Director of Annual Giving

Director of Annual Giving

Linfield University | University Advancement | McMinnville, Oregon

Position Type: Full-Time (1.0 FTE)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Associate Vice President for Development

Department: University Advancement

Join Linfield University!

Linfield University is seeking an innovative, strategic, and relationship-driven Director of Annual Giving to lead and grow the University's annual giving program. This is an exciting opportunity for a fundraising professional who is passionate about higher education, building meaningful donor relationships, and inspiring alumni, parents, and friends to support student success.

As a key member of the University Advancement team, the Director of Annual Giving will develop and implement creative fundraising strategies that strengthen donor engagement, increase alumni participation, and build a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic support for Linfield's future.

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Director of Annual Giving provides strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of Linfield University's annual giving program. This position is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating a comprehensive fundraising strategy designed to achieve annual giving goals, increase donor participation, and strengthen long-term philanthropic relationships.

The Director will lead multichannel fundraising campaigns, develop strategies to acquire and retain donors, and identify opportunities to move annual giving donors toward leadership-level support. Working collaboratively with University Advancement colleagues and campus partners, the Director will use data-driven insights, innovative fundraising techniques, and compelling communications to inspire giving and advance the University's mission.

This position also provides leadership and supervision to the Assistant Director of Annual Giving and student employees, ensuring the successful execution of annual giving initiatives and a positive experience for Linfield's donors and supporters.

Key Responsibilities

Annual Giving Strategy and Campaign Management

• Develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive annual giving program that supports the University's fundraising priorities and annual revenue goals.

• Lead the planning and execution of innovative, multichannel fundraising campaigns, including direct mail, phonathon, email, text messaging, crowdfunding, and annual giving day initiatives.

• Create and implement strategies to acquire new donors, retain existing supporters, increase giving levels, and strengthen long-term donor relationships.

• Develop targeted fundraising initiatives that encourage annual giving donors to increase their philanthropic support and progress toward leadership-level giving.

• Identify and implement effective fundraising techniques to cultivate relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations.

• Evaluate campaign performance and donor engagement trends to identify opportunities for improvement and maximize fundraising results.

Donor Engagement and Stewardship

• Develop meaningful donor engagement and stewardship strategies that strengthen relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and other University supporters.

• Collaborate with development officers and University Advancement colleagues to coordinate fundraising initiatives, donor engagement activities, events, and stewardship efforts.

• Partner with the Office of Alumni Engagement to ensure alumni programming and fundraising initiatives are coordinated and aligned with institutional goals.

• Provide analysis and recommendations to inform alumni engagement strategies and increase alumni giving participation.

• Serve as a liaison to campus departments and constituencies to identify opportunities for collaboration and increase private support for the University.

Data Management and Fundraising Analysis

• Utilize advancement databases and fundraising technology to manage annual giving activities, track donor engagement, and evaluate campaign effectiveness.

• Organize and analyze donor information to identify fundraising opportunities, develop targeted outreach strategies, and support informed decision-making.

• Prepare reports and fundraising analyses to monitor progress toward annual giving goals and inform future fundraising initiatives.

• Collaborate with appropriate University Advancement staff to maintain the accuracy, integrity, and effectiveness of the donor database and prospect management system.

• Apply data segmentation and donor analysis to develop personalized communications and improve fundraising outcomes.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise, mentor, and support the Assistant Director of Annual Giving in the planning and implementation of annual giving initiatives.

• Recruit, train, and manage student employees supporting phonathon activities, data management, events, and other fundraising projects.

• Foster a collaborative, results-oriented environment that encourages creativity, accountability, and professional growth.

• Work closely with University Advancement colleagues and campus partners to align fundraising strategies with institutional priorities.

• Represent University Advancement at campus events and activities, including occasional evening and weekend commitments.

• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.

• Two to three years of professional experience in annual giving or annual fund fundraising.

• Proficiency with computers and working knowledge of advancement databases, such as Raiser's Edge and NXT, and fundraising technology platforms, such as GiveCampus, VanillaSoft, and Emma.

• Strong understanding of fundraising principles and strategies, including audience identification, donor acquisition and retention, compelling storytelling, integrated multichannel communications, data segmentation, and fundraising analysis.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with colleagues, donors, prospective donors, and individuals at all levels of an organization.

• Outstanding organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and achieve established goals.

• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to handle confidential donor information with discretion.

• A creative, strategic, and self-motivated approach to fundraising, with the ability to establish clear expectations and drive initiatives forward.

• Strong commitment to the mission and goals of higher education and an enthusiasm for advancing Linfield University's philanthropic priorities.

• Valid driver's license and ability to successfully complete a motor vehicle history background check.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

This position is primarily performed in an office environment and is classified as light work. The role involves extended periods of sitting, computer use, and frequent repetitive movements of the hands, wrists, and fingers.

Additional physical requirements may include walking, climbing stairs, standing, bending, and occasionally lifting up to 20 pounds. The position may require travel by automobile or air, as well as exposure to outdoor weather conditions when moving between campus buildings.

Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support University events and fundraising activities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join Linfield University?

At Linfield University, you'll be part of a collaborative, mission-driven community dedicated to student success and the transformative power of higher education. Our University Advancement team plays a vital role in connecting alumni, families, and friends with opportunities to make a lasting difference in the lives of Linfield students.

As Director of Annual Giving, you'll have the opportunity to shape the University's fundraising efforts, build meaningful relationships with supporters, and inspire a culture of philanthropy that strengthens the Linfield community for generations to come.

Join us in advancing Linfield's mission of connecting learning, life, and community through the power of giving.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Computer proficiency with a working knowledge of advancement databases, e.g., Raiser's Edge, NXT, and fundraising technology, e.g., GiveCampus, Vanilla Soft, Emma, etc.
• Two to three years of annual fund experience.
• Deep understanding of the principles that drive fundraising success, including audience identification, story development, integrated messaging across multiple platforms, and data segmentation and analysis.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communications skills with attention to detail.
• Able to work collaboratively with all levels of staff, donors, and prospective donors.
• Outstanding organizational skills and ability to manage multiple task simultaneously.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and trust, and must be a visionary, self-starter with a sense of urgency and a clear set of expectations.
• Must be highly motivated and committed to the goals of higher education.
• Possess a valid driver's license and driving record to become/remain certified to operate Linfield vehicles and equipment.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position is considered light work. Frequent repetitive movement of hands, wrists, and fingers, walking, climbing stairs, sitting, and travel either by air or automobile. Occasional standing and bending and lifting up to 20 pounds. Work is performed in an office environment is sedentary in nature. Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations. Constant seeing, hearing, sitting and talking. Frequent repetitive motion of wrists, hands, and fingers, walking, climbing stairs, and standing. Exposure to weather elements when walking from building to building on campus.