Assistant Director of Annual Giving – Reunions

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO).

POSITION PURPOSE

The Office of Annual Giving is focused on meeting and growing our annual donor goal of 4000 alumni donors contributing $2.7M+ towards the school’s annual operating budget through The Whitman Fund and W Club. This position is both an individual contributor as well as an important member of the Annual Giving team. The Assistant Director of Annual Giving is primarily focused on direct solicitation of gifts, volunteer management, and contributing to team-based projects. The Office of Annual Giving is part of the Development and Alumni Relations department.

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving is charged with increasing and retaining support from Whitman alumni and parents through annual gifts to the College. The Assistant Director will work directly with our extensive volunteer network with a specific focus on reunion volunteers and staff and faculty giving. The Assistant Director is responsible for organizing, operating, providing logistics, materials and reports for reunion volunteer programs. This position is also responsible for meeting with volunteers and other alumni in 1:1 and group settings to educate these constituents about the Whitman Fund and secure leadership level gifts.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

General

• Serve as a member of the Annual Giving team, focused on supporting group-wide initiatives like days of giving.
• Manage the cluster/milestone reunion giving programs and staff/faculty giving campaigns

Volunteer Management

• Recruit and train reunion fundraising volunteers, communicates with volunteers on a consistent basis with fundraising updates and assists volunteers with their outreach to Whitman alumni in asking for gifts to The Whitman Fund.
• Create and track fundraising dollar and participation goals for reunion classes, set measurable strategies and tactics for achieving those goals, and communicate progress.
• Develop reunion solicitation materials in coordination with Alumni Relations and reunion committee volunteers.
• Collaborate with the annual giving team and the Director of Alumni Relations to plan workshops and training sessions for the annual Volunteer Summit.
• Use, troubleshoot and train all assigned volunteers in volunteer management software.
• Maintain online volunteer resources page to help recruit, onboard and engage volunteers.

Staff & Faculty Giving

• In partnership with the Director of Annual Giving, create and execute strategies to educate staff and faculty about the importance of supporting The Whitman Fund, with plans to increase overall participation by both groups.

Direct Fundraising

• Schedule and complete 25-30 in-person or virtual substantive contacts each year with the purpose of soliciting volunteers or other prospects for leadership level Whitman Fund gifts, recruiting and training volunteers, and qualifying prospects for Planned Giving and Major Gifts.
• In consultation with the Director of Annual Giving, identify prospective leadership gift donors and potential volunteers for milestone reunions.
• Participate in on-campus and regional events, often in partnership with other campus units including the Whitman Alumni Association, to engage donors and prospects.

• In consultation with the Director of Annual Giving, establish professional goals, objectives, and strategies for fundraising. Participate in assessing progress toward goals.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Must be able to explain and/or demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. Specifically,

• Skill in developing and implementing project plans that are longitudinal and complex in nature.
• Highly motivated self-starter who is goal oriented, has attention to detail and adheres to timelines.
• Desire and ability to actively and positively contribute to Whitman’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the Development and Alumni Relations Department’s values of integrity, trust, respect, collaboration, accountability and inclusion.
• Ability to learn fundraising and volunteer best practices, particularly in alumni giving programs.
• Knowledge of volunteer best practices, particularly in alumni giving programs and experience in fundraising.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills, with a focus on communicating the importance of philanthropy and alumni and family giving.
• Skill in using computer applications including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software and donor databases and highly adaptable to changing technologies.
• Knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques that lead to data driven decisions.
• Skill in developing and implementing strategic donor solicitation plans.
• Success in managing an individual portfolio.
• Ability and commitment to support, respect and work effectively with diverse groups.
• Ability to handle highly confidential information.
• Ability to work occasional nights and weekends and travel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Four or more years of professional experience in an administrative capacity, OR a bachelor’s degree.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Two or more years of professional experience in fundraising, donor relations, public relations, or sales; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Thorough understanding of the value of a residential liberal arts and sciences education and ability to articulate that understanding.

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS 

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission – Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for one Whitman course per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Learn more about benefits eligibility here.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin February 24, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

START DATE

March 2024