Posting Number: 20254370S Position Title: Director of Annual Giving Strategies Position Type: Staff Location: Villanova, PA Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants Work Schedule: full-time/12-months Avg Hours Week Department: 604 - University Advancement Position Summary: Ignite Your Career at Villanova University! Whether undergraduate or graduate, faculty or staff, each community member brings with them a wealth of experiences that enrich our University and shift our perspectives. As a part of this community, your work will improve lives and ignite change! Why work at Villanova? * Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University's founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others. * Villanova has been included among the nation's best colleges and universities. VU's inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Colleges" rankings is another indication of the University's continued prominence and forward momentum. * Villanova's most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more. Villanova University has embarked on a 10-year strategic plan, Rooted. Restless., with the goal of enhancing the Augustinian Catholic living and learning experience for all members of our community. University Advancement is seeking exceptional talent to join our mission-driven team working together toward our shared vision for Villanova, fueled by the generosity of the University's philanthropic supporters as we "keep moving" in the spirit of St. Augustine in the public phase of Villanova's comprehensive capital campaign: Espiritus Nova. Reporting to the Executive Director of Annual Giving, the Director of Annual Giving Strategies will coordinate the day-to-day management of a comprehensive, multi-channel solicitation and stewardship plan with a focus on increasing annual giving dollars and participation from alumni, parents and friends. This includes direct mail, e-solicitations, social media initiatives and segmentation strategies for Phonathon. The Director will supervise the roles that manage the direct mail, digital and phone strategies to ensure a comprehensive and personalized approach is taken to how and when we solicit and steward donors to maximize results. The Director will oversee data quality and analysis to ensure strategies are based on the data-driven decisions and evaluation required to achieve the University's donor retention, reactivation, and acquisition goals. Will regularly meet and collaborate with team members across the department and University including Alumni Relations, Development Operations, University Advancement Communications and UnIT (University IT) to support the success of the Annual Giving Solicitation and Stewardship Plan and contribute to University Advancement wide strategies. The Director will be responsible for managing the relationships and technologies associated with the advertising reach of the Annual Giving Team's efforts. The Director will serve as a member of the Annual Giving team's leadership and will attend select University Advancement and University wide events throughout the fiscal year. Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values. Duties and Responsibilities: * Comprehensive Direct Marketing and Digital Fundraising Program: Manage the direct marketing programs that solicit alumni, parents and friends to increase revenue to the University and participation in the annual giving program. Create and implement an effective strategy to schedule all appeals by working closely with other departments to coordinate activities. Evaluate retention, renewal, upgrade and downgrade numbers in an effort to adjust strategies to improve overall results. Maintain comprehensive calendar of solicitation activities and ensure all projects remain on schedule. Work closely with University Advancement Communications staff to write solicitations and annual fund collateral materials. Collaborate with Alumni Relations on marketing efforts, social media presence and alumni events in order to improve the percentage of alumni who give back annually. * 1842 Day Lead: Oversee the planning and execution of all solicitation and stewardship efforts in connection with 1842 Day, Villanova's annual day of giving. Manage the team in successfully executing, analyzing and evaluating all communications and recommend cross-team involvement to coordinate channels and frontline support as needed. Partner closely with University Advancement Communications to ensure a cohesive marketing plan across all channels including web, email, social, mail and phone. Deliver organic and paid social media strategy leveraging the @VillanovaU and @VillanovaAlumni channels on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. * Staff Management: Manage a team of five individuals with three direct reports. The Director will provide oversight to these positions responsible for the planning, execution and analysis of the comprehensive solicitation and stewardship plan that includes direct mail, phonathon appeals, email, social media and texting. The Associate Director of Annual Giving will ensure they work collaboratively in order to execute an effective strategy that maximizes results. * Digital Technologies and Vendors: Evaluate and recommend enhanced strategies to existing UA-wide technologies including Salesforce, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Blackbaud FPM & Guided Fundraising, Cognos reporting, etc. to support Annual Giving projects and initiatives. Assist in managing vendor relationships specific to Annual Giving needs (GiveCampus, 1842 Day platform, Social Media advertising, etc.). * Research and monitor emerging digital trends and tools, as well as key performance indicators, across marketing best practices in higher education, non-profit and corporate industry. Identify and connect with higher ed institutions that utilize tools such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud for email marketing, GiveCampus for giving forms and social fundraising, etc. * Support overall Annual Giving and University Advancement initiatives to meet the goals of the University's strategic plan and comprehensive capital campaign, especially related to undergraduate alumni participation and unrestricted giving. This includes but is not limited to support events such as Homecoming and Reunion Weekends, Volunteer Leaders Conference, Senior Class Gift events. Etc. Assist in managing student workers who support Annual Giving projects. Minimum Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree required. * Five to seven years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and/or marketing. * The successful candidate will have a broad base of general knowledge and skills in fundraising with experience specifically related to annual giving programs. * Must possess good planning and administrative skills, budget management experience, excellent verbal and writing skills, strong work ethic, demonstrated ability to work with volunteers and donors and the ability to manage several projects simultaneously. * Must have advanced knowledge and understanding of fund-raising; demonstrated expertise with current and emerging trends in digital initiatives; experience with direct mail methods and standards. * Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment required. * Excellent communication, interpersonal and analytical skills required. * Must be well organized and detail oriented. * Strong decision-making skills in a highly collaborative environment. * Demonstrated commitment to, and belief in, diversity, equity and inclusion. * Comfort and experience in a dynamic and mission-driven organization. * Knowledge of general office equipment, including personal computers, Microsoft Office 365 required. Preferred Qualifications: * Master's preferred, preferably in Business/ Marketing/ Communications. * Knowledge of Banner, Salesforce or other fundraising software preferred. Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours: Special Message to Applicants: Occasional evening and weekend work required. Posting Date: 05/20/2025 Closing Date (11:59pm ET): Salary Posting Information: Commensurate with experience. Salary Band: 17 Job Classification: exempt References Needed References Needed Minimum Number of References Needed 3 Maximum Number of References Needed 3