Director of Constituent Relations and Annual Giving

 

About ECC:

Elgin Community College serves over 9,000 students at every stage of their educational journeys, including university transfer programs, career and technical education, continuing education classes, and adult basic education. As a community, we pride ourselves on nurturing a welcoming campus where every person—students, staff members, faculty members, and campus visitors—feels valued. The work of each ECC employee is central to the college’s mission, and as an employer, the college fosters a positive environment through professional challenges, excellent benefits, and opportunities for recognition and camaraderie.

Work Schedule:

FT - Ability to work a flexible schedule which includes days/evenings/weekends as needed by the department.

Rate of Pay:

 

This is a Full-Time Administrative position at grade 16, with an annual salary range of $72,417 to $96,556. The salary offer will be based on education and experience, in alignment with the College’s compensation philosophy and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), if applicable.  

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA, DCA, Commuter)
• Retirement Plans (Pension, 457b, 403b)
• Time Off with Pay
• Professional Development/Expense
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick Banks

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Grant Funded:

No

Job Summary:

An employee in this classification performs work of considerable difficulty in directing constituent relations and annual giving outreach activities. This includes overseeing donor relations and stewardship, annual giving marketing initiatives, and alumni and affinity relations. The role involves managing volunteer committees for alumni, retirees, women’s giving, and parents, as well as liaising with event planning committees to oversee planning and logistics for all Advancement/Foundation events. Additionally, this position is tasked with strategizing and developing a pipeline from affinity and engagement to giving, focusing on the College’s more than 40,000 credentialed alumni and tens of thousands of additional un-credentialed alumni. Direction is received by the assigned manager.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

1. Bachelor’s Degree required; 5 - 8 years of demonstrated success in alumni/affinity relations, fundraising, direct marketing, sales, donor/customer relations, or a related field preferred, ideally in a higher education setting. 
2. Ability to work with a diverse group of people, including alumni, foundation board members, vendors, college department directors and staff, and corporate clients.
3. Demonstrated ability to work as an assertive, energetic leader with a high degree of creativity, enthusiasm, initiative and diplomacy.
4. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
5. Strong process/program planning, budgeting and organizational skills. Budget management a strong preference.
6. Knowledge of database management required. Knowledge of Salesforce and related applications preferred. Proficient computer skills, including MS Suite.
7. Ability to maintain confidential information and exhibit the highest level of ethical and professional behavior.  Maintain a sense of confidentiality and diplomacy in all dealings.
8. Experience in motivating and managing a steering committees and volunteers.
9. Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet goals within deadlines.
10. Background in solicitation programs (direct mail, telephone, etc.). Preferred specialized skills include developing and utilizing donor retention, lapsed donor reactivation and new donor acquisition techniques and strategies.
11. Experience in the coordination of special events required.
12. Early morning, evening and weekend work will be required for meetings, events, and project deadlines.

Desired Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Master's Degree

Essential Duties:

1. Proactively manage a high-performing team of 1-2 Managers, each with their own portfolios. Responsibilities include conducting weekly 1:1 check-ins and team meetings, and working collaboratively to ensure the team meets or exceeds engagement and fundraising metrics.
2. Spearhead marketing and communications for annual giving and alumni/affinity groups, as well as the Foundation. This includes identifying and producing stewardship benefits and materials, such as annual Stewardship reports, honor roll of donors, donor wall updates, newsletters, and various reports. The role also involves creating brochures and marketing materials, updating the website and social media, an