Director of Annual Giving

BSUF Strategy

Director of Leadership Annual Giving

Ball State University

Would you like to work with an energetic group of staff at a unified foundation, one with no barriers between advancement, alumni relations, and stewardship? Now is your chance to be part of a dynamic team dedicated to reinventing higher education through philanthropy and cutting-edge partnerships. You’d be joining our team as we embark on our most ambitious fundraising goal ever — to take student support to the next level, both financially and academically.
We currently have an opening for the position of Director of Leadership Annual Giving. If you’re looking for a high-achieving work environment with a culture of camaraderie and a mission to change lives, check out the job details below.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness is one of the enduring values and informs all of our work. We define ‘inclusiveness’ as a commitment ‘to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.’ As such, this value incorporates a commitment to inclusive excellence and freedom of expression.

Position Function: Reporting to the Senior Director of Annual Giving (SDAG), the Director of Annual Giving focuses on qualifying and soliciting leadership annual giving prospects ($1,000-$25,000) for Ball State University. The director supervises two Assistant Directors of Leadership Annual Giving, while growing revenue and donor numbers through a digital-first approach for solicitations, donor engagement, and targeted campaigns.

The director partners with the SDAG to develop the overall strategic direction for the leadership annual giving program by identifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors. The primary goals of this position are to lead and inspire, secure leadership annual gifts, assist with donor pipeline development and help identify major gift leads.

The director maintains their own portfolio with the expectation of securing gifts in the $10,000-$24,999 range. This position is involved with goal setting and various annual giving initiatives, including the annual fund, capital projects, and recurring programs across the University.

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Minimum Experience: At least three years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary for this role. Experience using data to drive strategy; broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and stewardship; experience building relationships with individuals, corporations, and/or foundations.

Minimum Other: This position requires some travel for in-person donor visits, donor receptions and other Foundation activity (mostly in Indiana and surrounding major cities), any regional travel will be determined in partnership with the director.

Candidates must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and be insurable under the university’s auto fleet policy.

Outstanding oral, written and listening communication skills in order to articulate departmental and institutional viewpoints, goals, priorities, and needs; organized, detail-oriented, and committed to follow-through; proficiency in Zoom/Teams, Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel.

Candidates for searches must have current authorization to be employed in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

Preferred Education: Master’s degree.

Preferred Experience: Higher education, sales, and/or non-profit fundraising work experience. This could include successfully serving in roles such as a student caller, alumni ambassador, or related giving/engagement roles during college.

Supervisory experience; self-motivated, creative, and have great attention to detail; dedication to promote Ball State’s priorities through developing excellent relationships with all constituents; knowledge of or experience in an educational setting; awareness to change fundraising tactics and strategy mid-year to achieve stated program goals as needed; demonstrate willingness to learn new skills and take on challenging tasks; experience using fundraising and engagement platforms such as ThankView and Blackbaud NTX; maintain confidentiality and accuracy with respect to all donors and prospect information; use of social media to leverage effectiveness of fundraising.

Apply online at: https://bsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/42354Include the following documents with your application: resume, and in support of your application for this position, please prepare and submit a cover letter that describes how your qualifications and experiences align with the elements of the position description (or leadership profile). In your cover letter, please also describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to our University’s enduring values, including inclusiveness, which we define as a commitment to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions. The option to upload transcripts is available. Original, official transcripts showing the highest related degree earned is required at the time of hire (even if obtained at BSU). Degree verification will be conducted. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and will be accepted through April 28, 2024.

Pay Range: The minimum salary for this position is $65,000.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 120 undergraduate programs. We offer more than 140 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees, with many of them ranking among the best in the nation. Ball State aspires to be the model of the most student-centered and community-engaged of the 21st century public research universities, transforming entrepreneurial learners into impactful leaders – committed to improving the quality of life for all.

The Ball State way is rooted in the Beneficence Pledge – a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship, honesty and integrity, social responsibility, gratitude, and valuing the intrinsic worth of each member of our community. Ball State students, faculty, and staff are empowered in a culture that believes in them and demands they believe in themselves. They are partners in an innovative, immersive approach to education. They are supported by living and learning facilities that enable intellectual curiosity. We graduate scholars who are changing the world, and we’ve dedicated our University to do the same.

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.