Senior Director, Annual Giving Programs

Position Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for Donor Engagement and Chief Marketing Officer, the Senior Director of Annual Giving Programs oversees all aspects of the OSU Foundation’s centralized academic annual giving programs.

Lead Goals and Plans

• Develop annual goals and plans for academic annual giving to ensure a healthy donor pipeline, including annual dollars raised, donor goals, and $1k+ donor goals.
• Monitor progress, develop reports, and deploy analytics to make necessary improvements to meet and exceed goals.

Team Management

• Lead, manage, develop and mentor annual giving team members.
• Build and develop a cohesive, integrated team.
• Exercise full supervision over assigned staff, make appropriate hiring decisions, establish work plans and accountabilities, provide training and professional development, and ensure required training is received.
• Conduct performance evaluations, effectively manage behavioral and conduct issues.

Data and Technology

• Use data and digital technology to enhance the donor experience, increase donors, and optimize fundraising performance.
• This includes utilizing machine learning, predictive modeling, artificial intelligence, sales enablement technology, and marketing automation.

Solicitation and Stewardship

• Collaborate with the Technology and Innovation team to advance the Foundation’s digital technology and innovation goals.
• Lead the development and execution of solicitation and stewardship strategies, encompassing both unit-based and university-wide initiatives.
• Oversee the creation and implementation of marketing campaigns across various channels to engage donors, alumni, and the broader community with the right message based on their interests.

Stewardship and Engagement

• Ensure the development and execution of a comprehensive stewardship plan for all annual giving donors that increases donor retention and builds a pipeline for increased giving and engagement at all annual giving levels.
• Oversee the development and implementation of fundraising and donor volunteer engagement strategies for key constituent and recognition groups, including OSUF’s Beaver Leadership Circle, Women’s Giving Circle, parents, employees, alumni employees, recent graduates and other leadership groups.

Pipeline Development and Leadership Giving

• Lead the university’s Day of Giving.
• Chair university-wide planning committee and work collaboratively with departments across the university and Foundation to execute OSU’s largest single annual engagement activity.
• Develop and execute robust solicitation and engagement plan that reaches yearly objectives for funds raised, donor participation, increased brand awareness and an enhanced culture of philanthropy.
• Lead pipeline development and leadership giving retention programs including Donor Experience Officer (DXO) Program, in conjunction with the Director of Donor Experience, Annual Giving Programs.
• Oversee deployment of innovative technology and sales enablement tools to provide personalized donor outreach at scale.
• Conduct regular analysis of quantitative and qualitative results of DXO work to inform program strategy, including developing cadence strategies that improve DXO fundraising performance.
• Work with Director of Pipeline Development to ensure alignment with Foundation’s pipeline health goals and objectives.

University Leadership Groups

• Increase 100% participation from key university leadership groups, including Provost’s Council and University Cabinet.
• Track and report status of OSU Foundation Trustees and OSUAA Board of Directors annual giving.
• Work with relationship managers to ensure yearly commitments are met.

Quality and Accuracy

• Ensure quality and accuracy for all annual giving functions.
• Develop robust protocols and processes for proofing and data management.

Budget Management

• Manage budget to ensure resources are allocated appropriately for outlined goals.

Thought Leadership

• Provide thought leadership on emerging annual giving trends for colleagues within the Foundation and at the university.
• Provide industry best practices and peer institution benchmarking.