Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving

Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving
Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN)

The Assistant Vice President for Annual Giving is responsible for the strategy, design, management, and execution of a comprehensive annual giving program that reaches out to all of Lipscomb University’s constituencies, including alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University.  This includes the application of traditional methods of solicitation–direct mail, student call center, personal visits, special programs, and electronic solicitation methods in the context of growing the annual giving program while supporting the greater development and campaign goals of the Development team.  The AVP will have responsibility to coordinate all university-wide annual giving efforts toward successful outcomes.  The AVP directly manages the annual giving team that currently includes a Leadership Annual Giving Officer—Associates-level giving and the Associate Director of Annual Giving – Telefund.  The AVP will provide leadership for the successful Imagine event that honors and recognizes annual donors who qualify at the Associates level of giving.

Essential duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Reports to the Executive Director of the Capital Campaign; works closely with other members of the Advancement staff; meets annual and longer-term program and fundraising goals.
• Develop and guide the overall strategy and direction for the Annual Giving program, focusing on shaping a sustainable tradition of annual support from alumni, employees, students, parents and other supporters of the University.
• Records fundraising progress via contact reports, cultivation and solicitation updates, correspondence, and other documentation; recording this information in DMS in a timely and effective manner.
• Creates and coordinates all direct mail campaigns, both in-house and with outside vendors.
• Organizes and accomplishes an annual successful Lipscomb Day of Giving campaign.
• Attends regular Prospect Development meetings and ad hoc sessions designed to discuss cultivation and solicitation strategies, and general fundraising progress.
• Requests and makes effective use of prospect research as appropriate.
• Communicates with Advancement Services regarding donor record updates and major giving potential within the Annual Fund donor pool as a means of building a leadership annual giving program.
• Collaborate with Alumni Relations on the common goal of building awareness of, engagement with, and giving to the Lipscomb Annual Fund through alumni giving, student giving, reunion giving, and affinity-based giving programs.
• Builds and maintains an in-depth knowledge of Lipscomb, its funding priorities, and giving opportunities in order to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents.
• Attends special events representing the Advancement Team as a means of educating and engaging donors.
• Work effectively with the major gifts team to gain strong participation in annual giving from all units and build strategies for moving donors to higher giving levels.
• Manage a prospect pool with annual goals for personal visits and giving outcomes.
• Performs data analysis and manipulation related to all aspects of the annual fund program. Uses statistics to evaluate current Annual programs and to make recommendations for program changes.
• Plan, develop and monitor annual giving budget to support the strategy; ensure maximum cost-benefit ratio is achieved.
• Annually increase the number of annual contributors who qualify at the Associates level of giving.
• The AVP will be held accountable for achieving annual fund targets.
• Others duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience in annual giving or the equivalent; experience in higher education preferred.
• Solid computer skills with experience using Microsoft Office applications, the internet, and social media.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Values a team environment and collaboration.
• Ability to plan, implement, and manage multiple projects.
• Strong appreciation for Lipscomb University, its mission and values.
• Upholds the Code of Ethical Standards and the Donors Bill of Rights as outlined by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
• Strives to maintain a sense of humor.
• Some travel and evening/weekend work required.
• Must hold a valid driver’s license.

About Lipscomb University:

Lipscomb University is a Christian institution committed to creating students whose academic excellence, faith and practice, and community service reflect ideals of global citizenship. With more than 4,600 students and a 10-year growth rate of 85 percent, Lipscomb is a dynamic university offering students a choice of eight bachelor’s degrees in 136 majors, 24 master’s degrees in 70 fields of study, four education specialist degrees and three doctoral degrees. In addition to Lipscomb’s residential campus in the Green Hills area of Nashville, Tennessee, there are five satellite locations and numerous online programs. U.S. News & World Report, which named Lipscomb University as an up-and-coming university and one of the most innovative universities in the South, ranked Lipscomb for the first time in school history as a national university in the annual “2017 America’s Guide to Colleges.”

Hiring and Nondiscrimination Statement:

Lipscomb University complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws and does not engage in prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, color, national or ethnic origin, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, programs and activities.

Lipscomb University is a private, Christian university associated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ and governed by religious tenets held by the Church of Christ. Preference may be given to applicants who are members of the Church of Christ.

Nominations and Applications:

Nominations and applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:  Chad Jolly  c/o Jacki Hough Gonser Gerber LLP, 1776 Legacy Circle, Suite 100, Naperville, IL 60563; cjolly@gonsergerber.com and jhough@gonsergerber.com.  To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references.  References will not be contacted until later in the search process. Completion of the on-line application at https://lipscomb.peopleadmin.com/login