Philanthropy Advisor, Alumni and Annual Giving

**Job Title**
- Philanthropy Advisor, Alumni and Annual Giving

**About the University**

**It’s your time to shine**
- Work where the world comes to create, discover and learn.
We are one of Canada’s top universities and leading research institutions. With more than 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students, two campuses (Lethbridge and Calgary), seven faculties and schools, and more than 2,500 employees, ULethbridge is Lethbridge’s second largest employer. Faculty and staff come together to contribute, each in their own way, to establishing ULethbridge as Canada’s destination university. In 2022, Lethbridge was recognized as one of Canada’s top small cities.

**Position Details**
- The Philanthropy Advisor, Alumni and Annual Giving, is responsible for building and strengthening relationships with alumni, employees, and friends of the University of Lethbridge to increase financial support for institutional priorities. Reporting to the Director, Alumni and Community Relations, and in close coordination with the Philanthropy and Donor Relations team, this role develops and executes a comprehensive annual giving program focused on (but not limited to) gifts of $5,000 or less, supporting student scholarships, bursaries, learning experiences, and other emerging needs across the university.

Key Responsibilities:

- Plan, coordinate, execute and manage a multi-dimensional annual giving program that utilizes a variety of mediums to communicate with and solicit current and potential donors. The strategy will encompass digital/crowdfunding, direct mail, a focus on the giving webpages and the online experience of our donors and volunteers, both centrally and on behalf of University departments and Faculties.
- Draft content, manage production schedules, identify targeted segments, and ensure adherence to the project budget for annual giving campaigns, continually monitoring progress toward campaign goals.
- Design, coordinate and implement an annual employee giving campaign.
- Serve as a front-line representative of the University by actively cultivating, soliciting and stewarding annual gifts from a portfolio of alumni donors and prospects through personalized engagement strategies, including one-on-one meetings and direct outreach.
- Working closely with Marketing and Communications team members and the External Relations Content Specialist, draft and edit various donor communications, marketing materials and writing assignments.
- Integrate planned and legacy giving program materials and promotion for annual and alumni donor audiences.
- Create giving pages, fundraising event pages, and micro-campaigns to support a variety of fundraising initiatives, including memorial and tribute giving campaigns; oversee the acknowledgement and stewardship of donors to these campaigns to ensure meaningful engagement and ongoing support.
- Identify and explore upgrade pathways to further engage donors and increase participation.
- Manage and schedule donor stewardship and communications through RE NXT, Thankview and other marketing and communication platforms.
- Provide excellent customer service to donors and prospects.

The University of Lethbridge is undertaking a job classification and compensation review for Administrative Professional Officer (APO) positions. As such, the salary range currently assigned for this position may be adjusted as a result of this project.

**Position Qualifications**
- Some post-secondary education required, with a University undergraduate or graduate degree preferred.
- Working towards or recognized professional fundraising designation (CFRE or equivalent) would be an asset.
- Minimum of three years professional annual giving or marketing and sales experience with an understanding of fundraising principles or sales moves management and donor/stakeholder relations.
- Experience in post-secondary fundraising is preferred.
- Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office, some experience with Raiser’s Edge is preferred.
- Advanced writing skills with the ability to create impactful storytelling and various written assignments. Experience with digital storytelling tolls (video editing and multimedia) would be an asset.
- Recognized leader in managing long-term and productive relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers, colleagues and organizational leaders. Demonstrated ability to be an active listener and engage donors and prospects in fundraising and relationship building conversations.
- Advanced analytical, critical thinking and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
- Translate and analyze campaign results and data into actionable items and make tactical recommendations as necessary.
- Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and interpersonal skills. Comfortable interacting with many different individuals in a variety of contexts (alumni, staff, students, donors, volunteers and external partners).
- Proven ability to effectively work across multiple departmen