Associate Director for Leadership Giving - Annual Giving

Post Date
8/28/2025

Expiration Date
10/31/2025

Details:
Reporting to the Director of Leadership Annual Giving, the Associate Director for Leadership Giving plays a key role in aligning UAlbany's communications strategies with fundraising efforts to cultivate and grow the next generation of university supporters. 'This position is dedicated to delivering a personalized, high-quality philanthropic experience through digital engagement with opportunities for in-person engagement.

The Associate Director manages a portfolio of constituents, focusing on gifts ranging from $1,000 to $35,000. Success in this role is measured by clear metrics, including outreach volume, donor meetings, dollars raised, donor count, and pipeline development. The Associate Director will collaborate closely with colleagues in Advancement Communications, Alumni Engagement, Annual Giving, and Major Gifts to execute targeted 1:1 outreach campaigns using a variety of technology platforms.

This role is essential to achieving UAlbany's short-term annual giving goals and long-term fundraising objectives, including the identification and referral of qualified major gift prospects. The ideal candidate is a self-motivated, positive professional with a team-first mindset, eager to embody the UAlbany spirit and engage alumni and friends at scale in a meaningful, personalized way.

Primary Responsibilities:
-Proactively manage a dynamic portfolio of 800 current, lapsed, and prospective donors, driving engagement and philanthropic support through targeted initiatives.
Utilize digital tools including email platforms, social media, and video conferencing to build rapport, steward relationships, and solicit gifts in a high-velocity, alumni-centric manner.
-Maintain consistent outreach with 40-50 personalized touchpoints daily, aligned with monthly and quarterly engagement cadences.
Consistently meet and exceed activity benchmarks, fundraising goals, and pipeline development targets.
-Apply a broad but strategic understanding of institutional initiatives to tailor outreach and deepen donor connections.
Collaborate across university departments to facilitate meaningful donor engagement aligned with their interests.
-Support University Advancement by attending events, as needed, and assisting with outreach and follow-up efforts.
Stay fluent in the university's full spectrum of engagement and giving opportunities (events, mentorship, crowdfunding, priorities) to inform donor conversations and solicitations.
-Other reasonable duties as assigned

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:
Reports to: Director of Leadership Giving
Supervises the following positions: None
May supervise employees as assigned (if no direct reports at time of filling position)

Job Requirements:
-Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills across various mediums, including video conferencing.
-Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
-Proven ability to build relationships and partner effectively with diverse constituencies, including senior staff, donors, and volunteers.
-Strong project management and organizational skills, ability to prioritize effectively and meet deadlines.
-Professionalism in handling confidential information and interacting with a wide range of individuals.
-Strong work ethic and a desire to grow as a leader in the development field.
-Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and the ability to engage with individuals from varied backgrounds.


Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
-Bachelor's degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization.
-A minimum of three years in a fundraising role, with demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors. Closely related experience in professional sales/marketing, financial planning/advising and other fields will be considered.
-Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community
-Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

Preferred Qualifications:
-Experience in higher education fundraising as a student or professional

Working Environment:
-Typical office environment

Employer:
University at Albany

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