Director of Class Philanthropy and Engagement

Job Description

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Job Summary:

The Director of Class Philanthropy and Engagement leads Colby’s class-based fundraising and engagement strategy, using reunions, volunteer leadership, and lifelong alumni connections to increase philanthropic participation, current-use support, and the pipeline for leadership and major giving.

The director leads the Class Philanthropy and Engagement team and works in close partnership with colleagues across College Advancement to align class-based strategies with broader fundraising and engagement priorities and drive results for increased support across class and reunion fundraising. The director oversees reunion philanthropy and will lead the  25th and 50th Reunion program; develops and supports volunteer-led engagement and fundraising strategies; and manages a portfolio of alumni prospects with responsibility for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

The director is both a fundraising leader and people manager, responsible for translating institutional priorities into coordinated strategies that deepen alumni relationships with Colby and inspire increasing levels of philanthropic support.

The hiring range for this position is $94,000 - $125,000.

Essential Functions

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership

• Lead and implement the overall strategy, volunteer opportunities, communications, and execution of reunion and class philanthropy to drive record-breaking alumni participation, maximize philanthropy of Colby alumni, and increase overall engagement.

• Develop and execute class and reunion fundraising strategies in support of annual revenue, participation, retention, upgrade, and pipeline development goals.

• Lead the efforts for the milestone 25th and 50th reunion fundraising programs, including recruiting and building reunion committees through class-specific mass communications, and support personalized recruitment by the classes' chairs and reunion committee members.

• Collaborate with Advancement fundraisers to establish target asks for top prospects in reunion and non-reunion classes and drive strategies to achieve aspirational goals for class fundraising results.

• Establish measurable fundraising goals for class and reunion programs and use results to evaluate performance and inform future strategy.

Individual Fundraising & Portfolio Management

• Manage a pool of alumni prospects with the capacity to make gifts of $2,500-$100,000; develop and execute a comprehensive moves management strategy for prospects through the processes of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Build relationships with alumni and personally cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in support of individual, class, and institutional annual fundraising goals.

Class, Reunion & Volunteer Strategy

• Engage and support team members with class volunteer recruitment seeking to increase the number of volunteers and setting giving as an expectation for volunteers; support class agents once recruited, prepare and convene reunion committee interactions to keep the committees informed and active in fundraising and engagement, and facilitate ongoing communication between class chairs, committees, and various Advancement staff.

• Establish class giving and engagement goals in collaboration with Annual Giving and Advancement leadership and volunteers.

• Develop Top Potential Prospect lists and coordinate and drive strategies with frontline fundraising staff.

• Develop volunteer opportunities and peer-to-peer strategies that strengthen alumni engagement, increase philanthropic participation, and support annual fundraising priorities.

Team Leadership

• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and accountability for the Class Philanthropy and Engagement team, aligning individual and team priorities with Colby Advancement’s goals.

• Partner with the Executive Director of Annual Giving and colleagues across Advancement to develop integrated fundraising strategies that coordinate class and reunion fundraising strategies with broad-based solicitation, leadership annual giving, donor acquisition and retention, and the pipeline for major giving to provide a cohesive experience for Colby alumni.

Cross-Advancement Partnership & Program Management

• Collaborate with communications, events, gift planning, and leadership gifts teams to develop giving solicitation priorities and strategies.

• Build strong personal relationships with alumni and key faculty and staff partners to identify volunteer and giving opportunities.

• Use alumni engagement data to inform programming strategy and measure impact.

• Manage budgets for programming activities as assigned; prepare related budget reports when needed.

• Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Position Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience

• At least 5 years of fundraising experience in a college, university, or similar setting, with demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors and achieving fundraising goals

• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing staff, working effectively with volunteers, managing complex relationships, and collaborating across teams to advance shared goals

• Demonstrated ability to think and plan long-term while successfully attending to more immediate goals and tasks; strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills

• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including superb relationship skills and ability to work with people across a wide range of levels of power and influence

• Able to meet multiple simultaneous deadlines in a timely manner with an attention to detail

• Understanding of moves management, annual giving, and donor pipeline development, with the ability to develop strategies that move donors toward deeper engagement and philanthropic support

• Proficiency with fundraising/alumni relations databases and technology

• Willingness to work occasional hours outside the normal working day, including nights and weekends, and to travel occasionally as needed

• Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements

• Appreciation of Colby’s mission and the ability to effectively communicate it

• Strong, self-motivated work ethic; flexibility; and proven capability to work both independently and collaboratively and constructively as a member of a diverse community

• An entrepreneurial spirit and a positive attitude

Physical/Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• To perform this role effectively, an employee is expected to handle employee information, documents, and sensitive matters with care, professionalism, and respect for privacy.

• This position involves working with a variety of timelines, including some that require quick turnaround and responsiveness to urgent needs.

• In this role, the employee will interact with members of the public and others in a variety of situations and conversations. Presenting oneself in a professional, respectful, and thoughtful manner at all times is an important part of the role.

• This position includes regular movement throughout office spaces, hallways, meeting rooms, and other campus locations.

• Daily work will involve extended use of a computer, including keyboard and mouse

• Physical requirements differ by position. In general, most roles involve lifting up to 10 pounds regularly, with some positions requiring occasional lifting of up to 35 pounds.

• Vision requirements for this position include the ability to see clearly at close and far distances and to adjust focus as needed.

• The work environment is dynamic and engaging, often involving multiple tasks and projects that require shifting focus and strong organizational skills..

• The noise level is generally moderate; however, there may be occasional moments of louder  sounds depending on campus activity.

Colby College supports the Americans with Disabilities Act and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

To Apply:

Interested candidates should apply electronically by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the Colby College website. Please upload a cover letter and resume to your application.