Simmons College seeks a strategic leader to serve as Director of the Annual Fund. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations, the Director provides strategic direction and long-range/short-range planning for all aspects of annual giving for the College. This position will lead the annual fund team to plan, develop and execute repeatable gift income and increased participation from alumni, parents, and faculty/staff, while supporting the greater development and fundraising goals of the College.
The Director of Annual Giving will oversee the designing, planning, execution and assessment of an integrated, comprehensive, and strategic fundraising plan to increase current-use annual support for Simmons College. The Simmons College annual giving program includes: integrated direct marketing via mail, phone, social/digital and email with an emphasis on growing the 1899 Leadership Giving Society through personal solicitation.
Key Responsibilities:
Fundraising
Develop strategy and plan for student and parent philanthropy.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of top tier annual fund prospects for gifts of $1,899 to $100K.
Lead a 2-person team of annual giving professionals focusing on oversight of direct marketing, phone and young alumni solicitation, and reunion giving to raise funds from all College constituencies.
Present the College's financial needs and funding goals articulately, persuasively and with confidence by examining the budget for annual giving in relation to return on investment.
Leadership & Management
Supervise and lead all operations of the annual fund team, including hiring and managing assigned support.
Recruit, manage, and coach annual giving staff to work effectively and energetically with alumnae volunteers, annual giving volunteers, Trustees, and College leadership.
Collaborate with Director of Advancement Marketing and Communications and Assistant Vice President of Alumni and Engagement regularly to ensure the success of the direct mail, electronic communications, phone programs, and reunion giving.
Collaborate with leadership annual giving and major gift officers to coordinate the recruitment and solicitation of annual giving prospects.
Collaborate with Advancement Leadership, specifically Director of Major Gifts, Director of Alumnae/I Engagement, Director of Donor Relations on student/alumnae/i engagement, pipeline development, gift progress, analysis and stewardship, and contribute to ongoing fundraising analysis, program development, strategic planning and forecasting.
Key Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required;
5-7+ years of increasing fundraising success with at least four years of special emphasis on direct marketing, communications, and volunteer management; or commensurate skills and experience;
Experience cultivating new donors, growing annual fund programs and managing a op tier annual fund prospect pool;
Proven management, leadership and mentoring skills and the ability to work collaboratively;
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to look at data and draw conclusions to inform strategies;
Superior written and oral communication skills;
Familiarity with tracking systems and a high degree of comfort with using technology to communicate and share information. Raiser's Edge a plus;
Experience and interest in managing, developing, motivating, and mentoring staff in complex environment;
Must be able to advocate for a strong partnership between engagement activities and philanthropy in a fast-paced environment;
Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work effectively in a deadline-driven, team environment;
Ability to work cooperatively to achieve common goals; support cooperation, collaboration and the sharing of information while providing the highest level of service to a variety of constituents; and
A deep appreciation for and an ability to successfully articulate the educational mission and aspirations of Simmons College to build support for the College's vision of the future.
As a College committed to diversity, Simmons encourages applications broadly. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body and curriculum.
Located in Bostons historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.
We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.
