Our Mission 

We, in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR), harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU's global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built and are continuing to build an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where its not just a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our Annual Giving team is looking for a Director who, in partnership with the Senior Associate Director of Annual Giving, will develop and execute a strategy to increase giving by special constituencies including but not limited to leadership annual giving, young alumni, class gift, student philanthropy and other affinity groups.

Annual Giving at Boston University

Annual Giving at Boston University is simple. Each year, alumni, students, parents, and friends choose to support everything from softballs to software at BU. These gifts are then deployed to fund research, provide emergency student assistance, pay for travel to academic conferences, and lots more throughout the year. Director, Annual Giving Reporting to the Executive Director, Annual Giving, the Director of Annual Giving is responsible for overseeing the Annual Funds omni-channel marketing efforts including direct mail, e-mail, social, digital, video, telefund, print outreach and stewardship utilizing advanced segmentation and data analytics techniques to solicit an alumni base of more than 350,000 graduates. The primary goal is to significantly raise participation rates, with an emphasis on undergraduate giving, while increasing revenue in accordance with development and alumni relations initiatives at Boston University.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with DAR colleagues and senior leadership (including Deans) across the division including 17 schools/colleges and Athletics, plus other targeted efforts (Center for Antiracist Research, Howard Thurman Center, Hillel, Scholarship initiatives, etc.) to ensure the timely and accurate execution and fulfillment of broad-based solicitation programs including major digital campaigns: Athletics/Club Sports Challenge (October), Giving Tuesday (Nov./Dec.) and BU Giving Day (April).
• Partner with other central advancement offices (Alumni Relations, Leadership Gifts, School/College/Athletics Development teams, Development Communications, Stewardship, DAR Applications and Gifts & Records) to plan and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy for Annual Giving.
• Responsible for sourcing vendors, monitoring activity, and sustaining productive relationships to meet aggressive goals in participation through current use giving.
• Oversees the day-to-day management of a staff of 6-7 employees (3-4 direct reports and supervises 2-3 additional positions through their direct reports), to ensure that performance goals and expectations are met.
• Conduct proactive analysis of segment and marketing channel performance and research (data mining, modeling, surveys, focus groups, benchmarking).
• Translate key findings into strategic and actionable recommendations. 
• Communicate recommended strategy to senior DAR leadership and other constituencies through meetings, reports and presentations.
• Along with the Executive Director and the Senior Associate Director, Annual Giving, serve as a key member of Annual Giving's leadership team as well as a member of the Alumni Engagement Leadership Team in the strategic planning and execution of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations goals to meet initiatives of the next Campaign.
• Serve as the lead project manager for BU Giving Day, an initiative that typically raises approximately $3 million annually from more than 8,000 unique donors.

Skills

• Bachelor's degree (Master's preferred)
• 8+ years of work experience, including a minimum of five years of experience in development or alumni relations with demonstrated success in leading and growing an annual giving program, preferably in a complex institution of higher education.
• Hands on experience managing all facets of a large annual fund with a complex, multi-channeled marketing program, with expertise in innovative digital marketing, ideally in a higher education research institution in a campaign environment.
• Experience managing a large, diverse team of professionals performing in a fast paced, deadline driven environment with ability to motivate, grow, and retain high performers.
• Knowledge and implementation of best practices in data analytics utilizing current industry trends is preferred.
• Outstanding oral and written communication and presentation skills are required. 

But that's not all we're looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect, because we value every members contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion, and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement, both as individuals and as a group.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional we encourage you to apply. If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills, our values, and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application.

To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/. protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-353-6474 or druckman@bu.edu.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.