Executive Director of Annual Giving

april 28, 2026 Executive Director of Annual Giving human resources executive director of annual g… Subnavigation

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FAQ:

International Travel and Immigration Forms and Resources Policies Retirees & Employees Planning to Retire HR Staff Lafayette College offers an outstanding opportunity for a motivated and driven individual to become part of an accomplished development team. Lafayette is a highly selective, liberal arts college with an endowment ranked in the top 2% nationally of independent colleges. Presently, the College is in the silent phase of a $600M capital campaign. The Executive Director of Annual & Leadership Giving reports to the Associate Vice President of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving and is responsible for the overall management, guidance and operation of the Annual Fund, while providing managerial leadership and strategies relative to the team by increasing overall annual giving awareness, alumni participation and annual giving revenue. The Director is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations for Annual & Leadership Giving. The successful candidate must have an appreciation for liberal learning and the ability to engage constituents from diverse backgrounds.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential:

Leadership of a Team

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day management of the annual giving team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable work environment.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff; set clear goals and performance metrics aligned with institutional priorities.
• Support professional development and succession planning within the team.
• Partner effectively with colleagues across advancement, including major gifts, alumni engagement, and communications, to ensure integrated fundraising strategies.
• Partner and manage external vendor relationships within the annual giving programs. Bring the Roar Campaign
• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of annual giving efforts in support of the Bring the Roar (giving day) campaign.
• Align annual giving strategies with overall campaign goals, ensuring strong participation and engagement at all donor levels.
• Collaborate with campaign leadership to develop messaging, priorities, and donor outreach strategies that reinforce campaign objectives.
• Track and report on annual giving contributions to campaign benchmarks and milestones. Building Donor Pipelines
• Design and implement strategies to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, with a focus on building sustainable pipelines for leadership annual giving and major gifts through the Marquis Society (leadership giving) and Fleck Society (consistent giving).
• Utilize data analytics and segmentation to identify high-potential donors and create targeted engagement strategies.
• Partner with major gift officers to identify, qualify, and transition prospects into higher-level giving opportunities.
• Develop initiatives to engage key constituencies, including alumni, parents, faculty/staff, and friends, at increasing levels of support. Volunteer Leadership
• Develop and manage a comprehensive volunteer engagement strategy to support annual giving goals using reunion giving and affinity giving strategies.
• Recruit, train, and steward volunteers, including alumni leaders, class agents, and campaign ambassadors.
• Provide volunteers with the tools, messaging, and support needed to effectively solicit and engage donors.
• Partner with advancement and alumni relations teams to strengthen volunteer structures and expand volunteer participation.

REQUIRED QUALIFIATIONS

Education, Experience and Knowledge:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8-10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with a strong focus on annual giving or related programs.
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-channel campaigns and achieving measurable results.
• Proven experience supervising staff and working with volunteers.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Strategic Leadership:

Ability to set vision, align initiatives with institutional priorities, and drive measurable results.

Fundraising Acumen:

Deep understanding of annual giving strategies, donor behavior, and philanthropic strategies.

Team Leadership & Development:

Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.

Collaboration & Influence:

Skilled at building partnerships and working cross-functionally to achieve shared goals.

Communication:

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft

Volunteer Engagement:

Experience effectively recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to advance fundraising goals. Please provide cover letter, resume and contact information for three references.

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//apply.interfolio.com/185639 Lafayette is deeply committed to creating a diverse community, one that is responsive inclusive and is supportive of each and all of its faculty, students, and staff. All members of the college community share in the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. All Lafayette operations reflect the college's commitment to diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (deai) initiatives, and lafayette welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds.