The Assistant Director of Alumni and Annual Giving supports the Director of Alumni and Annual Giving in developing, implementation, and analysis of fund-raising programs to strengthen the Palmer Fund. The Assistant Director plans and executes aspects of donor and alumni engagement activities, including arranging visits and events, recruiting alumni for volunteer opportunities, and onboarding of online platforms. This position provides vital support for Advancement with project management, overall strategies, detailed planning of annual solicitation programs, data analysis and activity management.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Help implement a comprehensive Palmer Fund (annual fund) strategy that aligns with the overall fundraising goals and objectives of Palmer College.

• Promote the Palmer Fund and provide prospective donors with clear and compelling reasons for giving, describing how Palmer Fund and annual support makes a difference for the students the College serves.

• Engage and solicit through mail, email, phone and in person to build internal and external relationships designed to secure annual gifts from alumni, individuals, foundations and/or corporations.

• Serve as the College liaison to People Grove for administering Palmer Plexus, online alumni community.

• Recruit, train, and manage a team of Palmer Fund volunteers including Giving Day Ambassadors, and Online Community volunteers. Provide support and guidance to volunteers in their fundraising efforts and ensure they are equipped with the necessary resources to be effective advocates for Palmer College.

• Serve as advisor to the Palmer Student Alumni Foundation (PSAF); provide leadership and assist in coordinating student-led philanthropy, donor stewardship and other Advancement related activities.

• Assist in developing alumni events that are aligned to support the alumni participation, revenue and prospect qualification goals and metrics.

• Work closely with the Communications and Digital Engagement Specialists to integrate all communication, engagement, and solicitation strategies.

• Maintain and monitor reports for tracking information and making accurate projections.

• Prepare project briefs and timelines for all annual solicitation and appeal pieces. Ensure that all projects are delivered on time, within scope and within budget.

• Utilize data and reporting information from online platforms and CRM to strategically enhance Palmer Fund and engagement efforts. Carry out tasks in online platforms including alumni community and GiveCampus.

• Accurately proofread and assist as needed with production of print or electronic materials.

• Assist in oversight and balance of the budget for annual giving and alumni relations work.

• Communicate advancement-related activities via contact reports and utilize Salesforce Affiniquest Advancement RM.

• Gather information, communicate, and assist, where possible, for alumni visits on campuses.

• Stay up to date on direct response and email appeal marketing best practices. Use research on giving patterns to improve solicitation techniques and improve future solicitation campaigns.

• Represent Palmer College at select State Association events and conferences.

• Interact knowledgeably with constituents and donors via multiple channels and provide high-quality customer service. Provide information for requests from alumni, donors and college employees related to Advancement Office events.

• Aid in the execution of Advancement-related special programs/projects.

• Travel Requirement: Up to 20% travel may be required for this position.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree with four years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Familiarity with the principles and best practices of annual giving, including direct mail campaigns, online giving, giving days, and other fundraising techniques commonly used to raise unrestricted funds from individual donors.

• Demonstrated skill and knowledge of, or ability to learn quickly, the internal workings of the College as well as the technology tools available.

• Must be flexible and adaptable to new programs in an emerging and changing environment.

• High attention to detail and follow-up.

• Experience with coordinating and implementing special events.

• Experience with office administrative management in a higher education or nonprofit environment.

• Proficiency with all Microsoft Office programs.

• Experience using Constituent Relationship Management Systems, alumni database software, and online platforms.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with high degree of professionalism.

• Ability to perform assigned duties with time pressures and frequent interruptions.

• Excellent organizational skills with an ability to manage multiple projects and work assignments and prioritize work; attention to detail and ability to follow through.

• Experience in volunteer recruitment and engagement.

• Experience in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding annual fund gifts.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

• Ability and willingness to travel as required with varied work hours, including evenings and weekends.

  Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; three to five years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

  Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Perform sedentary to light work in a ventilated, lighted and temperature- controlled office setting.

• Frequent need to stand, stoop, walk, sit, lift objects (up to 25 pounds) and perform other similar actions during the workday.

  This position description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.