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University of South Carolina
Director of Annual Giving Storytelling and Constituent Engagement
🇺🇸
Columbia, South Carolina
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$87K - $134K
💻
Communications
🗓️
October 17th, 2026
CRM
Blackbaud
Rive
Edtech.com's Summary
University of South Carolina is hiring a Director of Annual Giving Storytelling and Constituent Engagement. The Director will lead storytelling, constituent engagement, and donor retention strategies for Annual Giving and Donor Experience programs, develop donor-centered content across various platforms, and oversee a team to execute omnichannel fundraising strategies aligned with university priorities.
Highlights
- Lead storytelling strategist and creative writer for annual giving communications including direct mail, email, social media, crowdfunding, and stewardship.
- Develop and implement constituent engagement programs targeting employee philanthropy, students, young alumni, and crowdfunding.
- Create metrics-driven donor retention and stewardship strategies to improve renewal, second-gift conversion, and lapsed donor reactivation.
- Manage a team of fundraising professionals and coordinate across academic units and special interest programs.
- Utilize Blackbaud CRM along with analytics, project management, and digital fundraising tools.
- Requires a bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of relevant experience; equivalent certification or training may substitute.
- Preferred experience includes annual giving, donor relations, advancement communications, nonprofit fundraising, and managing complex projects.
- Strong skills in storytelling, creative writing, donor communications, engagement, and integrated fundraising campaign management.
- Salary range from $86,515 to $110,307, commensurate with qualifications.
- Supports the Division of Development, DEV Annual Giving department, with 37.5 hours per week on a full-time basis.
Director of Annual Giving Storytelling and Constituent Engagement Full Description
Director of Annual Giving Storytelling and Constituent Engagement Bookmark this Posting Print Preview | Apply for this Job
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.
We are only accepting applications submitted by November 30, 2026.
The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
- Health and Life Insurance
- Retirement Programs
- Paid Tuition
- Dependent Scholarships
- Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
- Paid Parental Leave
- Professional Development Opportunities
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.
Posting Details
Supplemental Questions
Posting Summary
| Logo | |
|---|---|
| Posting Number | STA00780PO26 |
| Job Family | Alumni Relations and Development |
| Job Function | Annual Giving |
| USC Market Title | Director of Annual Giving |
| Link to USC Market Title | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/titles/131965 |
| Job Level | M3 - Managerial |
| Business Title (Internal Title) | Director of Annual Giving Storytelling and Constituent Engagement |
| Campus | Columbia |
| Work County | Richland |
| College/Division | Division of Development |
| Department | DEV Annual Giving |
| State Pay Range | G12 |
| USC Market Range | MRK - $86,515 $110,307 $134,098 |
| Anticipated Hiring Range | $86,515 - commensurate with qualifications |
| Location of Vacancy | Columbia, SC **on-site** |
| Part/Full Time | Full Time |
| Hours per Week | 37.5 |
| Work Schedule |
|
| Basis | 12 months |
| Job Search Category | Alumni Development |
About USC
| About University of South Carolina | From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond. |
|---|---|
| Veterans' Preference Statement | The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities. |
Benefits for FTE Positions
The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Research Grant or Time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some, or no benefits, based on the grant or project funding.
Position Description
| Advertised Job Summary | Under limited supervision, reporting to the Senior Director of Annual Giving Programs and Unit Strategy, the Director of Annual Giving Storytelling and Constituent Engagement (Director) is responsible for leading storytelling, constituent engagement, and donor retention strategies for the Annual Giving and Donor Experience programs. The Director will serve as the lead storytelling strategist, creative writer, and content curator for annual giving, developing donor-centered content that supports direct mail, email, digital, social media, crowdfunding, giving day, employee philanthropy, next-generation philanthropy, stewardship, and other engagement efforts. This position will provide strategic direction for key constituent engagement programs, including employee philanthropy, student and young alumni engagement, crowdfunding, assigned unit-based annual giving programs, and metrics-driven donor retention and stewardship strategies designed to improve renewal, second-gift conversion, lapsed donor reactivation, loyalty giving, and long-term donor engagement. The Director will lead a team of fundraising professionals and develop and execute the overarching omnichannel strategy for a complex set of annual giving solicitations for the University of South Carolina and its academic units, university priorities, and special interest programs across assigned programs and portfolios. The Director will utilize Blackbaud CRM and other analytics, project management, digital fundraising, and reporting tools to ensure that strategies are data-driven, personalized, relevant, timely, measurable, and consistent with the goals set forth within the Annual Giving and Donor Experience programs. |
|---|---|
| Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience |
|
| Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials | |
| Preferred Qualifications |
|
| Knowledge/Skills/Abilities |
|
Job Duties
