1. Title:DIRECTOR, ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT & ANNUAL GIVING

Division:University Advancement/USM Foundation

Location:Law Building, Portland Campus

Schedule:Full time

Organizational Relationships:

Reports to:Vice President, USM Foundation

Supervises: Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving Associate

Coordinates with:University Advancement/USM Foundation Staff, USM Alumni Association Board, USM Deans, Directors, Faculty and Staff

  1. Statement of the Job:

This position will expand and deepen meaningful engagement, dollar and donor growth among alumni and other key communities of supporters of the University of Southern Maine. The Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving leads and executes the University’s annual giving and alumni strategies and programs, including individual solicitations, volunteer management, special events and direct mail, telephone and electronic/social media campaigns. The successful candidate is data-driven and well-versed in philanthropy best practices, as well as innovative and collaborative,understanding that alumni relations and annual giving are part of a seamless continuum of meaningful engagement steps that supports the entire Advancement/Foundation endeavor.

  1. Essential Functions:

The Director shall:

Annual Giving:

  • In partnership with the Vice-President of USM Foundation, develop and implement a detailed, metrics-oriented annual strategic plan and strive to attain the critical objectives and goals set therein. Deviseand manage budgets to support all annual and alumni fundraising and engagement activities.
  • Establishand meet agreed upon fundraising metrics of success, reviewed at least annually, based on needs of the institution, past performance and potential.
  • Utilize data and best practices to develop and implement state-of-the-practice annual giving programs and direct comprehensive direct mail, telephone and electronic fundraising campaigns. Explore potential insourcing opportunities of annual giving efforts for other campuses.
  • Brand and market annual giving programs in an affinity-based manner, building on existing initiatives with USM volunteer boards, faculty/staff, and leadership givers, guided by an overall goal to create targeted programs that provide compelling, rewarding personalized experiences for donors.
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of annual giving prospects, including alumni, parents and friends of the University. Coordinate with the frontline fundraising team around high-level donors.
  • Plan, manage and lead select fundraising efforts (e.g., scholarship drives that have strong alumni interest; various alumni group anniversary initiatives).
  • Manage existing annual events that cultivate and steward donors and would-be donors;plan and execute new ones.
  • In partnership with the Director of Donor Services, manage a system of actionable reporting designed to optimize the success of fundraising efforts and the dissemination of information to teammates.
  • In partnership with the Events Manager and other team members, implement recognition strategy and signature event for annual leadership donors. Acquire sponsorships as needed.

Alumni Engagement:

  • Serve as the primary liaison and resource for the Alumni Association Board. Steward and support current members and recruit effective new ones.
  • Investigate and understand reasons determine why alumni and students choose to donate and engage with USM, in context of national and regional trends. Develop and refine programmatic content and messaging in response to such data/information.
  • Refine and enhance attendance at and programmatic content of existing traditional programs (e.g., annual events, reunions, etc.) and launch new ones.Acquire sponsorships as appropriate.
  • In partnership with Vice-President of USM Foundation, develop workplace-based alumni communities and other alumni affinity-based groups and programming.
  • Build and manage existing programs that strengthen the student-alumni continuum to educate students about the importance of philanthropy and increase students’ likelihood of becoming supportive alumni in the future, and create and implement new ones.
  • Work closely with faculty and staff to developand support their efforts to engage former students in the life of the University.
  • In conjunction with the Department Public Relations, write articles, consult on layout, edit and proofread alumni-related content for electronic and printed publications. Write solicitation and update letters, web content, etc., as needed.
  • In conjunction with Planned Giving Officer, look for opportunities to promote and solicit planned gifts among alumni.
  • Supervise an Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving Associate, work-study students and interns in a number of activities, including but not limited to:
  • Recruiting, training and managing young alumni volunteers.
  • Implementing a range of annual alumni events and fundraising campaigns.
  • Implementing and managing existing programs that connect alumni with students, and create new ones.
  • Maintaining a strategic and impactful social media presence.

General

As a reflection of USM Foundation’s values of responsive and meaningful engagement, the Director will:

  • Skillfully leverage the knowledge and relationships of her/his teammates in support of annual giving and alumni programs;
  • Adeptly mobilize a diverse cadre of volunteers, includingUSM faculty and staff;
  • Actively engage a range of constituents, and secure funding at different levels; and
  • Derive deep satisfaction from working collaboratively and contributing to the overall success of the Advancement team.
  1. Marginal Functions:
  1. Supervisory Responsibilities:Supervises Annual Relations & Alumni Giving Associate, and work-study students and interns as needed.
  1. Budget Responsibilities:In collaboration with VP of USM Foundation, develops and managesbudgets to support annual and alumni fundraising and engagement activities.
  1. Public/Professional Responsibilities:
  1. Internal/External Contacts:

Internal: Development Staff, Faculty, President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans, Faculty, Directors and University Advancement staff.

External: Volunteer Alumni Association Board, Foundations, civic organizations, business

leaders, alumni, donors, and other volunteers

  1. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret, organize, and present data, information and ideas in written or presentation form.
  • Strong interpersonal and oral and written communication skills; initiative and a results-driven philosophy; a welcoming demeanor; ability to work both independently and as part of a team; and discretion and good judgment with confidential information.
  • Strong listening and interpretive skills. Ability to work effectively with donors, business and community leaders, alumni, faculty, administrators, and students.
  • Proficiency with fund-raising databases and Microsoft Office applications;
  • Ability to independently problem-solve.
  • Strong attention to detail.
  • Volunteer management and engagement.
  1. Qualifications:

Required:Bachelor’s degree plus five years of progressively responsible annual giving experience or equivalent experience.

Preferred:USM alumnus or relationship with University of Southern Maine, knowledge of

the Greater Portland/Southern Maine community at large, and philanthropic \ community in particular.

For Office Use Only:

Approved Date:5/2014 Update: 9/2016

Job Family:15

Salary band:05

Unit:UMPSA

Employee:vacant

Position #:00015411