Director, Annual Giving

Advancement & Partnerships:

Join our dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as we work together to power partnerships and transform lives through philanthropy. 

Together, we can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on our team will help us to build the University for the Future.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking an innovative and results-driven Director for Annual Giving to lead a comprehensive, strategic annual giving program focused on gifts under $25,000. This role prioritizes growing alumni donor participation through acquisition, renewal, and reactivation strategies. By designing and implementing targeted solicitation and engagement efforts, the Director will build a sustainable pipeline of philanthropic support and achieve ambitious giving goals for UCF.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Marketing Strategies: Plan and implement multi-channel direct marketing campaigns, including email, social media, text messaging, and direct mail, to engage alumni and friends.

• Drive Digital Innovation: Propel UCF to a best-in-class, digital-first fundraising model to boost giving rates, alumni donor counts, and annual contributions.

• Program & Team Management: Assists in the oversight of the operations, budget, and goal setting for the annual giving program, including managing a high-performing team.

• Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with colleagues across Advancement and university units to align strategies and maximize impact.

• Utilize Data-Driven Insights: Regularly analyze campaign performance, test innovative approaches, and adjust strategies to achieve optimal results.

• Vendor Partnerships: Manage relationships with key external vendors and leverage their expertise to enhance program success.

• Develop Compelling Campaigns: Work with communications teams to create innovative concepts and messages that resonate with UCF’s diverse audience.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219.  Click here for more information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in fundraising, nonprofit, or higher education fundraising setting. 

• Expertise in direct marketing strategies, particularly in higher education or nonprofit settings.

• Experience with CRM systems such as Blackbaud CRM, Marketing Cloud, or Raiser's Edge.

• Advanced knowledge of digital fundraising tools and platforms.

• Strong data analysis skills and a track record of implementing successful data-driven strategies.

• Proven experience leading annual giving programs or donor acquisition initiatives.

The most successful candidates may possess the following qualities: 

• Knowledge of fundraising best practices and digital and mailed philanthropic trends.

• A collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Creativity and innovation in campaign development and donor engagement.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

Advancement and Partnerships values the unique contributions that each team member brings to our division. The determination of a successful candidate's starting salary will vary based on several factors, including education and relevant experience. The anticipated pay scale indicated for this position generally applies to candidates who meet the minimum requirements and several of the preferred qualifications outlined above.

We will accept applications for this position through Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM. The University of Central Florida is closed for holiday break from Thursday, December 19, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Our search efforts will resume after the university closure, with interviews anticipated the third week of January 2025.
 

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!  UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program 

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays

• Retirement savings options 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions 

• Education assistance 

• Flexible work environment 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets.  Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President’s Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.