Director, Annual Giving

Duties & Responsibilities

• Coordinates annual giving and donor stewardship programs by managing donor benefits, recognition initiatives, and engagement strategies that support donor acquisition, retention, and long-term philanthropic participation.

• Identifies, solicits, and retains annual fund donors through proactive outreach, personalized communication, and relationship-building efforts designed to increase donor participation and revenue generation.

• Develops and implements comprehensive donor stewardship and recognition programs, ensuring timely fulfillment of donor benefits, acknowledgments, and recognition opportunities that enhance donor satisfaction and loyalty.

• Manages donor communication strategies through the creation and distribution of targeted mass communications, including solicitations, stewardship messaging, newsletters, event invitations, and donor impact updates.

• Coordinates donor benefits programs and associated processes, including parking privileges, membership benefits, event access, and related donor services, ensuring accurate fulfillment and exceptional donor experiences.

• Collaborates with internal partners including ticket operations, marketing, athletics administration, and foundation personnel to align donor engagement initiatives with organizational fundraising objectives and donor expectations.

• Serves as a liaison with gift processing and advancement services teams to support tax receipting, donor benefit valuation, gift acknowledgment, and stewardship reporting processes.

• Plans and executes donor engagement and stewardship events, including donor travel experiences, hospitality functions, and special engagement opportunities designed to strengthen relationships and encourage continue philanthropic support.

• Implements donor recognition initiatives across athletics platforms, includes publications, digital communications, and game-day experiences, ensuring appropriate stewardship and visibility for annual fund contributors.

• Analyzes donor participation and engagement trends to support annual fundraising campaigns, improve donor retention strategies, and identify opportunities for pipeline development into leadership and major gift giving.

• Provides donor support during athletics events and special programs, representing the organization through professional donor interaction and stewardship activities, during evenings, weekends, and game-day operations as required.

• Budget accountability.

• Additional duties as assigned.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Fosters a collaborative work environment through respectful and effective communication.

• Demonstrated experience managing value added projects and strategic initiatives.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to problem solve and make decisions.

• Ability to multi-task with frequent interruptions.

• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships at all levels of the organization.

• Dedication and motivation to initiate, lead, and support value-added projects.

• Meticulous attention to detail.

• Knowledge of NCAA, Big 12, and University of Arizona position related rules and compliance.

• Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to plan, establish priorities and successfully manage multiple priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relations.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all organizational levels, and project a positive, professional attitude.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional level experience required.

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree

• Experience in a Power 4 Conference