Seminary of the Southwest
Job Announcement
Direct of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations
NOTE: This job is no longer available.
The mission of Seminary of the Southwest, an Episcopal Seminary, is to form men and women for the service of Christ in lay or ordained ministry within the church and the larger society. The primary commitment of Southwest is to the students’ growth in the knowledge and love of God as witnessed to in Holy Scripture, the Creeds, and in the universal and ecumenical traditions of the Church through the ages. Its purpose is to foster Christian ministers who are faithful, imaginative, and skilled. Four educational principles underlie the curriculum, involving worship and prayer, knowledge of Scripture and the Christian tradition, reconciliation, and leadership.
Shaded by stately live oak trees on the north edge of the University of Texas campus, Southwest offers both the advantages of a close-knit community and a world-class city on the edge of the Texas Hill Country. The enrollment is 80 students for the 2008-09 academic year. Two out of three students pursuing a Master of Divinity came from outside Province VII. Twenty-five dioceses are represented, ranging from Olympia, Northern California and Montana, to Virginia, Atlanta and Southeast Florida. The student body also includes students from a variety of other denominational and religious backgrounds. About half of Southwest’s students pursue a Master of Divinity degree and ordination in the Episcopal Church or some other denomination. Through the Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation, Southwest offers degrees and other programs for laity who serve a variety of communities within and outside the Church.
Summary
Southwest seeks an energetic, self-motivated, experienced professional for the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations position. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in fundraising, volunteer management, and oversight. The ideal candidate will provide leadership in the development and execution of annual giving and alumni program strategies to sustain the organization’s operations. These strategies include, but are not limited to: direct mail, phonathons, individual cultivation and solicitation, alumni and donor relations and special events.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Direct the execution of all annual gift fundraising programs;
- Coordinate personal solicitation, direct mail, email, student phonathons, and online solicitation strategies; and track success of program areas;
- Interface and maintain positive relationships with donors, alumni, students, faculty and staff;
- Seek continuous improvement of the annual giving program including streamlining tasks and developing efficiencies;
- Focus on implementation of best practices in fundraising;
- Work with staff to plan and execute fundraising events, donor recognition activities, and other special events;
- Produce and oversee the preparation of high-quality annual giving correspondence including, but not limited to: direct mail, brochures, invitations and proposals required to support fundraising efforts;
- Ensure all donors are appropriately thanked and receive regular communication by making donor stewardship a priority;
- Manage the annual giving/alumni relations budget and adhere to internal policies, procedures, and internal controls;
- Coordinate and support the Southwest Alumni Steering Committee;
- Create new and expanded opportunities for alumni involvement in the life of Seminary of the Southwest;
- Develop and cultivate effective communication and service activities with current students that will foster future alumni volunteers and positive alumni relations;
- Recruit alumni to serve on event and programs committees;
- Direct alumni-related events—bi-annual lectures, Visitors’ Weekend, regional alumni events, etc.;
- Work in collaboration with the Director of Major and Planned Gifts to achieve annual fundraising goals;
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Institutional Advancement.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and work experience
- A minimum of five years experience in fundraising and/or alumni relations, especially the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of annual gift donors; AFP member preferred
- Experience with database segmentation and targeted mailings
- Willingness to travel statewide and nationally
- Excellent oral and written communication skills; exceptional interpersonal skills related to developing donor and alumni relationships
- Strong organizational skills; ability to multi-task and set priorities
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment
- Ability to respond with sensitivity and awareness to those with diverse cultural, ethnic, social backgrounds, values, attitudes and languages
- Computer literate with a solid knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and donor management software; Raiser’s Edge experience strongly preferred
- Knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the Episcopal Church
- Evening and weekend hours as needed
Benefits/Compensation
A competitive compensation package will be offered for this position based upon the successful candidate’s education, skills, experience, and potential for contribution toward the success of the Seminary of the Southwest. The position offers attractive benefits/vacation package and excellent working environment.
Contact
To apply for this position, please email your résumé, cover letter and reference list by
5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 to:
Joyce Penland
Bacon Lee & Associates
P. O. Box 15018
San Antonio, Texas 78212
Email: jobs@baconlee.com
Please indicate the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email.
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We fully respect the need for confidentiality of information supplied by interested parties and assure them that their backgrounds and interests will not be discussed with anyone, including the leadership of the Seminary of the Southwest, without prior consent, nor will reference contacts be made until mutual interest has been established
Tags: alumni, director, episcopal, giving, Job, posting, relations, seminary, southwest
