Assistant Director of Campaign Fundraising

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Department:

WAMU Branding and Audience Development

Time Type:

Full time

Work Modality:

Hybrid 01 (On Campus 3-4 Days/Week)

Union:

Excluded

Job Description:

Summary:

WAMU 88.5 is a public media station owned and operated by American University. WAMU is the source for local, regional and NPR news and original programs in Washington DC. Since 1961, WAMU has been amplifying voices and sharing stories from the many neighborhoods and communities in the District of Colombia, Maryland and Virginia. The Assistant Director uses a creative, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented approach to fundraising efforts to implement strategies that will advance listener involvement – to convert new and reacquire lapsed donors, boost sustainer participation, upgrade previous giving amounts, and grow annual revenue to sustain the organization.  

This position directly supports the Senior Director, Branding and Audience Engagement and primarily manages on-air and direct mail fundraising as well as serving as the main liaison for advancement with programming, production, and web staff related to campaigns.

 

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1.) On-Air Fundraising

• In coordination with the Senior Director, Branding and Audience Engagement, manage all aspects of on-air fundraising to support the strategy for achieving goals both financial and participatory including on-air campaigns, fundraising audio promotions and spots, and the station’s year-round membership on-air presence for all WAMU services and platforms.

• Work collaboratively with station leadership, other members of marketing, and the wider Advancement team to develop strong and evolving strategies, messaging, and live-read/pitch scripts for each campaign effort, as well as amplify fundraising themes during non-campaign times. 

• Ensure strong execution of host, producer, and tallier scheduling during campaigns; overall and daily strategies; timing and promotions of challenges, stunts and tactics; and thank you gift strategy, design, and fulfillment.

• Serve as lead producer for on-air campaigns, assist in managing and preparing talent and other producers, and make staff at all levels aware of the campaign and how it may impact them. 

• Collaborate with the Digital Fundraising Manager to ensure marketing and fundraising messaging is integrated  and executed timely and correctly across all platforms: broadcast, email, social media, direct mail, website banners, advertising and others.

• Manage listener and donor testimonial production, including collaborating with the rest of Advancement team to identify potential listeners and donors for new spots.

• Serve as the main liaison with content, products, and other marketing and advancement staff to ensure that campaigns are fully maximized, and campaign activity is also in line with the overall station approach to its content. 

• Develop and implement on-air campaign training for pitchers, producers, and talliers, including preparation of scripts, scheduling studio and staff volunteers, and encouraging new/strengthening current campaign pitchers.

• Maintain reporting on these efforts to support the Senior Director and Senior Management in strategic planning, assessment, and budgeting.         

2.) Direct Mail Fundraising

• Support the Senior Director in developing the annual direct mail strategy – including cadence, messaging, audience, and budget – that meet the department goals for revenue and engagement.

• Write all direct mail solicitations.