POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Director of Annual Funds
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1776
GRADE 44
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Executive Director of Development
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Vice President for University Advancement
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director of Annual Funds is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of a comprehensive and effective program that builds a long-term base of support for University-wide and college programs and initiatives. The Director of Annual Funds designs and manages a successful program that builds and sustains a donor pipeline in support of the Major Gift programs. The Director of Annual Funds focuses on securing annual support from alumni, students, friends, staff, faculty, and parents and helps to develop creative ways to connect with all donors to the University annually. The Director of Annual Funds leads and manages a comprehensive annual giving program in support of fundraising goals. The Director of Annual Funds oversees all annual solicitations, including direct mail, phonathon, crowdfunding, social media, and email to expand the University’s donor base and increase annual giving. The Director of Annual Funds works with members of the University Advancement team to achieve University and college-based fundraising, stewardship, and alumni engagement goals. The Director of Annual Funds serves as the primary liaison for Ruffalo Noel Levitz concerning the Missouri State Phone Campaign and annual direct mail campaigns and Give Campus for crowdfunding.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor's degree is required.
Experience: At least two years of full-time professional work experience in fund development, preferably for a university, is required. Experience writing for fund development is preferred. Experience using social media to leverage effectiveness of fundraising programs is preferred. Experience with list management and web page development and maintenance is preferred. Supervisory experience is preferred.
Skills: Must be organized, detail-oriented, and committed to follow-through; must
enjoy interacting with people and be a skilled motivator. Must be able to manage
multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. A demonstrated ability to communicate
effectively, both verbally and in writing, with diverse populations, including students,
faculty, staff, donors, and potential donors, is required. Excellent management, organizational,
and effective interpersonal skills are required. The ability to establish and maintain
a complex calendar of solicitations by targeted constituency and fundraising strategy
is required. The ability to anticipate and effectively handle change, to demonstrate
willingness to learn new skills and take on challenging tasks, and to be flexible
in changing conditions is required. Computer experience with hands-on knowledge of
word processing is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and
skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
A working knowledge of Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint is preferred.
Effort: Occasionally required to lift and move boxes of materials and equipment weighing twenty-five to fifty pounds.
Other: The scope of the job requires occasional travel and attendance at evening and/or weekend activities, meetings, events, seminars, and workshops and may require monitoring or management of Missouri State Phone Campaign periodically on evenings and weekends.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Drives programs and campaigns to increase participation of alumni, friends, and
students in giving to provide a growing base of donors to support the University.
2. Plans, executes, and ensures achievement of established goals for all annual funds
campaigns, which include direct marketing, several phone campaigns, specialized campaigns
on behalf of specific programs or departments, Missouri State Way (faculty/staff campaign),
Senior Class Gift, Parents Campaign, Lapsed Scholarship, address label mailing, the
collegiate license plate campaign, and other campaign efforts as needed.
3. Plans and executes crowdfunding efforts and electronic solicitations through targeted segmentations to achieve annual goals.
4. Utilizes technology and social media to create and implement innovative annual giving programs to connect with current donors, establish new donors, and increase annual giving.
5. Develops plans and programs for new fundraising initiatives, such as a day of giving, young alumni program, etc.
6. Works collaboratively with Alumni Relations to grow efforts that build a culture of philanthropy and encourages giving among students and young alumni.
7. Analyze qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources to drive continuously improved campaign performance.
8. Develops measurable goals and metrics to monitor the impact of annual giving activities on the success of donor acquisition and retention.
9. Establishes and maintains tracking and testing methods for all solicitation initiatives and adjusts strategies based on the results of data analysis.
10. Monitors industry trend reports and benchmarking analyses to identify opportunities for growth or efficiency and to identify viable new channels.
11. Refines segmentation strategies to identify and target donor and prospect audiences in the most effective manner.
12. Develops and executes Leadership Annual Giving programs to increase revenue to key discretionary funds and the major gift pipeline, develops a strategic plan for engagement, effective solicitation, and growth in the number of leadership-level donors, and manages a portfolio of donors and prospects with goals for visitations and outcomes to secure leadership gifts.
13. Works with Development and Prospect Management teams to refine leadership annual giving audiences and tactics targeting managed prospects at all levels of giving.
14. Provides direction on messaging and guidance on all leadership annual giving communication.
15. Develops leadership annual giving stewardship practices and programs.
16. Works closely with the Executive Director of Development and the Director of Prospect Management and Research to identify and refer likely major gift donors.
17. Works closely with alumni relations staff to communicate with alumni regarding annual funds, giving opportunities, recognition of donors, and assists with event promotion as needed.
18. Budgets annual financial resources with a long-term view in mind in order to cover current program needs while planning for future equipment replacement or one-time special projects.
19. Communicates fundraising plans and results to the Executive Director of Development, Vice President for University Advancement, and other advisory boards and/or committees as appropriate.
20. Responsibilities may include occasional planning and organizing special events and soliciting individual major gifts.
21. Serves as a communication liaison to a college or unit on campus, as assigned.
22. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Executive Director of Development.
23. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
24. Contributes to the overall success of Development and Alumni Relations by
performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Director of Annual Funds is supervised by the Executive Director of Development and may supervise others as assigned.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED MAY 2018
