementing fundraising strategy and closely engaging high-level class volunteers. 

This position supervises a staff of assistant directors who support daily volunteer and class management and solicitation of leadership annual gift prospects. 

Responsibilities

• Manage a comprehensive milestone reunion philanthropy program. 
  • Assess class potential and direct milestone reunion giving strategy including building giving pyramids. 
  • Manage, engage and deploy annual giving volunteers. 
  • Track key success metrics throughout the year to both inform strategy and keep Advancement leadership informed of progress. 
  • Manage prospect handoffs between annual giving, major gifts, principal gifts, and gift planning teams as appropriate. 

• Manage annual giving staff to reach reunion and non-reunion class giving goals each year. 
  • Provide strategic and tactical guidance on all aspects of their work to achieve individual and team success. 
  • Set goals that align with annual giving and Advancement objectives and key responsibilities. 
  • Coach them to be effective contributors, developing their skills as volunteer managers, program managers, and relationship managers. 

• Manage and directly solicit a dynamic stream of leadership annual giving prospects.
• Other duties as assigned. 

At least the first 90 days will be on campus, after that the on-campus and remote work schedule will be at the discretion of the supervisor.

Hybrid work is only considered for residents of MA, VT, NH, ME, CT, RI, or NY. (Relocation assistance to CT is available for those who qualify).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of seven years of successful fundraising, relationship management, project management, or related experience including working knowledge of annual giving programs in a higher education or secondary school setting. 
• Demonstrated fundraising skills and proven experience to recognize opportunities, identify critical, high pay-off activities and prioritize them to attain goals. 
• Demonstrated experience in recruiting, training, motivating, soliciting, and communicating with a donor/volunteer population. 
• Prior supervisory experience with a proven history of motivating and developing direct reports to achieve goals and grow within an organization. 
• Ability to work cooperatively to achieve common goals; support cooperation, collaboration and the sharing of information; and the ability to communicate effectively. 
• Demonstrated ability to accept and implementing new ideas. 
• Demonstrated ability to react and adapting to changing situations appropriately. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team environment. 
• Ability to travel and to work nights and weekends, as required. 
• Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and interact openly with individuals of different backgrounds. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in annual giving and reunion fundraising 

Position is open untill filled. For full consideration please apply by October 18, 2024 when first review of applications will begin.

As a part of your application please upload a cover letter and resume.

Compensation: $74,100 – $88,200

Work Location: Hybrid