Director of Macalester Fund

Overview

The Director of the Macalester Fund develops strategies to grow annual giving and create pathways to major gifts, serving as a pipeline for the Development team. They will build an inclusive team culture guided by Community-Centric Fundraising principles, implementing personalized outreach at scale. In addition, they serve as a member of the Engagement leadership team and work closely with all Advancement directors. 

 

With an annual goal of $5.5 million, the Fund supports Advancement's mission to deepen community relationships and expand the donor pool. The Director will lead data-driven, multi-channel strategies for donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades. Success requires both strong leadership and collaborative skills to partner effectively with Alumni Engagement, Development, Donor Relations, and other campus partners.

 

This is a full-time position with a hybrid weekly schedule of Tuesday through Thursday in office each week, and ability to work Monday and Friday from home. 

 

About The Department: 

The Macalester Fund fosters meaningful relationships with students, alumni, and parents while guiding donors through increasing levels of engagement with the college. When students choose Macalester, they join a lifelong community of support. The Macalester Fund amplifies engagement and educates on the importance of philanthropy to ensure this incredible experience exists for students for years to come.

Responsibilities

• Lead Strategic Vision and Pipeline Development
• Design and execute an annual fund strategy that increases donor participation and creates pathways to Leadership Giving
• Partner with Development team to achieve shared goals for donor education, retention, and advancement
• Implement Data-Driven Donor Strategies
• Create targeted approaches for distinct donor segments including students, recent graduates, young alumni, and planned giving prospects
• Develop and refine segmentation methods for unrated donors, Leadership Giving prospects, and planned giving opportunities
• Base strategies on donor life stages and giving patterns to maximize engagement
• Drive Performance Through Metrics
• Establish clear, measurable KPIs focusing on participation, donor education, acquisition, retention, and upgrades
• Ensure alignment of goals between Macalester Fund and Development teams
• Maintain regular tracking and review of performance metrics
• Lead Team and Operations
• Manage 3-5 full-time staff, student workers, and temporary employees
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations
• Foster team growth and development
• Build Campus Partnerships
• Develop relationships across campus to demonstrate the Fund's critical role
• Create compelling engagement opportunities that strengthen the Fund's impact
• Increase campus-wide understanding and support of the Fund's mission

Qualifications

 

Required: 

• 5-8 years successful experience raising philanthropic support from individuals, with an emphasis on annual giving. 
• 3+ years of supervisory experience.

 

Preferred:

• Proven knowledge of how to develop data-driven and scalable giving strategies
• Ability to define key performance indicators and metrics that drive results
• Expertise in acquisition, renewal, and upgrade strategies that build an intentional pipeline for leadership giving and beyond
• Understanding of the donor journey and what is important to them
• Experience working with and managing a team to build a strong team culture
• Knowledge of Community-Centric Fundraising and inclusive leadership
• Strong relationship-building within the team and across campus
• Skilled at developing shared goals across teams

 

Compensation:

The annual salary for this position will be $94,072 - $98,348 depending on experience.

 

Benefits: 

 

At Macalester, we are proud to offer excellent comprehensive employee benefits. Here are some highlights:

• 10% employer contributions to the retirement plan. 

• Outstanding vacation and sick time packages, plus an additional 10 holidays.

• Generous employer contribution to Health Savings Account.

• Tuition assistance which pays between 75% - 100% of eligible tuition for employee dependents at select institutions.

• Free primary care for most services through Nice Healthcare when enrolled in a Macalester health plan.