Director of Annual Giving - Olin College of Engineering

Job Description

DEPARTMENT: Office of Development and Constituent Relations  

NORMAL WORK HOURS: 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Vice President and Chief of Staff

OTHERS WHO MAY ASSIGN WORK: Director of Major Giving

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive annual fund program that supports the college’s strategic fundraising goals, with a focus on both unrestricted and restricted giving. This role involves refining and managing multi-channel marketing strategies to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors, while also tracking progress to ensure goals are met. The director also manages a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects, developing personalized engagement and solicitation strategies to enhance donor participation and giving. Collaboration is key, as the director works closely with faculty, staff, trustees, and volunteers to identify opportunities for increasing overall giving and fostering a culture of philanthropy that begins during the student experience.

In addition to overseeing the operational aspects of the annual giving program, including budget management and supervising student callers, the Director of Annual Giving ensures the integrity and confidentiality of donor data in partnership with other departments. The director also plays a pivotal role in coordinating with the Director of Constituent Relations, the Director of Major Giving, and colleagues in the Office of Strategic Communications to ensure consistent communication and outreach. This position requires adaptability, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to achieving the college’s annual giving goals.

This is an in-person/on-campus position based in Needham, MA, with possible flexible work options. Any approved remote work arrangement must be performed in Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and implement a comprehensive annual fund program to build and sustain a growing base of support, focusing on both unrestricted and restricted giving goals.
• Refine and oversee a multi-channel strategy to acquire, reactivate, retain, and upgrade donors, expanding the donor base across various constituencies.
• Regularly track progress against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for acquisition, retention, and donor upgrades, adjusting strategies as necessary to meet goals.
• Manage a portfolio of leadership annual giving prospects ($5,000), executing personalized engagement and solicitation strategies.
• Work with faculty, staff, trustees, and volunteers to identify and leverage opportunities to increase overall giving and participation.
• Partner with the Director of Constituent Relations and the Director of Major Giving to ensure consistent communication and outreach efforts in annual giving and engagement.
• Manage all budgets and operations related to annual giving, including supervising student callers and conducting annual ROI assessments.
• Collaborate with other departments to maintain the accuracy and confidentiality of donor data and records.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy beginning during the student experience and continuing into alumni engagement and giving.
• Foster an inclusive environment and build relationships within the campus community that respect diversity and equitable practices.
• Plan and execute special events and campaigns related to annual giving, including giving days, alumni reunion giving, and senior class giving.
• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Vice President and Chief of Staff, supporting the broader goals of the advancement team.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required with 3-5 years of experience in fundraising, particularly in annual giving programs.
• Proven experience in cultivating and soliciting donors, with strong volunteer management.
• Proficient in Raiser’s Edge and using data to measure success.
• Demonstrated experience aligning fundraising and donor engagement with strategic objectives.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to effectively lead in a team environment. 
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends with some required travel. 
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to values of equity, access, and belonging.

Company Description

Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, we are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do our students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society.

 As Olin evolves under the leadership of our president, Dr. Gilda Barabino, we seek to become a more diverse and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation—including making and learning from mistakes—will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture, and we will work intentionally to reinforce the values and culture to which we aspire. We are a community that thrives on being together; we value trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. We are approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station for the MBTA Green Line. We have plenty of free parking on campus. You can find more details on our Visiting Campus page.

• Take a Virtual Campus Tour: From the moment you step on campus at Olin, you feel a buzz of energy and activity—and once you experience it, you want to be a part of it.

Olin College is committed to supporting an innovative, integrated learning and working environment. As a small campus, the in-person experience and cross-team collaboration is what helps build a strong, dynamic community for our students, faculty and staff. Typically, most roles at Olin College are intended to be in-person and on-campus. Certain paid positions may be eligible for flexible working arrangements, at the College’s sole discretion. Any approved remote work arrangement for pay must be performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business. Individual flexible and remote work options can be discussed during the interview process. 

Benefits

Olin College prides itself on offering to faculty and staff comprehensive benefits that provide both choice and value. These benefits are an important part of total compensation.  

Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week may be eligible for the following benefits: 

Core Benefits

• Medical (three different options) 
• Dental 
• Vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (company paid)
• Paid Family Medical Leave
• Long Term Disability (company paid)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Liberal sick and vacation time and paid holidays
• Free parking

Additional Benefits 

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan 
• Travel Assistance Services (company paid)
• Health Care Management Program
• Pet Insurance

Please note that benefits are subject to change at any time.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

At Olin College we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace. If you’re excited about a role and have relevant experience, but your work history doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we'd nevertheless encourage you to apply.

Olin College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We especially welcome applications from candidates belonging to groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. Employees of the College who have a disability are welcome to request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at HR@olin.edu.