The Assistant Director of Annual Giving Communications is responsible for supporting and implementing successful broad-based solicitation campaigns to raise funds for unrestricted and Annual Giving support from all stakeholders and help ensure sustained donor retention.

The candidate in this position must have excellent writing and project management skills to grow fundraising engagement, raise dollars, and increase alumni participation rates each fund year. The candidate must also demonstrate proficient data management, marketing, and communications abilities.

This is a full-time, 12 month, administrative exempt position. The annual salary is $58,458.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Broad-Based Annual Giving Communications Program Management (75%)

• In conjunction with the Director, create, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive broad-based solicitation plan to increase dollars and strengthen alumni participation. The plan will include audience segmentation, timing, messages, and goals by segment.

• Collaborate with staff in the Office of Communications on broad-based appeals, impact reports, giving day design needs and various other projects.

• Write first drafts and content for direct mail and email solicitations, gift acknowledgments, texting campaigns, giving day materials and other projects as assigned.

• Manage review and approval process from stakeholders and signers for mail, email, texts, and video content.

• Create giving forms, set up social fundraising campaigns and stay current with Give Campus offerings. Attend virtual Give Campus sessions and become proficient in using the tool.

• Schedule and manage all broad-based appeals. Oversee each process step to ensure that mailings and e-mails are on time and meet exacting standards. Coordinate all outreach with other departments as needed. Serve as the primary contact with the Office of Communications and outside vendors.

• In conjunction with Advancement Services, problem-solve and create logic and database queries to develop detailed segmentation mapping. Develop segments and queries for broad-based solicitations, stewardship, and campaign purposes, revising them as necessary in the fiscal year. Input segmentation logic, test, and ensure output accuracy for production. Review all outgoing communications lists for accurate salutations, addressing, and other content.

• Develop, implement, test, and evaluate specific segmentation strategies to increase donor retention, upgrades, and acquisition. Involve the team in strategic discussions to review and adjust the strategy.

• Monitor progress toward all broad-based initiatives and goals. Provide a rigorous, systematic review and analysis of all Hobart and William Smith activities to find ways to do things more effectively and efficiently. Develop appropriate formats for regular, routine reporting on Annual Giving performance for a broad array of internal and external constituencies. Provide effective reporting and analysis to volunteers, supervisors, and colleagues for management decision-making.

• Create and maintain documentation and processes to standardize work within the department.

Analysis (25%)

· Compile all broad-based solicitation results; analyze and prepare reports for internal use and for the Director of Annual Giving to present to the Board of Trustees. Advise the Director in planning strategies for future direct mail initiatives, concepts, and themes.

· Compile and analyze direct mail program results and costs.

· Evaluate giving patterns, establish goals, and prepare reports for volunteer leadership. Monitor progress toward direct mail, e-mail, and participation goals and ensure they are reached.

· Create and load audiences after each mailing for analysis. Participate in the analysis process, including creating reports on mailing results, curves, year-to-year comparisons, etc. Assist in developing, executing, and applying research efforts.

· Run and maintain a monthly donor retention and participation report to track alumni participation goals for the Colleges. Utilize this information to develop initiatives to achieve these goals.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Must be detail-oriented, highly motivated, and demonstrate the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. Able to manage multiple and changing priorities. Demonstrated ability to work proactively, with excellent organizational and time-management skills. Demonstrated ability to work successfully and effectively with a wide range of constituents and to manage complex relationships.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, outstanding personal initiative and proven collaboration and teamwork skills. Strong organizational skills; ability to plan, think strategically, and manage multiple projects and deadlines ; ability to remain calm and level-headed under pressure. Flexibility and willingness to adapt in a fast-paced work environment.

• A high degree of energy and enthusiasm, sound judgment, a positive attitude, and an ability to work with diverse groups of people.

• Must have strong analytical skills. Must be able to work with desktop applications, databases, networked informational systems, and the Internet. Knowledge of data management practices and techniques, including data-based computerized information systems, data modeling, and models of analysis that lead to effective decision-making on behalf of the program. Strong Excel skills, including formulas and pivot tables, are required; familiarity with Raiser’s Edge is preferred.

  · Conversant in relevant and contemporary technologies and how they can be used in support of communicating and marketing direct mail and electronic solicitation programs, including increasing participation and measuring and managing results.

  · Superior communication skills with the ability to connect to various audiences, clarity, crispness, and persuasiveness in written and oral communications. Proven ability to guide a successful broad-based messaging platform, including a mix of print, electronic, and social media to support an annual giving program.

  · The preferred candidate will have experience in fundraising, with a thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of broad-based annual fundraising programs strongly preferred. Experience in direct mail and e-mail solicitation production is highly preferred.

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges are committed to providing a non-discriminatory and harassment-free educational, living and working environment for all members of the HWS community, including students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors. HWS prohibits discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities on the basis of age, color, disability, domestic violence victim status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual misconduct including stalking and intimate partner violence, and gender-based harassment that does not involve conduct of a sexual nature.