Assistant/Associate Director, Direct Response

Position Title & Department:

 Assistant/Associate Director, Direct Response; Annual Giving Posting #

5081

Department Description:

As part of the University Advancement division, the Office of Annual Giving coordinates the direct marketing, telefunding, student philanthropy, crowdfunding, electronic, and digital fundraising efforts for the university. The department also manages the President’s Club, USD’s leadership giving society. The annual giving team also provides support for annual giving efforts for academic units and Torero athletics.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity’s urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The assistant/associate director is responsible for implementing a comprehensive direct marketing solicitation program for the Office of Annual Giving, providing expertise on annual fund strategies and developing compelling appeals. The assistant/associate director will cultivate and nurture relationships between USD and the university’s constituents (primarily alumni and families) through mail, email, and social media channels that result in a commitment of financial support to the university. This position will work in partnership with the division’s creative design teams and/or outside agencies to develop high-impact marketing concepts and solicitation appeals, including copy and design approaches, which adhere to and build on the USD brand. The assistant/associate director will stay abreast of new and current best practices in the industry, developing the optimal approach to increasing donor participation and fundraising revenue. The assistant/associate director will also assume strategic leadership of the annual employee giving campaign and will assist the director with other projects, as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Marketing Outreach                                                   

• Implement and manage direct marketing solicitation strategies and processes to achieve key revenue and participation metrics through direct mail, email, and social media channels.
• Create segmentation direct marketing strategy in coordination with director. 
• Lead liaison for university wide programs direct marketing efforts and affiliated solicitation activities including, but not limited to, Alumni Relations, Parent and Family Relations, and Development, both centralized and decentralized (incl. academic units and Athletics).
• Develop relationships with key unit partners to create, execute, and report on annual giving solicitation strategies; ensure measurement techniques are built into fundraising activities; track results and analyze individual projects.
• Manage production of annual giving direct marketing solicitations in partnership with Creative Services and when utilizing the university’s preferred print and mail vendors; obtain design, printing, and mail house quotes; oversee production costs on a project by project basis.
• Project manage appeal design and creative assets, development and execution of direct mail and online solicitations, and annual donor stewardship communications; ensure design and printing formats meet project requirements as well as overall USD visual identity standards.
• In partnership with Advancement Services’ data team, prepare data for direct mail vendors and email outreach applications, as appropriate.
• Review and report progress to goals by monitoring donor and gift activit