Director of Marketing and Donor Growth (Annual Giving)

Rice University - Houston, TX

Full-time - Director

Houston, TX

Educational Services

About the position

The Director of Marketing and Donor Growth (Annual Giving) at Rice University is a pivotal role that reports directly to the Executive Director of Annual Giving. This position is designed for a forward-thinking and innovative leader who will spearhead the development and execution of sophisticated, university-wide direct marketing fundraising strategies. The primary objective of this role is to increase and diversify the donor base and philanthropic contributions to Rice University, particularly focusing on current use funds. The director will manage a dedicated team that specializes in mass highly segmented solicitations, emerging technologies, and overall direct response strategies. This position is crucial in transitioning fundraising efforts to incorporate digital components, aligning with industry trends that emphasize the importance of digital engagement in fundraising efforts. Collaboration across campus is essential, as the director will work closely with various departments to ensure cohesive and effective fundraising strategies. The ideal candidate for this role is a data-driven strategic thinker with a strong passion for modern fundraising practices and annual giving marketing within the context of higher education. This individual should possess a collaborative spirit and have substantial experience in direct marketing, emerging fundraising technologies, and team management. The director will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of direct marketing and participation fundraising strategies, analyzing results, and making data-informed decisions to guide future solicitations. Additionally, the director will design annual giving programs aimed at increasing philanthropic support for various university units and will work closely with campus partners to achieve their fundraising goals. In this role, the director will also be responsible for monitoring return on investment for fundraising activities, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring the effectiveness of philanthropic campaigns. Staying abreast of the latest fundraising trends and technologies will be essential for success in this position. The director will lead a team focused on segmented solicitations and direct response, ensuring that all fundraising efforts are strategically aligned with the university's overall philanthropic goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of university-wide direct marketing fundraising strategies.
• Increase and diversify the number of donors and philanthropic dollars to Rice University.
• Manage a team focused on mass highly segmented solicitations and emerging technologies.
• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team on fundraising projects and campaigns.
• Develop and oversee direct marketing and participation fundraising strategies, tracking and analyzing results.
• Monitor return on investment and make data-based decisions to guide future fundraising strategies.
• Design annual giving programs and goals targeted at increasing philanthropic support for various university units.
• Align program goals with the overall philanthropic goals of the university.
• Monitor, analyze, and report on overall fundraising results to internal and external constituencies.
• Oversee vendor relationships to ensure accuracy and effectiveness of philanthropic campaigns.
• Stay updated on the latest fundraising trends, technologies, and strategies.
• Build and manage the university's solicitation calendar, ensuring timely and targeted delivery of solicitations.
• Manage audience personas to ensure effective messaging through appropriate channels.
• Set annual strategy for a corporate matching gift program.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 4+ years of direct marketing experience, preferably in fundraising or development.
• Strong leadership and strategic management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate a diverse team.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to engage and motivate groups of diverse individuals.

Nice-to-haves

• Three to five years of annual giving experience at an institution of higher education or non-profit organization.
• 3+ years of management experience.
• Experience creating and implementing complex, multi-channel fundraising marketing campaigns.
• Experience using generative or predictive artificial intelligence in marketing or fundraising strategies.
• Certification in digital strategy, generative artificial intelligence, leadership, or nonprofit management.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee discount programs