Assistant Director of Donor Engagement

Reporting to the Head of Donor Engagement, the Assistant Director will support the comprehensive engagement program with a focus on the development of regional events, activities and donor visits to deepen institutional involvement in cities with key donor populations. This position will serve as a resource for all LSU affiliates belonging to the LSU system and collaborate with leadership to ensure our most generous donors and volunteers are actively and intentionally connected to their giving.

Baton Rouge, LA

LSU Foundation

<p>The LSU Foundation is the primary fundraising entity for academics at LSU. The LSU Foundation's sole purpose to provide philanthropic support to LSU, which we accomplish through the work of a campus-wide team of frontline development officers and a support team of advancement services, communications and marketing, donor relations, financial and talent management personnel.</p> http://www.lsufoundation.org/jobs

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Associate Director

Overview: <p>Reporting to the Head of Donor Engagement, the Assistant Director will support the comprehensive engagement program with a focus on the development of regional events, activities and donor visits to deepen institutional involvement in cities with key donor populations. This position will serve as a resource for all LSU affiliates, colleges, units; and campuses belonging to the LSU system and collaborate with LSU Leadership to ensure the University&rsquo;s most generous donors and volunteers are actively and intentionally connected to their giving.&nbsp;</p>
Responsibilities: <p><strong>Essential Responsibilities</strong></p> <p><u>40%: Donor Engagement</u></p> <ul> <li>Responsible for the creation of engagement opportunities, including strategic events.&nbsp;</li> <li>Collaborate with internal and external constituents, including development officers and leadership to develop, plan, and implement donor engagement opportunities and experiences that inspire philanthropy and lead to deeper relationships between the donor and institution.&nbsp;</li> <li>Ensure activities are tracked in the advancement database.&nbsp;</li> <li>Partner with prospect development to support the LSU Foundation's mid-level giving portfolios in identifying and generating engagement opportunities both for donor segments within their portfolios and individual donors as appropriate. These activities, including communications and special touches, should be scalable and aligned with available resources.&nbsp;</li> <li>Support activities to evaluate the efficacy of engagement opportunities.</li> <li>Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of an enterprise-wide framework for donor engagement activities including, but not limited to, an engagement guide to be updated at regular intervals.&nbsp;</li> <li>Support the overall activities and goals of the donor engagement team including activities related to donors in other giving tiers and the National Board.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><u>20%: Impact Communications</u></p> <ul> <li>Support the development, production, and evaluation of impact communications for broad audiences, including, but not limited to, donors to excellence funds and general scholarship funds.&nbsp;</li> <li>As appropriate, lead the development and creation of impact reports for specific donors, including reports that are mandated by gift agreements.&nbsp;</li> <li>Assist the Office of Industry Engagement, and other areas as needed, with reporting strategy.&nbsp;</li> <li>Utilize the advancement database to glean information regarding funds and donor activities, pulling lists, or requesting data as appropriate.</li> </ul> <p><u>20%: Donor Recognition&nbsp;</u></p> <ul> <li>Support communications, activities, programming, and special projects for donor recognition societies with a special focus on the Forever LSU Society.&nbsp;</li> <li>Strategize with other donor relations team members to ensure that LSU Foundation giving society activities are cohesive and appropriately scaled based on giving tiers.&nbsp;</li> <li>Collaborate with colleagues to employ tactics that will build relations with special groups of donors for the purpose of advancing their philanthropy by deepening engagement.</li> </ul> <p><u>10%: Gift Acknowledgements&nbsp;</u></p> <ul> <li>Craft personalized gift acknowledgments from LSU Foundation and LSU leadership in collaboration with development portfolio.&nbsp;</li> <li>Ensure that these communications and any necessary record updates are tracked in the advancement database.&nbsp;</li> <li>Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of an enterprise-wide framework for gift acknowledgments that adheres to best practices.</li> </ul> <p><u>10%: Measuring and Ensuring Success</u></p> <ul> <li>Document processes and procedures to ensure consistency. This includes, but is not limited to, tracking activities and groups in the advancement database and routine data requests.&nbsp;</li> <li>Contribute to the development of metrics for donor engagement activities.&nbsp;</li> <li>Refine practices related to data requests, review data for donor outreach, collaborate with reporting team to improve request language.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Non-essential/marginal position responsibilities&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Utilize Advance to track, monitor, and manage engagement activities for donors, prospects, and volunteers and evaluate programming and determine the return on investment.&nbsp;</li> <li>Participate in and contribute to the University-wide Donor Relations Council.</li> </ul>
Requirements: <ul> <li>Progressive experience in a development, nonprofit or university setting, with an emphasis in donor relations, stewardship, event management or fundraising.&nbsp;</li> <li>Experience managing high-profile events in a fast-paced environment and proven project management experience along with demonstrated analytical, strategic-thinking, adaptability, communication and relationship-building skills are essential.</li> <li>Working knowledge of databases such as Advance or similar and expert proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, with an emphasis on Excel and PowerPoint.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred level/type of experience&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Current or past participation in professional associations such as the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, Association of Donor Relations Professionals, Association of Advancement Services Professional or Association of Fundraising Professionals.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred abilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>Demonstrate a meticulous attention to detail and organization, and juggle multiple and varied tasks simultaneously to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines for a wide variety of assignments.</li> <li>Professional and diplomatic demeanor, strong work ethic and the ability to work well independently, as a member of a group or committee&nbsp;</li> <li>Exceptional written and oral communication skills and experience writing and producing event collateral.&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Required education</strong></p> <ul> <li>Bachelor&rsquo;s degree from an accredited college or university&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred education</strong></p> <ul> <li>Master&rsquo;s degree from an accredited college or university &nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Preferred certification</strong></p> <ul> <li>Certified Fund-raising Executive (CFRE) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Desired Comptencies&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li><u>Collaboration</u>: Works collegially with others, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor, and respect.</li> <li><u>Critical Thinking</u>: Practices objective rather than subjective modes of reasoning and action. Maintains perspective when assessing qualitative and quantitative information. Appropriately challenges and questions common beliefs.&nbsp;</li> <li><u>Tenacity</u>: Achieves a desired outcome in the face of setbacks, obstacles, or challenging circumstances.</li> <li><u>Professionalism</u>: Thinks carefully about the likely effects on others of one&rsquo;s words, actions, appearance, and mode of behavior.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Work Environment Requirements&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>May be required to work extended workdays, evenings, and weekends to meet deadlines</li> <li>Will be required to comply with our mandatory COVID vaccination policy, unless granted an exemption for medical or religious reasons</li> </ul> <p><strong>Managerial/Supervisory Requirements&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>This position has no supervisory responsibilities.</li> </ul>