Company Description:
Founded in 1819, Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the country and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). Today we are a diversified academic institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and professional certificates to adult learners online and to Corps and civilian lifestyle students on campus. Norwich faculty and staff challenge all of our students to push themselves academically, socially, and as leaders. Our graduates build upon their Norwich educations to launch or grow careers and make outsized contributions to their communities, the nation, and the world.
Norwich University is located in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont, only 20 minutes from the state capital, Montpelier, and three hours from Boston or Montreal. It is a private institution nestled in a rural setting with a campus size of 1,200 acres.
Our excellent benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, group life, and disability insurances, flexible-spending accounts for health and dependent care, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, an employee assistance program, paid time off, use of the University pool and fitness center, and tuition scholarships for eligible employees and their family members. Some employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program on their Federal Student Aid Direct Loan balance. For more information about our benefits, visit https://norwich.trgportal.com.
Job Description:
Fulfills the mission of Norwich University by providing vision, strategic direction, and leadership for a comprehensive annual giving program that drives the University's fundraising and engagement goals. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Senior Director oversees annual giving, leadership giving, athletics fundraising, reunion giving, parent giving, and affinity-based initiatives.
The Senior Director of Annual Giving leads a team of fundraising professionals to design and execute multi-channel strategies that increase dollars raised, expand donor participation, and strengthen the donor pipeline. This role ensures that annual giving efforts are aligned with Norwich's unrestricted giving priorities and overall campaign goals. As a key partner across the Development and Alumni Relations division and the broader campus community, the Senior Director fosters a culture of philanthropy that reflects the strengths, authenticity, and generosity of the Norwich community.
Hybrid work schedule may be authorized for this position.
Essential Functions
- Leads direct fundraising initiatives to achieve the University's unrestricted annual fundraising goal, integrating annual, leadership, athletic, reunion, and affinity programs.
- Manages, mentors, and evaluates a team of fundraising professionals, establishing clear performance metrics and fostering accountability and growth.
- Develops and implements multi-channel solicitation strategies to increase dollars raised, participation, and donor pipeline growth.
- Aligns annual and leadership giving with University campaign and institutional priorities.
- Directs reunion giving programs, including goals, volunteer management, and collaboration with major gifts.
- Advances the donor pipeline through targeted donor acquisition, retention and growth strategies.
- Partners with Athletics, Alumni Engagement, and campus leaders on coordinated fundraising initiatives.
- Uses data and analytics to drive segmentation, measure results, and report outcomes.
- Oversees the annual giving budget and ensure effective use of resources.
- Represents the University at events and promotes a culture of philanthropy across the Norwich community.
- Provides strategic oversight of annual giving digital presence, ensuring web content and online platforms effectively support fundraising and engagement goals.
- Oversees reunion giving strategy, setting goals, guiding volunteer committees, coordinating events, and ensuring alignment with major gift efforts.
- Directs crowdfunding strategy and campaigns to maximize dollars raised and donor participation.
- Serves as a liaison to one of the University's academic programs, ensuring alignment between philanthropic opportunities and academic priorities.
- Demonstrates commitment to Norwich University's values, history, and community; fosters a culture of philanthropy rooted in authenticity and generosity.
Other Functions
- Assesses the performance of direct reports and provides frequent feedback to optimize their performance.
- Maintains confidentiality of sensitive or private information.
- Communicates with employees, students, and others in a respectful and clear manner.
- Serves on University committees, councils, workgroups, or other designated bodies as assigned.
- Achieves, maintains proficiency in, and utilizes computers, telephones, and other job-related equipment, including related systems and software.
- Speaks, reads, and writes in English.
- Communicates by telephone, email, letter, in person, or other means or device.
- Performs other tasks as assigned by supervisor.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
- 7 years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding annual giving, leadership giving, or major gift goals; higher education experience preferred. Comparable experience in high-level, relationship-based revenue generation in another industry will also be considered
- Knowledge of fundraising principles, ethics, and trends in higher education.
- Proven experience managing and developing a team of fundraising professionals; experience setting goals, evaluating performance, and fostering professional growth.
- Demonstrated success in designing and implementing multi-channel fundraising strategies, including digital, direct mail, major gifts, reunion, athletic, parent, and affinity-based giving initiatives.
- Experience recruiting, training, and managing volunteers to support fundraising initiatives.
- Experience managing fundraising platforms and developing/maintaining web content to support donor engagement and campaigns.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment; prioritize multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Experience with fundraising CRMs.
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and Outlook)
- Valid drivers license
- Able to sit, squat, reach, push, pull, and manipulate related equipment; lift up to 15 pounds; travel outdoors to various parts of the campus
- Work some evening or weekend hours as needed
- Travel as needed (public or private transportation)
Environmental Conditions
- Indoor work at a computer workstation
- Low level of exposure to noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes.
Additional Information:
Norwich University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a positive education and work environment that recognizes and respects the dignity of all students, faculty and staff. Reasonable accommodations will be made for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at nuhr@norwich.edu for assistance.
All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring immigration sponsorship, including but not limited to non-immigrant visas such as H1B, STEM, or F1, now or in the future. A post offer, pre-employment background check will be required of the successful candidate.
Application Instructions:
Please provide a cover letter, resume, 3 references, and Norwich application.
