Director of Annual Giving

About the role

The Director of Annual Giving is a full-time position under the Management Personnel Plan (MPP) available on or after August 3, 2026, in University Advancement/Development.

Responsibilities

• Independently lead the development and execution of a comprehensive annual giving strategy, establishing program priorities, resource allocation, and performance benchmarks aligned with divisional and institutional advancement goals.
• Design, execute, and evaluate integrated multi-channel fundraising appeals including direct mail, email, digital, social media, text, and online solicitations.
• Establish measurable goals for donor acquisition, retention reactivation, and upgrades.
• Lead strategic analysis of donor data and campaign performance to drive annual giving revenue, optimize return on investment, and inform advancement leadership decision-making.
• Provide regular reports and strategic recommendations to advancement leadership.
• Ensure compliance with CSU policies, industry best practices, and institutional advancement standards.
• Develop and manage the annual giving operating budget to ensure effective and efficient use of resources.
• Provide managerial oversight of annual giving operations through supervision of staff and coordination with cross-functional teams and external partners, establishing work priorities, performance expectations, and workflows to achieve program goals.
• Oversee vendor relationships and external service providers supporting fundraising execution.
• Develop and implement program-level procedures and operational guidelines for annual giving and contributes to divisional strategy discussions and advancement planning efforts.
• Maintain accurate donor records and consistent communication with Advancement Services and Development staff.
• Develop strategies to identify, qualify, and transition annual donors with major gift potential.
• Serve as a key liaison within University Advancement and with external partners, advising leadership on annual giving pipeline strategy and representing program initiatives in cross-divisional planning efforts.
• Create structured upgrade pathways from annual giving to major giving portfolios.
• Provide data insights and donor trend analysis to inform major gift strategy discussions.
• Ensure timely and appropriate acknowledgement and recognition of annual donors.
• Develop stewardship strategies to enhance donor retention and satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including at least one (1) year of direct supervisory/management experience.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, creative writing or related field. Additional progressively responsible experience directly related to the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in marketing, communications, creative writing, or other relevant field; five (5) years of experience in direct annual giving; one (1) year of experience in direct higher education fundraising; background in marketing, communications, or data analytics supporting annual giving or fundraising campaigns; experience supervising professional staff in advancement or fundraising operations; experience managing budgets for annual giving or fundraising programs; experience leading or supporting process improvement or operational changes within fundraising programs; experience participating in advancement planning and serving as a liaison with internal or external partners supporting donor engagement.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and standards within the assigned professional field; knowledge of strategic planning, organizational development, and institutional policy implementation; ability to develop and implement divisional policies and procedures; ability to align operational objectives with institutional strategic goals; ability to oversee multi-unit operations and integrate complex systems and processes; ability to manage financial, human, and physical resources; ability to supervise subordinate managers and professional staff; demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and process improvement initiatives; ability to analyze institutional data and apply findings for strategic decision-making to interpret fundraising metrics and trends; skill in executive-level communication, presentations, and reporting; ability to build effective partnerships across divisions and external entities; ability to exercise broad discretion and sound judgment in high-impact situations.

Pay

Anticipated starting salary will be $10,560 - $11,250 per month plus excellent paid benefits. Salary will depend on the qualifications of the successful finalist.

Schedule

Full-time position available on or after August 3, 2026.

Benefits

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, outstanding vacation, health, dental, and vision plans; a fee waiver education program; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); and 15 paid holidays a year. Link to Benefits Summary: CSU Employee Benefit Summary