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Department Summary: The mission of VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is to maximize philanthropic support by engaging stakeholders with our institution working in partnership with all VCU schools, programs and campuses as one development and alumni relations community and implementing the best practices and efficient strategies to achieve a comprehensive development program.

Duties & Responsibilities:

As part of DAR, the Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations (MPAR) team operates within a dynamic and collaborative environment that reflects the complexity of our institution. We are a highly matrixed organization, where success is driven by strategic partnerships, shared goals, mission-focus and the ability to navigate multiple reporting lines

Reporting to the Associate Director of Annual Giving, the Assistant Director of Annual Giving is responsible for developing and managing direct response campaigns for MPAR priorities, including but not limited to clinical areas, School of Medicine alumni, School of Public Health alumni and centers of excellence. This role will lead and manage content and segmentation strategy for appeals and collaborate closely with colleagues across MPAR service areas and internal and external stakeholders to drive donor acquisition, retention and upgrades through coordinated, data-informed outreach. 

As the Assistant Director of Annual Giving, you will:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for the strategic marketing and engagement team (SME) on mail and email lists, including reviewing for accuracy, editing criteria as needed and owning the email review process 

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the MPAR communications team and pod contacts for content generation, review and edits on all MPAR annual giving  campaigns

• Serve as the primary point of contact for design, production and deployment of fundraising materials

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the mailhouse, including obtaining quotes, scheduling and meeting internal and external deadlines

• Serve as the primary point of contact for MPAR Give Campus initiatives, including building unique tracking links, assisting with crowdfunding initiatives and coordinating work between central DAR and MPAR  

• Project manage all direct marketing campaigns

• Build and maintain MPAR annual giving campaigns in Smartsheets 

• Manage MPAR annual giving invoice processing

• Schedule campaign kickoff meetings as needed,help build campaign overview agendas and oversee project briefs

• Oversee calendar planning and execution of segmented campaigns

• Collaborate with team members and partners on content and format that incorporates primary giving best practices

• Analyze campaign performance and test messaging, frequency and formats 

• Assist on other initiatives as needed 

As a team member, you will: 

• Maintain and encourage open and honest professional relationships within the team and throughout DAR and VCU

• Establish, cultivate and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external partners

• Collaborate with peers and stakeholders to add to DAR’s collective innovative thinking 

• Align your values with DAR’s core purpose and values

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in higher education, corporate or nonprofit environment

• Previous annual giving, marketing, or fundraising experience with knowledge of planning and executing successful direct-response campaigns

• Understanding of donor stewardship programs and lifecycle communications, especially for recurring and loyal donor audiences

• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills with a strong understanding of donor-centric messaging and storytelling

• Experience using CRM and fundraising databases

• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to continuous learning and improvement

• Ability to work collaboratively in a complex institutional environment and align fundraising strategies with organizational goals

• High level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to donor-centered philanthropy

•  Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two years or more of experience in annual giving, marketing, or fundraising in a nonprofit or higher education (Research I) setting or similar complex environments

• Experience in healthcare and/or academic medical center fundraising 

• Familiarity with donor segmentation strategies, including LYBUNT/SYBUNT analysis, leadership giving, reunion campaigns, and affinity-based targeting (e.g., Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Pauley Heart Center, School of Medicine alumni)

• Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet

• Experience with marketing tools such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud or GiveCampus

• Strong ability to self-manage and handle multiple tasks

Interested applicants are required to submit a resume and cover letter for consideration.

Additional Information:

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

VCU is also committed to hiring veterans. The University will include a veteran’s period(s) of military service in calculations of the annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual.

Unit: Medical Philanthropy and Alumni Relations

Department:  Medical Philanthropy Strategic Engagement Team

Salary Range: $60,000-$70,000

University Job Title: Senior Development Specialist 1

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Eligible for sponsorship (e.g. H-IB visa status, etc.): No

Wireless Stipend: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid; Must be within commuting distance to Richmond, VA and available to come into the office 1-2x per week and for required meetings.

Contact Information: 

Contact Name: Izzy Kane

Contact Email: irkane@vcu.edu