Associate Director of the Bellarmine Fund - Bellarmine University

Reporting to the Director of the Bellarmine Fund and President's Society and serving as a key member of the Development and Alumni Relations team, the Associate Director of the Bellarmine Fund plays an important role in developing and executing a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving and donor engagement program designed to increase participation, strengthen donor retention, grow philanthropic support, and build the pipeline for future major gifts.

The Associate Director will help lead annual giving strategies across direct mail, email, digital fundraising, crowdfunding, giving days, peer-to-peer campaigns, social media, and other emerging channels. The position will be particularly responsible for developing innovative digital fundraising strategies, strengthening annual giving donor relations and stewardship, managing key annual giving initiatives, and using data and technology to improve donor acquisition, retention, renewal, and upgrades.

The Associate Director will collaborate extensively with Development and Alumni Relations colleagues, campus partners, volunteers, students, and external vendors to create compelling philanthropic experiences that connect donors to Bellarmine University's mission and demonstrate the impact of their support.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute comprehensive annual giving strategies across direct mail, email, web, digital, social media, phone, peer-to-peer, and other emerging fundraising channels.
• Lead major annual giving initiatives including Bellarmine's Annual Day of Giving, Giving Tuesday, Reunion Class Giving, Athletics Month of Giving, crowdfunding campaigns, and other targeted fundraising initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to expand Bellarmine's use of emerging technologies and digital platforms to acquire new donors, reactivate lapsed donors, engage younger alumni, and strengthen relationships with existing supporters.
• Partner with Development and Alumni Relations colleagues to create donor recognition, stewardship, and engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships and encourage continued and increased annual giving.
• Work in collaboration with the Director of the Bellarmine Fund & President's Society on the planning, coordination, and execution of stewardship initiatives for President's Society donors, ensuring meaningful engagement and recognition.
• Help develop a strong pipeline of annual giving donors who may ultimately transition into development officer gift portfolios and other deeper philanthropic relationships with Bellarmine.
• Utilize donor data, giving behavior, segmentation, and campaign analytics to develop targeted solicitation and engagement strategies and continually improve fundraising performance.
• Establish, monitor, and report key annual giving metrics, including donor acquisition, retention, reactivation, participation, average gift, upgrades, digital engagement, campaign conversion, and return on investment.
• Work closely with Development Operations to develop constituent lists, audience segmentation, campaign reporting, data analysis, and performance dashboards.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications and internal creative partners to develop compelling annual messaging, storytelling, digital content, solicitation materials, and donor communications.
• Serve as a primary content writer for annual giving solicitations, donor communications, stewardship messages, digital campaigns, and related fundraising materials.
• Manage and maintain annual giving web content and online giving experiences in partnership with appropriate campus colleagues.
• Operationalize the annual giving communications and solicitation calendar, coordinating multiple campaigns and ensuring projects are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Participate in campus events, alumni programs, and other activities supporting annual giving, donor relations, and Development and Alumni Relations priorities.
• Support and effectively communicate the mission, values, and priorities of Bellarmine University.
• Contribute actively to a positive, collaborative, innovative, and donor-centered Development and Alumni Relations culture.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Knowledge of annual giving and fundraising principles, including donor acquisition, retention, renewal, stewardship, segmentation, and pipeline development.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to develop compelling, donor-centered fundraising and stewardship messages.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use data and fundraising metrics to evaluate performance and inform strategy.
• Demonstrated creativity, initiative, resourcefulness, and willingness to test new approaches to donor engagement and fundraising.
• Self-motivated with the ability to think strategically, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to quality.
• Ability to work independently while developing strong, collaborative relationships with colleagues, campus partners, volunteers, donors, and vendors.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with donor databases, CRM systems, email marketing platforms, online giving platforms, or related fundraising technology.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and handle confidential donor and institutional information with care and discretion.
• Ability and willingness to attend campus and donor events and work occasionally in the evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous fundraising, annual giving, advancement, marketing, communications, alumni relations, or related experience in higher education or a nonprofit environment preferred.
• Experience with digital fundraising, crowdfunding, giving days, peer-to-peer fundraising, email marketing, online giving platforms, or related digital engagement strategies preferred.
• Strong understanding of digital communications and an interest in emerging fundraising technologies, platforms, and trends preferred.

Physical and Working Conditions

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while working at a computer.
• Constantly operates standard office equipment such as a computer, phone, copier, and printer.
• Must be able to occasionally move through the office to access files, supplies, and meeting areas.
• Requires ability to lift to 10-20 pounds occasionally (e.g., files, office materials).
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and electronically
• Regular business hours, with occasional evening or weekend work based on departmental needs.
• The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate.