Director of Reunion Giving

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the "Trojan Family," which is comprised of the faculty, students, and staff.

USC is an equal opportunity employer.  USC values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. USC University Advancement is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in which all advancement staff and our stakeholders can connect, belong, and grow while supporting USC’s mission, values, and goals.

University Advancement supports the University's mission, its faculty, and students by developing relationships with key constituencies, connecting with alumni, and working with donors to help them know and understand opportunities for partnership with the university.

University Advancement is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture in which all advancement staff and our stakeholders can connect, belong, and grow while supporting the University of Southern California’s mission, values, and goals.

USC University Advancement seeks a sophisticated and innovative professional to serve as the Director of Reunion Giving (“Director”) and be a key player in achieving the University’s ambitious goals. As a highly strategic fundraising partner, the Director will have the exciting opportunity to envision and develop a world-class reunion giving program as the University embarks on an effort to elevate and further integrate reunion giving into its fundraising strategy.

This is a unique opportunity to work with a highly committed alumni base with a strong history of support. The successful candidate will guide and motivate peers, as well as provide the insights and understanding of how complex assets might be unlocked to increase donor support, deepen alumni engagement, and advance internal performance for one of the world’s leading research Universities.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, the Director will collaborate closely with the Major Gifts and Annual Giving Teams, the full University Advancement team, the University’s Office of Gift Planning, and the USC Alumni Association staff and volunteer community. The Director will also coordinate and oversee a Reunion Leadership Giving Ambassador program consisting of alumni volunteers who collaborate with the Reunion Giving staff to secure reunion gifts of $50,000+, facilitate peer-to-peer fundraising among alumni volunteers and their classmates, and participate on USC Alumni Association Class Reunion Committees.

Job Accountabilities

• Design and build a comprehensive reunion giving program for the University that elevates reunion giving to a key pillar of the University’s fundraising strategy and contributes to USC’s long-term goals.

• The Director will oversee a team of Development Officers (Associate Directors of Reunion Giving) to develop and execute a comprehensive reunion giving strategy that includes managing individual portfolios of leadership annual giving-level prospects, coordinating with the USC Annual Fund office, and collaborating with USC school-based advancement officers.

• Personally manage a select portfolio of prospects, donors, and volunteers. Identify and qualify prospects through:

• marketing strategy execution and follow-up

• collaboration with the frontline major gift fundraisers

• data analysis of prospects with strong annual giving profiles

• Manage the development of multi-year strategies focused on engagement, fundraising, communications, and volunteer training and retention for each reunion class.

• Identify, recruit, train, brief and motivate class giving ambassadors to expand the pool of volunteers, with a focus on future leadership progression and development; and devise methods to increase their knowledge about the cultivation/solicitation process and their ability to engage and communicate with classmates.

• Provide day-to-day tactical support for giving ambassadors and development colleagues centrally and in the schools; monitor the quality of solicitations and ensure partnering of key volunteers with key prospects; and capture and report metrics pertaining to assigned classes.

• Organize and coordinate fundraising efforts for each class by engaging and supporting the University's leading volunteers and donors.

• Collaborate with the USC Alumni Association Reunions staff to enhance social media presence and a robust communications strategy to promote class-based programming and reunion/reunion giving as appropriate to each class.

• Structure gift opportunities and collaborate with other fundraising colleagues, as needed, to maximize giving; and promote positive donor relations in person and via phone/mail.

• Develop networks with colleagues to keep current on best practices and emerging trends in philanthropy.

• Participate in professional associations and topical training as appropriate.

• Understand and communicate information regarding the mission and priorities of the University of Southern California.

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience managing a reunion giving program or components of it, and managing reunion giving volunteers

• 5+ years of fundraising experience

• Understanding of best practices in fundraising and reunion giving and volunteer management

• Bachelor's degree (or combined experience/education as substitute)

• Major campaign, fundraising, public relations and/or volunteer management experience

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to listen carefully and respectfully and to speak with diplomacy and tact

• Proficiency in desktop applications, including Microsoft Office Suite

• Experience with relational databases (Salesforce or Advance, etc.), including managing and tracking donor prospects

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience managing a reunion giving program

• 7+ years related work experience, including major/leadership gifts or other direct fundraising experience

• Experience with school/college/university-based reunion fundraising programs

• Ability to build strong relationships with prospects, donors, volunteers, faculty, staff, and administrators

• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality

• Ability to work effectively in high-tension situations and maintain composure under pressure

• Capacity to handle multiple projects and meet deadlines

• Able to travel extensively and attend University functions during and after normal business hours

Documentation and Additional Information:

To apply, submit a resume and cover letter (which may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff & their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after 12 months of employment; tuition benefits for staff & their family; free professional development courses; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses & free tram pick up services; discounts to football, basketball and other campus events.

The University of Southern California values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Additional Education Requirements Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 5 years Minimum Skills: Major campaign, fundraising, public relations and/or volunteer management experience.