Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving

Job Posting Location:

Claremont, CA

Job Posting Title:

Assistant Director, Leadership Annual Giving

Job Description:

ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE: Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges

JOB PURPOSE: Reporting to the Director of Leadership & Reunion Giving, the Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving is a frontline fundraiser who will be responsible for the identification, cultivation and solicitation of alumni, parents, and friends with a specific focus on gifts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 or more, in support of the Pomona College Annual Fund. This position will work closely with development team members to increase the donor base that will support the mission of Pomona College.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Reporting directly to the Director of Leadership & Reunion Giving, the Assistant Director of Leadership Annual Giving works independently and collaboratively to perform the following essential duties and responsibilities:

Leadership Prospect Strategy & Multi-Year Commitments

Maintain a focused portfolio of approximately 200 leadership annual giving prospects ($5,000–$50,000), emphasizing the cultivation and solicitation of multi-year pledges that drive sustained philanthropic growth.

Leverage prospect data and relationship insights to develop customized giving strategies that convert single-year donors into multi-year partners.

Collaborate with Major Gifts and Research, Relationship Management & Analytics (RRMA) teams to identify, qualify, and refer leadership donors, ensuring a smooth transition and continued cultivation through the gift pipeline.

Volunteer Fundraising Leadership

Serve as support to the Director of Leadership & Reunion Giving to staff the Family Fellows volunteer fundraising program, identifying opportunities to secure multi-year leadership annual gifts from Pomona families.

Assist with stewardship activities and events for leadership annual donors. Serve as a liaison for The President’s Circle, Family Fellows and Torchbearers.

Cross-Campus and Advancement Collaboration

Collaborate with Leadership, Annual & Reunion Giving team members to co-create the vision and execution of our annual giving campaigns.

Contribute to strategic planning, budget development, and new initiatives for the Leadership, Annual & Reunion Giving team.

Provide input on strategy, analyzing progress through the year, and working with department stakeholders to meet or exceed assigned fundraising goals.

Coordinate special projects/tasks and provide assistance as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, communication or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Licenses/Certificates: A valid driver’s license is required or equivalent means of reliable transportation to off-site meetings and events.
• Experience: A minimum of 1-2 years of relevant experience in fundraising, sales, communications or related experience is required. Two years of experience at an academic institution is preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL SKILLS: This position must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the job or must be able to demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed (with or without reasonable accommodation) using other knowledge, skills and abilities not listed below.

Demonstrated success in designing and executing donor strategies that result in multi-year commitments.

Proficiency with donor databases, reporting tools, and digital engagement platforms.

Relationship-driven and results-oriented, with a collaborative mindset and commitment to advancing mission-focused goals.

Deploy professional skills in fundraising, in collaboration with colleagues, to best promote the College’s strategic interests.

Must understand and communicate the mission and history of Pomona College and the liberal arts education.

Demonstrate effective, accurate and clear communication with excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, reading, phone, customer service and leadership skills to supervise, facilitate, motivate and inspire a highly diverse group of partners.

Operate computers proficiently with basic Microsoft Office software (such as Word, Excel, Outlook) and associated professi