Director, Annual Giving

Posting Number: 494030
Type of Position: Full-time
Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
Categories: Administration

Position Title:

Director, Annual Giving

Department/School:

Annual Fund Office

Salary/Pay Rate:

$85,000 - $90,000

Job Summary:

The Director of Annual Giving provides strategic leadership for Marist University's annual fundraising efforts, developing and executing comprehensive, multi-channel campaigns that engage alumni, parents, students, faculty/staff, trustees, and friends in support of the Marist Fund and other institutional priorities. The Director guides annual fundraising strategy, donor engagement initiatives, family philanthropy programs, and the Day of Giving campaign while monitoring performance analysis and assisting with donor pipeline development to increase philanthropic support and strengthen long-term donor relationships. Working collaboratively across Advancement and the University, the Director supervises annual giving staff and partners with colleagues to advance fundraising goals and foster a culture of philanthropy.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field
• 5 - 8 year's of related work experience
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing multi-channel fundraising strategies, including direct mail, digital outreach, email, phone, text, social media, and peer-to-peer solicitation.
• Experience managing annual giving programs or initiatives with demonstrated success in meeting fundraising goals.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities while executing complex initiatives.
• Strong understanding of annual giving best practices including donor acquisition and retention strategies, segmentation, solicitation strategies, and stewardship.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with diverse constituencies.
• Experience collaborating with internal and external partners, including advancement colleagues, campus stakeholders, volunteers, and donors.

Essential Functions:

• Develop and lead a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program to achieve fundraising and participation goals across key constituencies including trustees, alumni, parents, faculty/staff, students, and friends of the institution through direct mail, digital engagement, leadership annual giving, student philanthropy, giving societies and personal solicitation strategies.
• Coordinate the Day of Giving solicitations and outreach including collaboration across campus for direct mail, social media, and digital outreach, logistics and setup for both giving and the day of events and engagement.
• Provide strategic leadership and relationship management for the Parents Council, including volunteer engagement, philanthropy initiatives, stewardship, and collaboration on programs that enhance parent participation and philanthropic support.
• Manage a small portfolio of giving prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities; conducting donor visits and solicitations annually while identifying and developing new prospects for the major gift pipeline.
• Analyze annual giving performance metrics, donor trends, and results to inform strategy, improve donor retention and acquisition efforts, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Supervise and mentor annual giving staff responsible for student philanthropy, leadership annual giving, parent and family giving, donor engagement, and related fundraising initiatives.
• Partner with Alumni Relations and Advancement colleagues to develop and support engagement programming, fundraising events, and integrated donor outreach initiatives that advance institutional fundraising priorities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education advancement, particularly annual giving, alumni relations, or advancement communications.
• Experience managing a Day of Giving campaign, crowdfunding, or other large scale fundraising initiative.
• Experience supervising professional staff, student workers, or volunteers.
• Experience using advancement databases, CRM systems, and analytics tools to segment audiences, evaluate campaign performance, and inform fundraising strategies.
• Experience working with outside vendors and technology partners to enhance fundraising strategy, execution, and donor engagement.

Required Application Documents:

Resume, Cover Letter, & Contact Information of 3 Professional References

Benefits:

The position includes a comprehensive benefit package*. Benefits for this position include but are not limited to the following:

• 3 weeks of paid vacation. 4 weeks of paid vacation beginning in the 6th year of employment.
• Unlimited paid sick time.
• 14+ paid holidays per year.
• Medical, Dental & Vision insurance programs at a 15% employee / 85% employer contribution rate. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Dependent Care (FSD).
• Life insurance.
• Generous short-term and long-term disability programs and workers compensation.
• 403(b) defined contribution plan:
  • First 6 years University contributes 7.5%, Employee contributes a mandatory 4%.
  • University contribution increases to 10.5% in year 7, and 12% after 15 years.
  • Employee contribution decreases to 1% in year 7. Remains 1% thereafter.
  • Typical eligibility requirements: 1 year of service and 1,000 hours with Marist University.
• 403(b) Tax Deferred Annuity - Roth option available. Voluntary, up to IRS maximum contribution.
• Tuition Benefits:
  • Up to 16 undergraduate credits per semester. Up to 18 graduate credit per academic calendar. Eligibility extends to employee, spouse, and dependent children under age 26.
  • University pays 100% tuition only.
  • Eligible dependents may be Reimbursed up to $2,000 per semester towards tuition at another accredited institution.

*Eligibility requirements including waiting periods and/or employee probationary periods may apply at the discretion of the University.

About the Department/School:

The Advancement Office promotes a culture of philanthropy that attracts vital resources to support the goals and objectives of the University's strategic plan and core educational mission.

The Advancement team accomplishes this by nurturing life-long relationships with and among alumni, parents, trustees, friends, students, faculty, staff, and other constituencies. It also communicates regularly with them through meaningful personal contacts, targeted print and web-based publications, and high-impact special events.

Type of Position:

Full-time

Classification:

Administrative (Exempt)

Months per Year:

12

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm | Occasional travel required primarily in the Northeastern, United States, 1-2 days per month

Hours per Week:

37.5

Location:

Marist University Main Campus

Number of Position Openings:

1

Advertised: July 10, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

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