Associate Director Development, Campaign Events

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end planning of high-profile advancement events, including capital campaign launches, building dedications, scholarship luncheons, presidential dinners, and regional donor events
• Partner with frontline fundraisers to design customized, high-touch event experiences that advance specific principal and major gift prospects through the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles
• Draft detailed briefing materials, strategic talking points, timelines, and donor bios for the University President, Vice President of Advancement, Deans, and Board of Trustees members attending development events
• Leverage the institutional CRM to track guest touchpoints, analyze attendance trends, monitor event budgets, and measure the direct ROI of events against campaign fundraising milestones
• Cross-campus collaboration: Coordinate seamlessly with internal campus partners, including University Communications, catering services, facilities, student ambassadors, and academic departments to ensure cohesive branding and execution

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of progressive event management or fundraising experience, specifically within a higher education advancement, alumni relations, or university environment
• Deep understanding of higher education campaign structures, familiarity with complex academic hierarchies, proficiency in advancement databases, and exceptional vendor negotiation skills
• Flexibility to travel and work frequent evenings and weekends to staff major institutional milestones, homecoming, or regional donor tours
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from varied backgrounds