Assistant Director of Advancement is responsible for managing all aspects of annual giving, stewardship and recognition, including operational support, reporting, research, and all communications strategies for donors to Falk College. Reporting to the Asst. Dean for Advancement, he/she is focused on strategically stewarding, retaining, and further cultivating top donors and prospects. The role partners with Donor Relations colleagues and advancement/gift officers to develop, lead and implement engagement opportunities that are meaningful to principal and major gift donors, demonstrate the impact of their giving to Syracuse University/Falk College and illustrate gratitude for their giving and other contributions. This role combines administrative leadership with donor-facing execution and data-driven prospect intelligence, serving as a critical operational partner to the Assistant Dean and the broader advancement team.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree required.
- 2-4 years of experience in advancement services, stewardship, annual giving, or a related administrative/operations role, preferably in higher education.
- A valid driver's license is required.
Skills and Knowledge
- Strong analytical skills and experience with donor databases (e.g., Blackbaud, Raiser's Edge, Advance).
- Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft donor-facing correspondence and synthesize complex information into clear, concise briefs.
- High degree of discretion given regular access to confidential donor and financial information.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities.
Responsibilities
Stewardship & Donor Reports/Briefings:
- Create and implement strategies for communications vehicles and channels to donors
- Lead the creation and oversight of donor-specific stewardship reports tied to donor events or meetings, gathering information from multiple sources and coordinating with colleagues to ensure accuracy and honor donor intent.
- Work with frontline fundraisers to create stewardship plans for selected portfolios.
- Serve as point of contact with Donor Relations, and central advancement departments on donor-supported scholarship/fund matters for the David B. Falk College of Sport.
- Manage the weekly gift acknowledgment process and provide data analytics/reporting on weekly giving progress.
Annual Giving & Event Support:
- Develop, implement and lead annual giving solicitations and related execution, including donor segmentation and retrievals, campaign coordination, and progress reporting.
- Manage event planning and logistics, including donor and stakeholder events, Advisory Board meetings, and campus engagement initiatives.
Prospect Development & Research:
- Initiate research requests with the central Prospect Research team on individuals, corporations, and foundations to identify and evaluate prospects for the David B. Falk College of Sport.
- Produce prospect research briefs to support donor and prospect meetings, cultivation strategy, and solicitation planning.
- Monitor relevant sources for new connections and affiliations to the university.
- Maintain data accuracy and timely updates in development databases. Ensure the accuracy and timely entry of all information and records.
Office & Operations Management:
- Manage daily operations and administrative logistics for the Falk College of Sport advancement office, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and coordination of internal and external meetings with staff, volunteers, and donors.
- Process database retrievals and produce recurring and ad hoc reports as requested by the advancement team.
- Lead procurement and budget reconciliation processes.
- Collaboration (Internal/Central Advancement)
- Work closely with the Assistant Dean, gift officers, and central Advancement's Prospect Research and Data Analytics team to refine processes and maximize the impact of research on fundraising activity for the David B. Falk College of Sport.
- Partner with academic departments to capture and track guest speaker information
- Coordinate with Falk Marketing & Communications to ensure accurate reporting and promotion of engagements.
Physical Requirements
Enter Physical Requirements or "Not Applicable"
Tools/Equipment
Enter Tools/Equipment or "Not Applicable"
Application Instructions
In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.