Job Abstract

Job ID

2024-14491

Category

Advancement

Position Type

Regular Full-Time

The Director of Student Experience and Family Engagement will be responsible for a parents' engagement program, and a Parents Giving Program which includes managing a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, and annual fund-level leadership donors. This portfolio will be comprised of mostly current and former parents; it will also include alumni and friends from across the United States. The Director will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects and donors across all giving levels. The Director will continue to improve and evolve volunteer structures such as the Parents Council to support deeper engagement and to foster increased giving for student affairs operations and priorities.

The Director’s performance will be measured against a set of mutually agreed-to gift officer performance metrics, including, prospects identified, donor visits, solicitations completed and dollars raised. In addition, performance metrics to support strong constituent engagement and integration with school-based advancement colleagues will be developed. This position will manage 2 advancement professionals, 1) an Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving, and 2) an Advancement Coordinator.

• Manage a parents' engagement program that supports effective engagement for parents, and stimulates sustained giving.
• Manage and grow a portfolio of major gift and annual fund parent prospects based on giving behavior and capacity. Develop prospect strategies, cultivate and solicit prospects through personal visits and written communication, exceeding an annual goal of at least 100 face-to face unique donor visits, and the identification, solicitation, execution, and closing of 15-25 major gifts per year.
• Develop and execute an annual work plan for the Student Experience and Family Engagement program, with goals for fundraising revenue, prospects under management, number of major gift and annual solicitations and number of prospect visits sufficient to meet established fundraising targets.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Student Experience and Family Engagement Staff, including the Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving, and the Advancement Coordinator.
• Work collaboratively and strategically with other fundraising professionals and campus leaders to identify and engage parents with the University.
• Advance the existing Parents Council so that it serves as a helpful structure to support and lead the Parents Giving Program. Position this group to provide annual six figure or higher discretionary revenue through PC member’s leadership gifts. Plan, coordinate and organize at minimum two or more meetings/dinners annually and ongoing personalized engagement opportunities for members.
• As needed for the development of Campaign 2, work with the VP for Student Affairs to build the case for support and collateral materials for all student affairs campaign priorities. Build out an inventory of giving opportunities in non-school entities such as student engagement, , career services, disability services, counseling center, etc.
• In coordination with University Advancement Communications, supervise the creation, writing, design and editing of annual parent giving solicitations and other printed materials to support annual giving campaigns.
• Identify and engage parent prospects as hosts for University events and send offs and as advocates for student recruitment in their areas. Connect parents who can be helpful in placing students in jobs and internships with career colleagues. Identify high capacity parents who can serve in volunteer capacities, like school boards of visitors and the board of trustees.
• Work with the team to plan and organize Summer Cardinal Welcome Events, as a project of the Parents Council, in various geographic areas for incoming students and parent populations. Coordinate various on-campus events directed to the Parent constituency such as, but not limited to, President’s Reception during Orientation, President's Reception during Family Weekend, special event and seating during commencement weekend, etc.
• Coordinate communications strategies with parents by ensuring that information is regularly updated and shared via social media and websites.
• Prepare proposals, solicitation letters and other development materials for prospects and donors commensurate with the parents’ areas of interest.

• A Bachelor’s Degree (required)
• Master’s Degree (preferred)
• Minimum of 5 years of major gift and annual fund solicitation experience.

• Demonstrated career progression with higher responsibility roles and proved success in alumni and/or parent engagement and annual fund management.
• Must have demonstrated history of cultivating and stewarding major gift and leadership level, annual fund donors.
• Must have demonstrated experience in managing volunteer structures in support of advancement.
• Some Higher Education Experience is preferred.
• Strong writing and analytical skills required.
• Highly energetic and detail-oriented professional with a solid and verifiable track record of building relationships and experience in closing major and leadership gifts.
• The successful candidate will possess the ability to work in an environment that emphasizes metrics and success as well as working independently and as part of a team.
• He/she will have a demonstrated ability to take initiative and be a self-starter; manage multiple projects; determine priorities and maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• An entrepreneurial spirit is required
• Complete proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook;
• Familiarity with Millennium (alumni and donor database software) preferred but not necessary.
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills;
• Ability to prioritize work and general office procedures.