Job Summary

The Assistant Director for Annual Giving is responsible for developing, implementing, managing, and refining programs that engage and encourage the participation of alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends in supporting the San José State University. The incumbent oversees complex project planning, design, management, and evaluation of Annual Giving and 1857 Circle membership direct-marketing appeals and reaches constituents through a highly coordinated series of direct mail, email, and personal contact solicitations, leading to increased philanthropic support for the university. The Assistant Director for Annual Giving is responsible for managing the Faculty/Staff Giving Campaign and the Senior Class Gift Campaign, plus partnering with Advancement Service on a Matching Gift Program.

The Assistant Director for Annual Giving oversees the SJSU Student Activities Award and coordinates with Student Affairs for Parent Giving. The Assistant Director for Annual Giving partners with the Assistant Director of Digital Philanthropy for seamless outreach and fundraising. They collaborate with the Director of Leadership Giving to assist with donor pipeline development. The Assistant Director for Annual Giving has a key responsibility for donor relations and stewardship activities and programs within the department. The Assistant Director for Annual Giving works closely with Advancement Services on segmentation and maintaining data integrity. The incumbent also participates in Alumni Engagement programs and events that engage and connect alumni.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish an annual plan for cultivating and soliciting individual donors to the annual giving program
• Develops and implements multichannel strategies to solicit annual gifts and manage programs and solicitations that engage and increase philanthropy from alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends in support of the university, colleges, library, athletics, and other university units
• Designs and executes all direct mail and email solicitations. Tracks and analyzes solicitation performance, campaign performance, and other relevant fundraising metrics. Provides reports when requested or required
• Coordinates with Advancement Services on database maintenance, reports, and prospect data needs
• In partnership with Advancement Services develops and coordinates the stewardship of annual giving donors and prospects
• In conjunction with the Director of Stewardship, develop, implement, manage and evaluate Annual Giving stewardship processes and activities; supports donor recognition and stewardship efforts within the division
• Partners with Advancement Services on the SJSU Matching Gift Program. Promotes the matching gift program with the intent of growing and increasing giving through matching gift programs
• Manages all aspects of the SJSU Faculty/Staff “Spartans supporting Spartans” Giving Program
• Leads the SJSU Senior Class giving program
• Oversight of the SJSU Student Activities Award. Works with the appropriate campus departments and personnel to ensure that these programs are brought to a successful conclusion
• Coordinates with Student Affairs to develop a Parent Giving program
• Working with the Assistant Director of Digital Philanthropy, utilizing electronic communication, multi-media, and social media in creating messaging that engages donors and prospects that develop a base of philanthropic support for SJSU
• Assists the Assistant Director of Digital Philanthropy with Day of Giving strategy, design, and outreach
• Develop and implement strategies to reach key segments
• Prioritize and plan work activities to meet Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement goals and implement strategies that support the greater University Advancement mission and campaign goals
• Assure schedule of appeals provides the optimal number of appeals to retain donors’ year-to-year
• Coordinates with the Assistant Director of Digital Philanthropy to align the telemarketing program with direct mail and email appeals
• Assist with leadership annual giving efforts through prospect identification
• Build and cultivate donor/prospect and alumni relationships; maintain contact and respond directly to inquiries; solicit feedback to build relationships and improve services
• Assist with and participate in Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, campus and community activities, and events
• Manage annual solicitation and membership appeals utilizing multiple channels, including online, email, and direct mail; channels may also include social media, crowdfunding, and other web platforms as technology emerges.
• Build, maintain, and keep current all of the department’s complex and interdependent schedules of appeals and supporting activities necessary for successful solicitations and engagement.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with other departments/units/divisions to coordinate workflow and activities that ensure a seamless operation.
• Continually improve and refine prospect segmentation pools by working closely with Advancement Services.
• Design online and print content and material in a timely manner while coordinating with Strategic Communications and Marketing to ensure appropriate use of the SJSU brand
• Manage external partners/vendors to ensure quality and timely completion of projects and programs.
• Develop, implement, and monitor annual plans for Annual Giving solicitations and membership appeals; assist with strategic planning for the overall Annual Giving Group
• Ensure gift, biodemographic, and other data secured through annual giving efforts is reported and entered accurately and promptly in the alumni and donor database
• Manage within given budget allocation(s) and provide input for department budget

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Comprehensive understanding of annual giving fundamentals, strategies, and best practices and knowledge of higher education fundraising concepts, principles, and practices
• Ability to develop and implement annual fundraising programs and membership appeals
• Strong customer service ethic; knowledge of donor-driven customer service and stewardship practices
• Ability to effectively prioritize and make adjustments rapidly to meet changing demands
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly and persuasively for multiple mediums
• Proven skill in editing and proof-writing
• Experience with Adobe Suite, InDesign, Photoshop, and other design applications
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly with external constituents and interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to articulate academic mission and values to different constituent groups through multiple channels
• Strong research and information-gathering skills and the ability to synthesize and analyze data and information
• Demonstrated spirit of flexibility to work independently and cooperatively
• Ability to adapt strategies and incorporate emerging technology platforms
• Ability to recognize and define problems, gather data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, find innovative solutions, resolve problems and make recommendations for improvement
• Demonstrated knowledge of project planning and management techniques and methodologies
• Ability to work productively with, and effectively manage external partner relationships
• Skilled in successfully managing multiple projects on tight deadlines and under pressure in a dynamic and open environment
• Ability to identify, plan and utilize existing and new resources efficiently and effectively
• Skilled in strategic and tactical planning and critical and creative thinking
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, situations, and demands
• Must be able to work weekends and evenings when assigned
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, utilizing fundraising database programs, and familiarity with HTML
• Attentive to detail, completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of all related operational functions
• Ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
• Knowledge of basic budget concepts and practices
• Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 2-4 years of experience in communications/marketing

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent written communication, proofreading, and editing experience
• 2-4 years of graphic design experience
• Experience working with print and mail vendors
• Higher education experience

Compensation

Classification: Administrator I
Anticipated Hiring Range: $6,694/month - $7,250/month
CSU Salary Range: $3,938/month - $11,703/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: September 24, 2024 through October 9, 2024. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification: 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University (SJSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all SJSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus).

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