Associate Director of Annual Giving

The Institutional Advancement Office at Saint John’s University invites applications for a full-time (1.0 FTE), benefit eligible position of Associate Director of Annual Giving.

The Associate Director of Annual Giving engages alumni in support for Student Fund scholarships, managing consecutive class giving programs for graduates from 26-50 years prior and multiple reunion classes each year (30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, and 50^th). This role oversees various volunteer programs to strengthen alumni connections through engagement, solicitation, marketing, and stewardship. With decision-making authority, the Associate Director recruits, trains, and supports volunteers while personally cultivating and stewarding donor relationships. Additionally, they provide responsive service to donors and volunteers to enhance participation and philanthropy.

Institutional Inclusion Visioning Statement

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU) believe that an excellent liberal arts education requires an understanding and appreciation of cultural difference and that everyone deserves to feel safe and morally valued. To that end, we will challenge our own practices and systems. Our commitment to an inclusive environment will be incorporated into all decision-making processes. We dedicate ourselves to cultivating an equitable, inclusive community founded on respect for all persons.

CSB and SJU offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits program (click the benefits tab above the position summary section to view more information). For further information regarding our institutions, visit CSBSJU.

The posted wage represents CSB and SJU's good faith estimate of likely compensation at the time of posting. Actual pay will be dependent upon several factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and skills, and may fall outside of the range indicated.

Volunteer Engagement (50%) 

• Recruit, train, and manage alumni volunteers for class giving and reunions, providing support and oversight of engagement efforts.
• Develop strategies to strengthen alumni involvement, with a focus on ensuring an active Class Committee leading up to reunion years.
• Maintain regular, personalized communication with volunteers through various channels to foster motivation and support.
• Coordinate with counterpart College of Saint Benedict staff to align alumni volunteer activities across institutions.
• Serve as a liaison between Reunion volunteers and Alumni Relations to organize and schedule class activities.
• Partner with the Director of Annual Giving to develop training programs for class volunteers. 

Gift Cultivation, Solicitation, Stewardship (45%) 

• Manage a portfolio of Student Fund Fellows Society ($1,000+) donors, personally soliciting annual gifts and nurturing key relationships.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors at various giving levels while laying the groundwork for future relationship development.
• Independently schedule and conduct a minimum of 40 monthly cultivation and/or solicitation visits
• Set and achieve annual fundraising goals for each class, using strategic judgment in donor engagement.
• Develop tailored fundraising strategies based on donor demographics, interests, and giving capacity.
• Analyze donor data and collaborate with colleagues to optimize fundraising operations and donor stewardship.
• Work with Development and Planned Giving teams to incorporate major, deferred, and planned gifts into class giving strategies.
• Develop strategies and content to engage alumni on the impact and importance of giving to Saint John’s and the Student Fund.
• Strengthen alumni relationships by recognizing and appreciating their contributions.
• Co-lead donor recognition events to thank and steward alumni, parents, and supporters.
• Personally thank donors through calls, visits, and handwritten notes to reinforce their contributions.
• Provide prompt and attentive service to donors and volunteers, addressing inquiries and resolving concerns.]
• Ensure donor intent is honored by overseeing gift acceptance and agreements.

Perform other duties as assigned (5%)

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience.
• Minimum of four years of experience in sales, business development, fundraising, or related field.
• Demonstrated ability in personally soliciting constituents for philanthropic support.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple changing priorities with a positive attitude.
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic relationship building skills.
• High degree of self-motivation and ability to exercise independent discretion.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong quantitative reasoning skills, including the ability to analyze data.
• Discreet judgment and confidentiality.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and some weekend events as needed (typically 8-10 per year).
• Ability to engage and collaborate effectively within the university community as an integral member of the staff.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Requires working at a computer for extended periods, including significant keyboard use, prolonged sitting, and reading from a screen.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Regular travel between the campuses of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.
• Weekly travel throughout Central Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro to meet with donors and volunteers.

Applications are accepted online by clicking on "Apply." Candidates are asked to complete the application form and submit a cover letter and resume.

If you require an accommodation to participate in the SJU hiring process, please contact Human Resources at (320) 363-5500 or [email protected].

It is the policy of SJU to conduct a pre-employment background check. An offer of employment is contingent upon a successful background check. Saint John's University also utilizes E-Verify as part of its onboarding process to confirm work authorization.

Saint John's University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employers.