| Job Duty | Develop and implement an annual storytelling and constituent engagement strategy to support the goals of Annual Giving and Donor Experience and the priorities of the university, colleges, schools, campuses, and units. Build and maintain an annual content and engagement plan that supports direct and digital solicitations, stewardship, giving day, crowdfunding, employee philanthropy, next-generation philanthropy, and assigned unit-based campaigns. Establish a consistent story pipeline by partnering with development officers, communications colleagues, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and campus partners to identify stories that demonstrate donor impact and inspire annual giving. Coordinate staff and partner contributions to ensure annual giving communications are timely, audience-specific, and aligned with campaign goals. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 20% |
| Job Duty | Lead creative writing, content curation, and messaging strategy for annual giving solicitations and engagement communications. Serve as the lead creative writer and editor for annual giving storytelling, including direct mail, email, digital advertising, social media, crowdfunding, giving day, stewardship, and other donor engagement communications. Translate institutional priorities, unit needs, student experiences, faculty work, alumni stories, and donor impact into compelling content that strengthens donor connection and supports fundraising outcomes. Ensure messaging is donor-centered, brand-aligned, personalized, and adapted for key constituencies and generations. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 25% |
| Job Duty | Manage and implement constituent engagement programs for key annual giving audiences. Provide strategic direction for employee philanthropy, next-generation philanthropy, student and young alumni engagement, crowdfunding, volunteer or ambassador-based engagement, and other targeted annual giving constituencies. Guide the Next Generation Philanthropy program in developing and implementing strategies that connect students, young alumni, and crowdfunding efforts to broader annual giving goals. Develop strategies to increase employee giving, strengthen engagement, and build a culture of philanthropy across the university. Assist with the coordination and implementation of the university-wide giving day, currently known as Give 4 Garnet. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 20% |
| Job Duty | Develop and implement metrics-driven annual giving donor retention and stewardship strategies. Create strategies to improve renewal, second-gift conversion, lapsed donor reactivation, loyalty giving, and continued engagement among annual giving donors. Develop tailored stewardship and engagement approaches for key segments, including first-time donors, consecutive donors, loyal donors, lapsed donors, employee donors, student donors, young alumni donors, crowdfunding donors, giving day donors, and donors to assigned colleges, schools, campuses, and units. Collaborate with Donor Experience; Donor Relations, Communications and Marketing; Advancement Services, and unit development teams to develop meaningful donor touchpoints that demonstrate appreciation and impact. Track progress, analyze results, and recommend adjustments based on donor behavior, retention trends, and engagement outcomes. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 20% |
| Job Duty | Provide strategic support, reporting, and best-practice guidance for assigned annual giving programs and unit portfolios. In collaboration with the Senior Director, supervise and guide assigned units in developing direct and digital marketing strategies . Support the development of annual plans, campaign calendars, segmentation strategies, content plans, and performance reports. Provide timely qualitative and quantitative reports of solicitation, engagement, stewardship, and retention performance for the Annual Giving and Donor Experience department, assigned units, and other partners as needed. Build and maintain a portfolio of best practices and emerging trends in storytelling, annual giving, donor retention, constituent engagement, employee philanthropy, next-generation philanthropy, crowdfunding, and stewardship to enhance fundraising outcomes. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | Yes |
| Percentage of Time | 10% |
| Job Duty | Performs other duties as required or assigned. |
|---|---|
| Essential Function | No |
| Percentage of Time | 5% |
Position Attributes
Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.
| Safety Sensitive or Security Sensitive | No |
|---|---|
| Hazardous weather category | Non-Essential |
Posting Detail Information
| Number of Vacancies | 1 |
|---|---|
| Desired Start Date | 01/18/2027 |
| Job Open Date | 10/15/2026 |
| Job Close Date | 11/30/2026 |
| Open Until Filled | No |
| Special Instructions to Applicant | Positions are advertised for a minimum of five (5) business days on our job website. After five (5) business days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email. We are only accepting applications submitted by November 30, 2026. The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:
Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC. |
| Quicklink for Posting | https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/214660 |
| EEO Statement | The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law. |
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- *
Do you have at least a Bachelor's degree in a job related field and 5 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience?
- Yes
- No
* If so, please tell us how you qualify?
(Open Ended Question)
- *
Are you willing to travel to conferences as part of continual educational development and professional growth?
- Yes
- No
- no response
- *
Do you have a reliable means of transportation?
- Yes
- No
* Although we accept resumes for review, the application is the official hiring document maintained by the university. Offers of employment and starting salaries are based on the education and work experience (including beginning and end dates) included in the university application only, not your resume. Have you included all details for all education, volunteer and work experiences in your job application?
- Yes
- No
- No Answer
Required Documents
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- List of References and Contact Information
Optional Documents
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