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Executive Director of Annual and Leadership Giving

Lafayette College

Easton, PA

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JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Alliance/Partner Management, Alumni Relations, Analysis Skills, Benchmarking, Campaigns, Channel Management, Communication Skills, Cross-Functional, Data Analysis, Diversity, Fundraising, Fundraising Program, Green Construction, Leadership, Mentoring, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Goal Setting, Performance Metrics, Performance Reviews, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Strategic Planning, Succession Planning, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Vendor/Supplier Relations, Volunteer Experience, Volunteer Management, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Easton, PA
POSTED
5 days ago
Description

Lafayette College offers an outstanding opportunity for a motivated and driven individual to become part of an accomplished development team. Lafayette is a highly selective, liberal arts college with an endowment ranked in the top 2% nationally of independent colleges. Presently, the College is in the silent phase of a $600M capital campaign.

The Executive Director of Annual & Leadership Giving reports to the Associate Vice President of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving and is responsible for the overall management, guidance and operation of the Annual Fund, while providing managerial leadership and strategies relative to the team by increasing overall annual giving awareness, alumni participation and annual giving revenue. The Director is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations for Annual & Leadership Giving. The successful candidate must have an appreciation for liberal learning and the ability to engage constituents from diverse backgrounds.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential:

Leadership of a Team

• Provide strategic direction and day-to-day management of the annual giving team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable work environment.

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff; set clear goals and performance metrics aligned with institutional priorities.

• Support professional development and succession planning within the team.

• Partner effectively with colleagues across advancement, including major gifts, alumni engagement, and communications, to ensure integrated fundraising strategies.

• Partner and manage external vendor relationships within the annual giving programs.

Bring the Roar Campaign

• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of annual giving efforts in support of the Bring the Roar (giving day) campaign.

• Align annual giving strategies with overall campaign goals, ensuring strong participation and engagement at all donor levels.

• Collaborate with campaign leadership to develop messaging, priorities, and donor outreach strategies that reinforce campaign objectives.

• Track and report on annual giving contributions to campaign benchmarks and milestones.

Building Donor Pipelines

• Design and implement strategies to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, with a focus on building sustainable pipelines for leadership annual giving and major gifts through the Marquis Society (leadership giving) and Fleck Society (consistent giving).

• Utilize data analytics and segmentation to identify high-potential donors and create targeted engagement strategies.

• Partner with major gift officers to identify, qualify, and transition prospects into higher-level giving opportunities.

• Develop initiatives to engage key constituencies, including alumni, parents, faculty/staff, and friends, at increasing levels of support.

Volunteer Leadership

• Develop and manage a comprehensive volunteer engagement strategy to support annual giving goals using reunion giving and affinity giving strategies.

• Recruit, train, and steward volunteers, including alumni leaders, class agents, and campaign ambassadors.

• Provide volunteers with the tools, messaging, and support needed to effectively solicit and engage donors.

• Partner with advancement and alumni relations teams to strengthen volunteer structures and expand volunteer participation.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFIATIONS

Education, Experience and Knowledge:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• 8-10 years of progressive experience in fundraising, with a strong focus on annual giving or related programs.

• Demonstrated success in managing multi-channel campaigns and achieving measurable results.

• Proven experience supervising staff and working with volunteers.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Leadership: Ability to set vision, align initiatives with institutional priorities, and drive measurable results.

• Fundraising Acumen: Deep understanding of annual giving strategies, donor behavior, and philanthropic strategies.

• Team Leadership & Development: Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop high-performing teams.

• Collaboration & Influence: Skilled at building partnerships and working cross-functionally to achieve shared goals.

• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft

• Volunteer Engagement: Experience effectively recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to advance fundraising goals.

Application Instructions

Please provide cover letter, resume and contact information for three references.

About the Company

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Lafayette College