Director of Chapters and Annual Giving

The Director of Chapters and Annual Giving is a dynamic, creative, forward-thinking person responsible for developing growth and engagement of LSUAA regional and affinity chapters. Serves as a day-to-day contact between chapters and LSUAA. Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief of Staff (COS), the Director will focus on building a year-round fundraising plan for the Annual Fund, the foundation of the Association’s fundraising initiatives. The fundraising plan will include goals, strategies, and programming that aim to build and engage donor base. Responsibilities include planning and implementing campaign strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual donors to support the mission of the LSU Alumni Association. This position will guide the direct mail and digital solicitation strategy, which will contribute to the annual fund of the organization. The position will focus on strategically expanding the organization's annual funding program with a goal of significantly increasing the base of annual gifts through yearly campaign initiatives. Position reports directly to the Chief of Staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Chapters

• Energetic, outgoing, self-starter responsible for building and maintaining relationships and motivating volunteers within a wide range of alumni, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.  
• Build positive working relationships with chapter leaders to support chapter growth.
• Builds positive working relationships with the chapters managers to support affinity chapter growth and participation and collaboration with regional chapters.
• Provides a forward thinking, innovative approach to help drive membership and alumni engagement programming using the LSU TigerNation platform. Works closely with the marketing teams to promote chapter events. 
• Creates quantifiable chapter goals and shows results through monthly/quarterly reporting.
• Provides support and structure to ensure chapter and affiliate alignment with LSUAA strategic plan, mission, vision and values. 
• Frequent and regular participation in chapter meetings in person or electronically to assist with planning, structure, and communicating LSUAA initiatives and expectations.
• Provides creative events and fundraising ideas to enhance existing programming and grow membership. Develops and maintains master chapter event calendar and organizes event schedules with LSUAA alumni engagement and travel team.
• Coordinates chapter and affiliate activity and involvement within Traveling Tigers away game and home game programing.  
• Maintains chapter and affiliate contact information, forums, etc. on website, social media and chapter portal on regular basis and coordinate updates with development, engagement and marketing teams. 
• Plans events, executes and follows-up for university admissions and university executive team regional events with chapter leadership.
• Types and designs general forms, memos, charts, tables, graphs, business plans, etc. related to Alumni Engagement and chapter development. Establishes, develops, maintains and updates filing system for chapter specific files; organizes and prioritizes large volumes of information for the department.
• Communicate financial and scholarship information from Business Office to chapters. Act as liaison between chapters and LSUAA to provide CRM information.
• Works independently and within a team on special nonrecurring and ongoing projects acting as project manager for special projects, at the request of the Chief of Staff.

Annual Giving

• Work collaboratively with the development team and advancement team to create and manage a comprehensive fundraising plan and appeal schedule for the annual fund:

Based on previous research, one calendar year will consist of 2-3 campaigns reflecting the months in need of annual fund contributions.

Spearheads and decides all aspects of campaigns from start to finish, including- graphics, communication, target audience, incentives, and execution timeline, etc. 

All communication to outside vendors must be conducted by the Director.

Collaborating with the COS and development team to set dollar, participation, and qualitative goals for the annual giving fund.

Create and implement strategies to achieve annual fund goals. 

Create and manage a calendar/schedule of multidimensional appeals that leverages a variety of media (e.g., electronic solicitation, and direct mail appeals) to communicate with potential and current donors.

• Assure accurate and timely action entry, reporting, and stewardship in partnership with the Director of Data Management. 
• Design, plan, and implement LSUAA’s annual giving program for all constituencies which will include, but not be limited to:       

Collaborating with the VP of Development, Director of Development and Director of Data Management on Segmentation of donor constituent groups based on giving levels, gift capacity, class years, etc.

Secure new, renewed, or increased funding from individuals through online giving, direct mail and digital campaigns, special events, and direct proposals. 

Development of print/digital appeals and collateral materials.

• Design and manage comprehensive direct mail, digital alumni appeal, campaigns, and other programs with the Development team, Director of Data Management, and Marketing, and partner vendors.
•  Analyze the direct mail/digital solicitation program results data to refine and increase ROI.
• Develop and manage consistent messaging to donors and prospects that align with solicitation and donor-specific stewardship communications, synchronizing the messaging across channels as strategy takes form.
• Performs other duties and tasks assigned from time to time by the Supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent related experience; marketing and experience in planning events, ability to fundraise and secure corporate sponsorships at the Chapter or National level is preferred.
• Ability to work extra hours; working and communication on weekends and holidays can be expected.
• This position requires frequent travel (exceeding 50%), including weekend and holiday travel.
• Experience in developing and implementing fundraising or business growth campaigns or events.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel and Power Point is essential. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work collaboratively and courteously with LSUAA colleagues, alumni, other constituents and the public.
• Demonstrably strong writing, planning and organizational skills. 
• Flexibility and creativity; ability to generate chapter growth and devise unconventional solutions to problems. 
• Ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve organizational goals.
• Demonstrates confidence in building new relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds.
• Ability to organize and complete multiple tasks simultaneously with close attention to detail and prioritization to meet deadlines
• The demonstrated ability to strategize, implement and build constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers
• Thrives in a role where change or uncertainty occurs frequently.