Senior Director of the Amherst Fund

Senior Director of the Amherst Fund

Amherst Campus
Full Time
JR4061

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Senior Director of the Amherst Fund position. The Senior Director of the Amherst Fund is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $150,000 - commensurate with experience. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The Senior Director of the Amherst Fund will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing a comprehensive annual giving program that supports the college's mission, enhances donor engagement, and achieves ambitious fundraising goals for the Amherst Fund. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of annual giving initiatives, including strategy development, donor cultivation, solicitation efforts, and stewardship
activities.

A senior leader in a 65+ person Advancement office, the person in this role must be data-driven and able to use analytics to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of annual giving initiatives, making adjustments as needed to optimize results. They must be able to partner effectively with Advancement Communications to develop compelling solicitation materials, including direct mail appeals, email campaigns, and materials for events, including giving day. The Senior Director must be able to effectively manage a diverse team of volunteers, including board members, Amherst Fund Committee members, and class agents, to support annual giving efforts.

Reporting to the Associate Chief Advancement Officer, the Senior Director will also work closely with the Director of Advancement Communications, the Senior Director of Major and Planned Gifts, and additional Advancement and College staff and faculty. The Senior Director will manage a diverse team of ten and provide strategic and analytical planning, project execution, and lead decision-making within the Annual Giving team.

The person in this role is expected to work as part of a collaborative and inclusive team including taking appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participating in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment. In addition, all advancement staff members are required to support and staff key events such as Reunion, Homecoming, and Family Weekend. These events may require occasional evening and weekend hours.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Fundraising

• Develop and execute a strategic annual giving plan that aligns with the college's overall fundraising goals and priorities.
  
• Identify and implement innovative fundraising strategies to increase donor participation, acquisition, retention, and giving levels in the Amherst Fund.
  
• Manage key Amherst Fund program areas including; leadership giving (1821 Society & Noah Webster Circle), class and reunion giving, young alumni, and student philanthropy/engagement.
  
• Cultivate and steward a portfolio of annual giving prospects, including alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the college.
  
• Coordinate with Principal Gifts, Major & Planned Giving and Leadership Giving to ensure annual fund asks are included and managed in overall fundraising strategy.
  
• Support the Chief Advancement Officer, President of the College, Senior Staff, Alumni Executive Committee, and Board of Trustees on Amherstl Fund related matters. Partner with the Associate Chief
  
• Advancement Officer, to whom this position reports, to ensure the alignment of annual alumni programming and engagement with annual fundraising.
  
• Foster a culture of philanthropy among volunteers, ensuring they understand the importance of their role in achieving fundraising goals.
  
• Generate regular reports and analysis on fundraising progress, donor trends, and campaign outcomes.
  
• Utilize data insights to identify donor segments for targeted appeals, personalize solicitations, and tailor stewardship efforts.
  
• Utilize data-driven analytics to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of annual giving initiatives, making adjustments as needed to optimize results.
  

Management

• Provide leadership and guidance to annual giving staff (team of ten), setting clear expectations, providing professional development opportunities, and fostering a collaborative work environment.
  
• Recruit, support, and manage the College's Alumni Fund Chairs and Amherst Fund Council members,
  
• leveraging their involvement to advance the yearly goals and priorities of the Alumni Fund.
  
• Ensure effective coordination and communication with other departments, such as Advancement Communications and Operations, to streamline fundraising efforts and maximize outcomes.
  

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor's Degree.
  
• Minimum 8+ years of progressively responsible fundraising and volunteer management experience.
  
• Exceptional management skills, both strategic and operational.
  
• Strong understanding of annual giving best practices, trends, and emerging strategies.
  
• Experience utilizing data analytics and fundraising software to drive donor engagement and inform decision-making.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling solicitation materials and effectively engage with diverse stakeholders.
  
• Proven ability to manage and motivate volunteers and staff.
  
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and meet deadlines.
  
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
  
• Some evening and weekend work as well as travel required throughout the year.
  
• Commitment to or experience working with diverse communities.
  

Preferred

• Progressively responsible fundraising and volunteer management experience in higher education.
  

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Career icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

To find information about job group and level (JGL) follow this link.


To apply, visit https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Senior-Director-of-the-Amherst-Fund_JR4061


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