Assistant Director, Leadership Giving

Description

The University of Virginia Alumni Association seeks a dynamic and collaborative Assistant Director, Leadership Giving to cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of leadership gift donors and prospects who are committed to supporting the mission of the UVA Alumni Association. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving will be a frontline fundraiser and an essential member of the development team. They will play a key role in building a culture of philanthropy at the UVA Alumni Association.

Job Duties

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 150 leadership gift prospects
• Conduct discovery visits in person and virtually to determine individuals’ proclivity for a leadership gift or upgrade
• Communicate effectively in person and in writing about giving opportunities and the Alumni Association’s strategic priorities, core programs, and goals
• Cultivate, solicit, and close gifts at the leadership giving level ($2,500+)
• Develop meaningful and customized stewardship plans and engage with donors through one-on-one meetings, events, and personalized communications
• Help develop individual and fundraising team metrics for accountability and evaluation
• Create fundraising strategies to meet or exceed revenue goals
• Partner with colleagues to create and implement donor recognition, retention, and upgrade strategies for the Alumni Association
• Document interactions in UVA’s donor database

Skills Required

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Assistant level: One or more years of relevant experience
• Associate level: Three or more years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, preferably in an externally facing role or relevant sales/business development experience
• Skill in building relationships with people of diverse backgrounds
• Professional demeanor and highest standards of integrity in all working and donor relationships
• Ability to travel and work outside of regular work hours (some evenings and weekends)
• Knowledge of philanthropy, the fundraising cycle, and moves management
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a goal-oriented team environment
• Ability to travel and work outside of regular work hours (some evenings and weekends)
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to measure progress and metrics
• Energetic, team-oriented, enthusiastic, and positive demeanor
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite and fundraising databases; experience with Advance a plus
• Commitment to the mission and values of the UVA Alumni Association

Additional Info

ABOUT THE UVA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION:

The UVA Alumni Association is a self-governed 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to building the strongest bond among alumni and between alumni and the University of Virginia while representing the independent voice and perspectives of alumni.

In achieving our mission, we are committed to the following core values:

INTEGRITY | Conducting ourselves ethically and with honor. We act in good faith and do so in all our dealings — with students, with alumni, with the University community and within our workplace. Maintaining our integrity requires keeping alumni interests first in all that we do and maintaining our self-governance so that, true to our mission, we can represent the voices of alumni.

INCLUSION | Fostering a sense of belonging. We value the greater strength and wisdom that come from diversity. We commit to truth telling and to authentically sharing stories that our society, University and own organization have historically omitted. This principle inspires us to encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion within the University, within the alumni base and within the ranks of the Association’s governance, leadership, and workforce.

CONNECTION | Building community. We bring people together. We foster goodwill, fellowship, and collaboration. That is true in the context of our work with students and alumni, facilitating connection between them and with their alma mater. It also holds true in our workplace — working as a team, sharing expertise across disciplines, and supporting one another as colleagues and friends across Grounds.

INNOVATION | Inspiring a bias toward action. As an organization only slightly younger than the University, we represent continuity from the founding to the future. We celebrate traditions, but we don’t let tradition circumscribe us. We challenge assumptions and seek smarter ways to achieve our mission. Through innovation, we anticipate the needs of a growing and ever-changing alumni population amid the increasing complexities of higher education.

SERVICE | Providing lifelong support. We exist to serve. Service takes countless forms, from helping students and alumni throughout their adult lives, to helping the University achieve its best, to supporting our family of coworkers. It can be as simple as listening, being genuinely responsive and following through on commitments large and small. Ultimately, it means always taking the extra step and extending the hand of human kindness toward everyone we serve.