Description

Senior Annual Giving Coordinator 

This position oversees the Engagement Center activities, including calling and texting, and is responsible for setting goals, developing strategy and collateral, managing operational logistics, analyzing performance metrics, and communicating with key stakeholders and leadership about the Engagement Center activities and performance. This position manages the Engagement Center student employees and runs the calling shifts. Calling shifts typically run from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm, and some occasionally end at 9:00 pm.

The position also serves as the annual giving liaison for three to four assigned schools, colleges, and units. Communication is important to this role in crafting and producing solicitation messages, developing promotional and recognition opportunities, and responding to individual donor questions or concerns. This position primarily utilizes multiple communications channels to secure private gifts and engage large numbers of donors through specialized campaigns, including crowdfunding.

This position occasionally interacts with constituents through face-to-face solicitations, personalization of solicitation materials, attentive donor relations, and inclusion in exclusive events and opportunities.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Additional Schedule Information

Standard schedule is 8:00am–5:00pm Monday through Friday, with three to four days per week from 9:00am-6:00pm during calling sessions. Must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as necessary. 

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent and 2 years of professional experience

Preferred Qualifications

• At least three years of experience in higher education fundraising field, preferably annual giving
• One year or more experience in higher education phone/digital solicitation management or call/engagement center supervisory experience
• Experience training and coaching student interns or employees
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Self-starter, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment
• Exemplary communications skills (both written and verbal)
• Organizational skills
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service
• Advanced computer skills in comparing data and logic
• Ability to synthesize data and provide recommendations based on data analysis
• Ability to learn new media proficiencies as technology advancements are coupled with phone/digital marketing strategies
• Experience in training and coaching in phone/digital solicitation fundraising environments
• Knowledge of annual giving best practices
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, database management, and email skills
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct

Additional Division Requirement(s):

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting is expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Work in a standard office environment
• Travel in and out of state as necessary
• Work evenings and weekends as necessary
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, and paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; remember details; multitask
• Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Duties/Responsibilities

(50%) Oversee the Engagement Center Staffing, the strategic plan, and analyze key performance metrics.

• Create overall Engagement Center goals and objectives based on historical data and analysis.
• Serve as the primary contact and relationship manager with the Engagement Center platform vendor.
• Serve as the point person for the Engagement Center within the Division of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR), including communicating with internal stakeholders on a frequent basis, developing reporting for leadership, and presenting information on available services.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Annual Giving to ensure the Engagement Center is running smoothly and review daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly reports to ensure best practices are utilized and adjust as needed to optimize performance and desired outcomes.
• Oversee data processes for the Engagement Center and ensure that all data is delivered accurately in a timely manner. Troubleshoot any data issues with the Engagement Center platform vendor and internal partners as needed.
• Work with the offices of Advancement IT, UGA Foundation Gift Accounting, and other internal partners as needed to ensure that phonathon pledges and gifts are booked properly in the Giving and Alumni Information Link (GAIL) database.
• In partnership with the annual giving liaisons, plan and oversee the annual Engagement Center strategy for each school, college, and unit, including creating the calling pools and segmentation plans, ensuring the marketing effort is created properly in GAIL, reviewing creative materials (i.e., emails, caller reference sheets, etc.), and interfacing with the Engagement Center staff to ensure the strategy is implemented properly.
• Coordinate any necessary follow-up communications and tasks generated from daily calling shifts.
• In partnership with central annual giving, schools, colleges, and units, and DARCOMM, assist with the creation and editing of creatives for the engagement center, including reference sheets, pledge fulfillment design and messaging, text messages, and ad hoc emails.
• Manage pledge reminder cadence of email, text, and direct mail reminders for open phone pledges.
• Manage hiring, training, and shift schedules for Engagement Center student assistants.

(35%) Manage a portfolio of 3-4 school, college, and unit annual giving partnerships.

Plan and implement multi-channel annual giving strategies for assigned schools, colleges, and units, including direct mail, email, digital, phone, texting, etc.
Coordinate special giving campaigns for assigned schools, colleges, and units.
Advise school, college, and unit development staff on annual giving best practices and coordinate school, college, and unit involvement with central annual giving initiatives.
Analyze key performance metrics for annual and special giving campaigns and provide reports to school, college, and unit liaisons.

(10%) Plan and implement text message campaigns

• Plan and execute central and unit-based text message campaigns as they arise during the year, including partnering with the central annual giving team to coordinate with schools, colleges, and units, and with Advancement IT to create proper queries and selections.
• Serve as primary relationship manager with the texting platform vendor.
• Analyze and provide reporting on the performance of each text message campaign.

(5%) Other duties assigned to include, but not limited to:

• Respond to donor questions and concerns from phone, email, and direct mail efforts.

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the Division of Development and Alumni Relations

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.

About the Office of Annual Giving

The Office of Annual Giving is responsible for the ongoing regular solicitation of alumni and friends for support of the university’s mission. The office observes an annual fiscal year cycle to engage donors for opportunities to renew and enhance their support of the University, its Schools, Colleges, and Units. Special Giving initiatives are for unique audiences within the university’s constituency including but not limited to leadership annual gifts, faculty and staff giving, parent giving, recurring gifts, anniversary giving, matching gifts, crowdfunding, and consecutive year giving.  

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Requirements

This position oversees the Engagement Center activities, including calling and texting, and is responsible for setting goals, developing strategy and collateral, managing operational logistics, analyzing performance metrics, and communicating with key stakeholders and leadership about the Engagement Center activities and performance. This position manages the Engagement Center student employees and runs the calling shifts. Calling shifts typically run from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm, and some occasionally end at 9:00 pm.

The position also serves as the annual giving liaison for three to four assigned schools, colleges, and units. Communication is important to this role in crafting and producing solicitation messages, developing promotional and recognition opportunities, and responding to individual donor questions or concerns. This position primarily utilizes multiple communications channels to secure private gifts and engage large numbers of donors through specialized campaigns, including crowdfunding.

This position occasionally interacts with constituents through face-to-face solicitations, personalization of solicitation materials, attentive donor relations, and inclusion in exclusive events and opportunities.