Director of Annual Giving

Job Description

Virginia Tech is seeking an inspiring, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as the Director of Annual Giving, driving innovation and impact in philanthropy while building on the university’s recent success in expanding its donor base. This is an exciting opportunity to lead initiatives that retain donors, upgrade giving levels, and cultivate a strong culture of philanthropy. The Director of Annual Giving will collaborate closely with the cross-functional Donor Growth Group and other key partners to design and execute a comprehensive, multi-channel program that inspires giving from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends. Leveraging the momentum of recent growth, the Director of Annual Giving will focus on strategies to deepen donor relationships, inspire larger contributions, and increase loyalty to Virginia Tech. Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President for Advancement and Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Annual Giving will provide leadership and innovation to ensure continued success in growing annual giving revenue and participation. This role is ideal for a creative fundraiser, data-driven strategist, and team-oriented leader who is passionate about cultivating long-term donor support and strengthening philanthropic engagement across a diverse community in support of university priorities.

Required Qualifications

• A master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree and extensive related experience.
• Demonstrated success in annual giving, marketing, or related fields, with experience in donor retention and upgrade strategies.
• Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and lead a team.
• Experience developing and executing data-driven fundraising strategies, including segmentation and testing, to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Expertise in crafting compelling messaging and strategic fundraising plans that align donor interests with organizational priorities.
• Proficiency in CRM systems and data analysis to drive informed decision-making.

Preferred Qualifications

• Progressive leadership experience in annual giving or front-line fundraising, ideally within higher education or a large nonprofit organization.
• Experience with direct response marketing, data analytics, market segmentation and testing, donor pipeline development, and comprehensive capital campaign strategy.
• Familiarity with contemporary fundraising technologies and innovations that reach diverse donor audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and motivate volunteers as key contributors to fundraising success.
• Experience leading technology implementation and/or systems and process improvement projects in a complex business setting preferred. Familiarity with contemporary technology and other innovations that can streamline processes and touch new audiences of potential donors.

Pay Band

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Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$135,000 - $145,000

Review Date

February 24, 2025

Additional Information

Visit the Advancement Website https://advancement.vt.edu/

Unable to sponsor work visas.

Regional and national travel required for the purposes of conducting field research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, which may include overnights and weekends.

Must have the ability and willingness to travel utilizing standard, commercial, and/ or personal modes of transportation.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virgi