Assistant Director, Annual Giving (Class Giving Officer)

$85,400.00 - $102,487.00 annually. Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

OVERVIEW

University Relations, composed of Development, Alumni Relations, and University Marketing & Communications, builds Santa Clara University’s excellence and character by strengthening relations with alumni, parents, and friends of the University, raising public awareness, and increasing private philanthropy, which supports the University’s growth and reputation.

A. POSITION PURPOSE

This is an exciting opportunity for talented fundraisers and professionals with comparable skills to join a dynamic and collaborative Reunion Giving team, the dedicated frontline fundraisers in the Annual Giving Department at Santa Clara University’s Development office.

The Assistant Director of Development (Class Giving Officer) plays a critical role in SCU’s effort to secure resources for its strategic funding priorities and deepen its relationship with undergraduate alumni. In furtherance of the University’s integrated strategic plan, the Assistant Director coordinates 2-4 undergraduate reunion campaigns, including volunteer management, mail/email coordination, and direct solicitation. Working in close collaboration with the University’s Major and Principal Gift Officers, Direct Mail team, and Alumni Relations team, the Reunion Giving team strategically leverages the special opportunity of reunion to further and/or reengage alumni and develop a strong pipeline of philanthropic alumni leaders.

The Class Giving Officer position emphasizes work with donors, projects, and volunteers who have the capacity to make annual gifts at the leadership-level ($1,000 to $100,000) within their assigned reunion classes. The Reunion Giving team is now seeking highly self-motivated candidates with outstanding initiative, a commitment to higher education, and a passion for Santa Clara’s mission to join our 7-person team that fundraised over $8 Million during the most recent reunion campaign and is expected to increase reunion giving over time.

This position is eligible for a flexible work schedule: hybrid - work from the office and home.

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Position requires extensive fieldwork locally and semi-annual travel out of the area to support volunteer recruitment and solicitation goals; emphasis on securing and conducting face-to-face visits, in addition to phone meetings for alumni leaders outside the Bay Area.
• Plan and execute high-end annual fundraising campaigns for 2-4 personally assigned undergraduate classes celebrating a reunion; work with Director of Reunion Giving to develop fundraising goals and strategies according to specific characteristics and capabilities of the assigned classes to achieve both high-end giving and broad class campaign participation; monitor and analyze results throughout campaign, and revise strategies as necessary in order to accomplish goals.
• Identify, recruit, train and solicit approximately 70-100 reunion volunteers annually (class sizes currently range from 750-1500); maintain frequent contact with these class leaders through meetings, visits, correspondence, and telephone in collaboration with the Alumni Relations Team and in accordance with the Reunion Giving Team Calendar; provide information and assistance to volunteers to support their ability to carry out peer solicitations and other assignments and steward volunteer efforts through regular contact and recognition.
• Coordinate with Major, Principal, and Planned Gifts teams on the reunion-year solicitation strategy of those prospects within the assigned reunion class and recruit these leaders to their reunion committees, as appropriate.
• Personally cultivate, solicit and steward high-level prospects, as appropriate, resulting in leadership gifts ranging from $1,000-$100,000 (generally includes volunteers themselves); develop strategies to ensure that all top reunion prospects are solicited during their reunion campaign at appropriate levels; annual fundraising expectations based on assigned classes.
• Coordinate the direct mail, email solicitations, and telemarketing efforts with volunteer leaders and colleagues to ensure broad class campaign participation.
• Produce well-written, accurate and timely reports documenting fieldwork, updating University records, and analyzing results; ensure reunion campaign pledges are accurately booked and appropriately stewarded.
• Additional duties as assigned.

C. PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION

• N/A

D. GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.
• Identifies and determines cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices.
• Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved services.
• Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.
• Researches and develops resources that create timely and efficient workflow.
• Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy and timeliness of all operational functions.
• Prepares and submits reports as requested and required.
• Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

E. QUALIFICATIONS

1. Knowledge

• Demonstrated experience and interest in personal solicitation of large annual gifts ($1,000 to $50,000) as well as volunteer management and motivation.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team and to work collaboratively with other Development and Santa Clara Alumni Association staff.
• A commitment to higher education and ability to articulate a compelling case for annual discretionary support of undergraduate education and student life at Santa Clara University.
• Knowledge of Santa Clara University and its mission is helpful.

2. Skills

• Must be goal-oriented and self-motivated individual who can demonstrate accountability, initiative, creativity, and focus in a rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate, build alliances, and achieve results within a population that may possess competing interests, opinions, and/or expectations.
• Demonstrate strong active listening skills and ability to negotiate positive outcomes.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, sound ethical judgment, and experience handling highly confidential information.
• Required to have a valid driver’s license and personal transportation vehicle available for frequent travel to business meetings (mileage is reimbursed under federal guidelines).

3. Abilities

• Ability to use current desktop office and database technologies efficiently and effectively, and be able to adapt to and use future technologies.
• High energy level, enthusiasm, sense of humor, flexibility are absolutely required.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage time and workload to multitask and achieve goals in a deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrate a genuine appetite to contribute to a collaborative, ethical, and professional team environment.

4. Education

• Bachelor’s degree required.

5. Years of Experience 

• Two to five years of related professional experience, which includes one to three years of direct development, fundraising, and/or transferable professional skills that include sales and/or developing relationships with volunteers and/or high net worth clients or customers.
• Must have valid drivers license.

F. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within the Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors, or suppliers.

G. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Typical office environment.
• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.
• Offices with equipment noise.
• Offices with frequent interruptions.
• Driving related to meetings with external constituents.
• Meeting with external constituents at off-campus locations including other offices, restaurants, other private and public venues.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at  https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/. 

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.  Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at [email protected] or by phone at (408)554-4392. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact [email protected].