Job SummaryDirector of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving
JOB SUMMARY The Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving provides strategic leadership for the College's annual giving and alumni engagement efforts. The Director develops and implements comprehensive strategies to strengthen alumni affinity, increase philanthropic support, expand volunteer engagement, and enhance the lifelong relationship between alumni and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. This position is responsible for establishing, growing, and sustaining ABAC's annual fund supporting unrestricted giving and alumni participation.
The Director oversees alumni communications, volunteer leadership programs, annual giving initiatives, and alumni-focused engagement opportunities. The position also provides strategic oversight for special events that advance alumni engagement, donor cultivation, and institutional affinity. The Director reports directly to the Vice President of External Affairs.
MAJOR DUTIES Alumni Relations and Engagement - Develops and implements a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy designed to strengthen alumni participation, affinity, volunteerism, and philanthropic support.
- Serves as primary staff liaison to the ABAC Alumni Association Board and other alumni affinity groups.
- Provides leadership and support to the ABAC Student Alumni Council.
- Cultivates meaningful relationships with alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community partners to advance the mission of the College.
- Coordinates alumni communications, including newsletters, digital engagement initiatives, social media collaboration, recognition programs, and stewardship activities.
- Develops and manages regional and affinity-based alumni engagement opportunities.
Annual Giving - Leads the creation, implementation, and growth of ABAC's annual giving program supporting unrestricted institutional priorities.
- Develops and executes a comprehensive annual giving program including direct mail, digital fundraising, leadership annual giving, reunion giving, and donor retention strategies with a focus on increasing donor participation, donor retention, leadership annual giving, and overall unrestricted fundraising revenue.
- Collaborates with advancement leadership and development officers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual fund donors.
- Identifies and qualifies annual donors with major gift potential and works collaboratively with development officers to advance prospects through the donor pipeline.
- Utilizes data analytics and donor segmentation to develop targeted fundraising campaigns and engagement strategies.
- Works closely with Advancement Services to monitor fundraising performance, analyze results, and recommend improvements.
- Establishes annual goals and performance metrics related to donor acquisition, retention, participation, and revenue growth.
Special Events - Provides strategic oversight of alumni and advancement events that support alumni engagement, donor cultivation, stewardship, and institutional visibility.
- Supervises student workers, interns, and volunteers in the planning and execution of events including Homecoming, alumni receptions, donor recognition events, and other advancement-related programs.
- Ensures all events align with institutional priorities and support measurable engagement and fundraising outcomes.
- Evaluates event effectiveness and return on investment through established engagement and fundraising metrics.
Leadership and Management - Assists in developing annual budgets for alumni engagement, annual giving, and special events.
- Represents the Office of External Affairs at campus and community events.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED BY THE POSITION - Knowledge of annual giving, donor engagement, fundraising strategy, and philanthropic trends.
- Ability to develop and execute multi-channel fundraising campaigns.
- Experience utilizing constituent relationship management systems and fundraising analytics.
- Ability to interpret fundraising metrics and develop data-informed strategies.
- Demonstrated success in relationship building, volunteer management, and donor engagement.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both written and oral.
- Proficiency in organizing and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Skill in the operation of computers and job-related software programs such as Raisers Edge.
- Skill in decision making and problem solving.
- Knowledge of Board of Regents policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of state and national issues related to higher education.
- Knowledge of budget development and management principles.
- Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS - The VP of External Affairs provides oversight with regular meetings. However, this position requires the individual to be self-directed to lead this area within the guidance provided.
GUIDELINES - Guidelines include the ABAC Strategic Plan, Student Handbook, FERPA regulations, Title IX regulations, and federal and state guidelines. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application. This position develops unit guidelines.
- Accepted principles in the advancement field also guide the work efforts and decision-making process including the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Statement of Ethics and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards.
COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK - The purpose of this position is to provide strategic leadership for alumni engagement and annual giving efforts, including the growth of unrestricted giving to the ABAC Foundation. The position is responsible for strengthening alumni participation, increasing unrestricted philanthropic support, and ensuring that engagement opportunities and events contribute to the long-term advancement goals of the College.
CONTACTS - Contacts are typically with co-workers, other college employees, students, community partners/industry, alumni, donors, and members of the general public.
- Contacts are typically to solicit and steward support of the College from these individuals and organizations and to build partnerships/relationships to benefit the institution.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT - When in the office, work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or while intermittently sitting, standing, or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light objects.
- Extensive travel is necessary to meet with alumni and donors across the state and southeast region.
SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY - This position does not directly supervise employees but may oversee student workers, interns, and volunteers associated with alumni engagement, annual giving, and special event initiatives.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Bachelors degree from an accredited institution required.
- Five years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, alumni relations, annual giving, fundraising, or related field.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
