Assistant Director, Philanthropy (Leadership Annual Giving)

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a cover letter and resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Assistant Director, Philanthropy (Leadership Annual Giving) is an ambitious, collaborative, and aspirational fundraiser who is eager to grow in the field of higher education fundraising. This role supports building an inclusive leadership giving and pipeline program to identify, engage, qualify, solicit, and steward the next generation of donors for Rice University.

Using proven techniques and with attention to the art and science of fundraising, the Assistant Director will help expand Rice’s leadership annual giving program, focusing on donors with the potential to make gifts of $5,000+ and contributing to the growth of unrestricted annual giving. The role is designed to provide scaffolding for the Assistant Director to build a strong foundation in relationship management, digital outreach, and front-line fundraising.

Working in close collaboration with colleagues across the Individual Giving team in the Development and Alumni Relations division, the Assistant Director ensures prospective donors have a seamless experience—whether through joint visits, coordinated outreach, or referrals to other fundraisers. The Assistant Director will manage an evolving portfolio of philanthropic individuals and contribute to annual fundraising and donor engagement goals with success measured through qualifications, visits, commitments secured, and fundraising revenue, which grow as their portfolio matures. 

The ideal candidate is eager to learn about leadership-level fundraising, donor qualification, and partnering with campus colleagues to strengthen donor engagement. They are motivated to help build a sustainable higher education donor pipeline by combining emerging digital strategies with traditional fundraising practices.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. 

Must possess (or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire) and maintain a valid Texas driver’s license with no more than three moving violations and/or at fault accidents within the past 36 months, and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree

• 2+ years of related experience in fundraising, program development, sales/relationship development, and/or related experience (experience may be gained while a student)

   

Skills:

• Strong verbal and written communications skills

• Curiosity and interest in learning about people and their passions 

• Desire to be in a position where growth and change are intrinsic

• Ability to work well