Washington, D.C.
Valdosta, Georgia
Lincoln, Nebraska
Posted: 08-Apr-25
Location: Delaware, Ohio
Employment Type:
Organization Type:
Preferred Education:
About you:
You are comfortable building relationships that result in generous philanthropic investments in Ohio Wesleyan’s mission. You have strong project management skills and can work independently to see a project through to completion, yet you also enjoy collaborating with others. You are an excellent communicator, and you are looking for a culture that is collaborative, results oriented, and provides flexible employment opportunities. Regardless of your professional background, you are passionate about higher education and, in particular, the role the liberal arts play in educating the next generation of global leaders.
About us:
The University recently completed the Connect Today, Create Tomorrow campaign, raising over $238 million for priorities including: investing in the faculty, student scholarships and financial aid, the OWU Connection, capital improvements, and annual giving. Annual Giving is crucial to providing unrestricted budgetary support for the university.
Job Summary:
The Assistant Director of Annual Giving is responsible for the personal cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors, primarily focusing on reunion and class leader fundraising initiatives and digital marketing. This position works closely with volunteer leadership and partners with other Advancement staff to solicit contributions and grow engagement with Ohio Wesleyan alumni.
The Assistant Director will communicate the goals and mission of Ohio Wesleyan University to donors, alumni, parents, and friends through face-to-face and virtual meetings, substantive phone conversations, and in writing.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- In partnership with Alumni Engagement, recruit, train, and manage fundraising volunteers for four class reunion programs and approximately 20 non-reunion classes.
- Develop fundraising goals and strategies to realize both leadership gifts and increased donor participation for the Annual Giving Program.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and potential donors to the Annual Giving Program by engaging prospects in a variety of media. A minimum of 50 meetings is expected, in addition to phone calls, per year.
- Manage digital marketing strategy for the Annual Giving team, including email communications and social media.
- Serve as part of the Annual Giving data team, primarily focused on email communications, donor outreach, and basic data analysis.
- Oversee Annual Giving volunteer training, resources, and communications.
Minimum qualifications:
Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and a minimum of one to two (1-2) years of fundraising experience, preferably in the field of higher education and including personal solicitation of donors and/or management of volunteers.
Preferred qualifications:
Other qualifications include: ability to travel for occasional personal solicitation and to attend regional events, availability to work occasionally on weekends and evenings, excellent verbal communication and writing skills, strong computer skills, attention to detail, ability to take initiative, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, and a valid drivers' license.