Director of Annual Giving

Post Date
7/14/2025

Expiration Date
8/31/2025

Details:
About Empire State University:

Founded in 1971 as the innovative campus of the State University of New York (SUNY), Empire State University empowers learners from diverse backgrounds to achieve their educational goals. We have decades of experience providing educational access through online teaching and learning, individualized instruction, mentoring, and prior learning assessment. We build on our students' experiences to promote their growth and drive upward mobility and economic development in New York state and beyond. SUNY Empire's 100,000 alumni are teachers, nurses, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their communities and their fields. Visit www.sunyempire.edu and follow us on social media @SUNYEmpire.

SUNY Empire is committed to creating a multicultural, inclusive academic and work environment. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe that having diverse faculty and staff is critical to academic excellence and prepares students to live and work in an increasingly global world.


Job Description:

Empire State University seeks a Director of Annual Giving in our Office for Advancement. The Director of Annual Giving is a strategic, collaborative, and creative leader with demonstrated experience developing and executing annual giving programs that combine proven techniques and ongoing innovations to meet ambitious revenue goals. Well-versed in industry best practices and data-driven approaches, the Director will develop and execute annual giving campaigns, including direct marketing activities, individual fundraising through an assigned portfolio, and partner with gift officers to ensure all appropriate prospects receive annual solicitations. The Director will build relationships within the Office for Advancement and with campus partners to carry out the primary responsibility of conceiving, planning, executing, and evaluating a comprehensive multi-channel annual giving program that raises unrestricted funds from a growing base of annual fund donors. The Director serves a member of the Advancement Management team and reports to the Vice President for Advancement.

Responsibilities include:
- Develop and execute a long-term plan to build and achieve consistent growth of The Fund for SUNY Empire, increasing both dollars raised and the number of new and retained donors.
- Develop and administer the structure for leadership annual campaigns including: the Foundation Board; the Alumni Student Federation Board of Governors; University Council; Empire State University leadership and faculty/staff.
-Set yearly fundraising goals and subgoals (dollars, donors, retention rates, etc.); define clear strategies for increasing revenue and alumni participation rates, both overall and amongst segments with high potential.
-Leverage AI tools and machine learning to increase effectiveness and productivity, including but not limited to segmentation, communication, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship, and analytics that drive evaluation and decision-making.
-Direct stewardship and recognition strategies to retain and upgrade donors, including giving societies, events, and communications.
-Manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects.
- Responsibly manage a program budget.
- Create and implement a volunteer structure to advance annual giving programs. Identify, recruit, train, and manage volunteers who will carry out supportive activities, including peer solicitations for Fund for SUNY Empire gifts.
- Execute other duties as assigned by the Vice President.


Qualifications:
Required Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Three to five years of nonprofit fundraising experience with at least two or more of those years in annual fund fundraising.
- A documented track record of success in managing progressively successful annual fundraising campaigns, including running direct mail, telemarketing, online giving programs, closing leadership gifts.
- Ability to use data analysis and reporting in decision-making.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite proven technological capabilities and a high level of comfort with fundraising databases, spreadsheets, word processing, and presentation software.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Experience in budget planning and oversight.
- Ability to set and reach goals.

Preferred Qualifications:

- The ideal candidate will be an ambitious and motivated professional, who values a collaborative working environment and who will be able to establish strong, interpersonal relationships with academic and administrative leaders, advancement colleagues, and donors.
- Demonstrate proven expertise in annual giving, preferably in higher education thorough understanding of development operations in a complex environment.
- Experience in managing volunteers engaged in direct solicitation.
- Excellent organizational and follow-through skills; ability to manage multiple projects and see projects through to a timely completion; ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.

Comments:
Special Information:

- This position is located in Saratoga Springs, NY.
- Periodic travel, as well as occasional evening and weekend work, will be required.
- Candidates must be prepared to present a portfolio of solicitation materials and to demonstrate writing and creative skills.
- Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
- This title is listed in Appendix C of the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees. Accordingly, individuals appointed to this title are not eligible for permanent appointment.

Employer:
Empire State University

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