Assistant Director, Annual Giving Pipeline and Engagement

Assistant Director, Annual Giving Pipeline and Engagement

Posting Details

Job # | 043217
Department Code | 50403-7094
Department | Advancement and External Affairs
Job Title | Assistant Director, Annual Giving Pipeline and Engagement
Location | Syracuse, NY
Campus | Syracuse, NY
Commitment to On-Campus Experience | Syracuse University is committed to delivering an exceptional student experience through vibrant, engaged campus communities. This position is based at the above campus location and requires regular in-person presence to support our students, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to our thriving academic environment. Syracuse University values the collaboration, mentorship, and spontaneous connections that happen when our community works together on campus. Remote work arrangements are limited in accordance with University policy.
Pay Range | $64,000 - $67,000
Pay Determination | Pay rates at Syracuse University are based on a combination of factors including, but not limited to, the job responsibilities; the candidate’s education, training, work experience and key competencies; the university’s strategic priorities; internal peer equity; applicable federal, state, local laws, grant funding and contractual requisites; and external market analyses.
Staff Level | S5
FLSA Status | Exempt
Hours | Standard University business hours

8:30am – 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am – 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.
Job Type | Full-time
Unionized Position Code | Not Applicable
Job Description | Reporting to the Associate Director, Data Segmentation & Strategy, this role drives growth in the donor pipeline from annual to higher level giving. This position designs donor journeys for renewal, reactivation, and upgrades, and identifies and refers leads to the Leadership Annual Giving team and major gift officers as appropriate. The role manages the appeals tracker and the partner appeals on the central communication calendar, and serves as an internal consultant to schools, colleges, and units to ensure coordinated and donor centered messaging. The position works with the Fundraising Intelligence team to build and interpret dashboards and data visualizations that report donor acquisition, renewal, reactivation, and engagement for direct appeals, and works with the Associate Director to turn that reporting into action steps and peer institution benchmarks that guide decisions. The Asst Dir collaborates closely with internal research and analytics colleagues, and pilots new uses of automation and artificial intelligence in Annual Giving. The position also supports peer-driven and community-based engagement initiatives as they develop, providing day-to-day coordination, program analysis, and training for the volunteers, students, and/or campus partners in partnership with Annual Giving staff.

The Division of Advancement & External Affairs expresses a shared mission that is collaborative, trusted, respectful, future-focused and is aligned with the overall University. All current and new employees embrace and demonstrate dedication to promoting shared values in an inclusive work culture to propel the future of advancement operations in their everyday work.
Education and Experience | Bachelor’s degree in business administration, data science, analytics, communications, or a closely related field requiredTwo or more years of experience in fundraising, program development/management, database management, or data analysis; higher education experience preferred.Experience with business intelligence and data visualization applications, such as Tableau, required.Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, tact, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality inside and outside the Division of Advancement and External Affairs.

Skills and Knowledge | Experience with databases and reporting tools and demonstrated ability to write queries for reporting and analysis.Demonstrated proficiency building dashboards and data visualizations in Tableau or a comparable platform, such as Power BI, to communicate results to non-technical audiences.Working knowledge of automation and artificial intelligence tools, with the ability to apply them to reporting and workflow improvements.Strong analytical skills with the ability to make and quickly implement results-driven decisions.Experience translating business questions and requirements into reports and analysis and communicating complex concepts to varied audiences in writing and in person.Effective verbal and written communication skills, creativity, and the ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.Experience working independently and collaboratively with a diverse population across administrative levels.Proficiency in Windows-based applications, specifically Microsoft 365, including advanced skills in Excel.Understanding of higher education fundraising and databases (for example, Blackbaud) and of higher education administrative systems preferred.

Responsibilities | Pipeline Growth Strategy:Review online gifts regularly and central appeal results after each campaign to identify pipeline leads, and refer qualified leads to Leadership Annual Giving, major gift officers, and Prospect Research. Track referral volume, acceptance, and conversion to measure pipeline growth.Build and track engagement and solicitation segments and outcomes with Prospect Development and Data Intelligence. Set annual pipeline growth metrics and projections based on leads delivered from annual giving efforts, and report progress against them quarterly.Design and test donor journeys for specific audiences (such as for first-time, historic phone, and lapsed donors) that support renewal, reactivation, and upgrades. Measure each journey by renewal, reactivation, and upgrade rates, and adjust based on results.

Campaign Execution and Segmentation:Manage the appeals tracker for all school, college, and unit appeal requests, executing direct marketing efforts and serving as liaison with the retrieval and digital experience teams. Keep the tracker current so every request has a status, owner, and send date.Develop partner appeals and determine placement within the overall annual giving communications calendar. Review the calendar weekly to flag overlap and audience fatigue, and recommend schedule changes or joint sends before appeals are finalized.Build and validate segments for central communications and direct response appeals in consultation with the Associate Director, Data Segmentation and Strategy.

Collaboration and Coordination:Partner with Prospect Research to track every pipeline referral and its outcome in the donor database. Reconcile referral status regularly so referral, conversion, and outcome data is accurate and ready for reporting. Document business processes in a shared, current location.Serve as internal consultant to schools, colleges, and units, to advise on appeal strategy, timing, and audience selection.Coordinate email, text, social, and video outreach so partner messaging is donor centered and aligned with central campaigns.

Reporting, Analytics, and Benchmarking:Partner with the Fundraising Intelligence Team to build dashboards and data visualizations, using Tableau or a comparable platform, that report donor acquisition, renewal, reactivation, and engagement for direct appeals.Analyze the performance of central appeals and engagement campaigns, giving and engagement trends within the University, and peer institution benchmarks. Document findings in a written analysis after each major campaign and an annual benchmarking review.Translate findings from Data Insights into specific, documented recommendations that improve engagement strategies. Share results with the office and campus partners, and track which recommendations are adopted and what changed as a result.Identify, pilot, and document new uses of automation and artificial intelligence that improve Annual Giving efficiency, reporting, and results. Report the time saved or performance gained from each.Monitor benchmarks and developments in next-generation donor engagement, and apply them in annual pipeline development planning.

Engagement Program Support and Innovation:Provide day-to-day coordination for peer-driven and community-based engagement initiatives as they develop, in partnership with the Associate Director, Next Generation and Philanthropic Culture, Annual Giving. Track and report program performance and results.
Physical Requirements | N/A
Tools/Equipment | N/A
Application Instructions | In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.
About Syracuse University | Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.
About the Syracuse area | Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.
EEO Statement | Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.
Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans | Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.
Commitment to a Respectful and Welcoming Community | Syracuse University fosters a welcoming learning environment where students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all aspects of campus life reflect a broad range of perspectives and experiences. The University community values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to engage with and appreciate the richness of backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences that shape our society. To achieve this, we strive to cultivate a community that respects and encourages open dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect.

Quick Link | https://www.sujobopps.com/postings/115058
Job Posting Date | 11/09/2026
Application Deadline |
Full Consideration By |
Job Category | Staff
Message to Applicants | 

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