Assistant Director, School of Law Annual Giving

Position Title & Department:

Assistant Director, School of Law Annual Giving; University Advancement

Posting #

5209

Department Description:

As part of the University Advancement division, the Office of Annual Giving coordinates the direct marketing, telefunding, student philanthropy, crowdfunding, electronic, and digital fundraising efforts for the university. The department also manages the President's Club, USD's leadership giving society. The annual giving team also provides support for annual giving efforts for academic units and Torero athletics.

University Description:

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanity's urgent challenges.

Detailed Description:

The assistant director is a key member of central Annual Giving and School of Law (SOL) development teams, with principle responsibility for the Law Annual Fund and other SOL annual giving responsibilities. Reporting to the director of Annual Giving, the assistant director is responsible for developing the SOL annual giving program as well as oversight of the Maudsley Fellows Society and ongoing stewardship of SOL donors. The assistant director will focus on engaging, cultivating, and stewarding donors through direct mail, email, telephone outreach, social media, web content, and occasional face-to-face meetings. The assistant director will participate in overall strategic planning as well as program management and implementation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Comprehensive Annual Giving Campaign:

• Plan, implement, and manage all SOL annual giving programs including but not limited to direct mail, phone-a-thon, e-solicitations, days of giving, and Graduating Class Gift.
• Provide guidance and direction to the Telefunding manager specific to the management and execution of the SOL telephone solicitation program.
• Coordinate with the AD and ADOD on the publication of the SOL's Annual Donor Impact Report including donor listings, annual giving information, and annual Big Give and Torero Tuesday results, with recommendations for feature stories and student highlights.
• Manage the tracking and stewardship of annual gifts and pledge payments including endowment funds, graduation awards, and other law school fundraising projects.
• Oversee the accuracy and integrity of the law school's alumni and donor database records, including the thorough documentation of communication with law school alumni and donors.
• Work with the AD and donor relations team to identify class agents/captains for annual reunion giving campaigns, Law Firm Challenge, and the Big Give.
• Oversee the Graduating Class Gift campaign, working with a volunteer group of 3L students and encouraging peer-to-peer fundraising.
• Create and maintain monthly Anniversary Letter solicitation project.
• Serve as leader/captain for the law school during the annual Employee Giving Campaign.
• Responsible for gift processing including checks, credit cards, and gifts of securities; work in conjunction with Annual Giving office manager to complete gift processing forms on a timely basis.
• Generate acknowledgement letters in a timely fashion and in accordance with the SOL's annual giving donor stewardship plan.
• Accurately report annual gifts received to AD and ADOD on a monthly basis.
• Plan and execute monthly first-time donor and annual loyal donor stewardship projects.

Leadership Annual Gifts:

• Manage, solicit and steward Maudsley Fellows Society (MFS) donors, the law school's leadership giving society with annual gifts of $1,500 or more.
• Working with the AD and ADOD, manage the personal renewal of MFS donors; develop and implement strategies to upgrade MFS donors to higher levels of giving.
• Conduct occasional face-to-face meetings to cultivate and to solicit support to meet law school fundraising priorities and goals.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit philanthropic support by developing and maintaining relationships with alumni and other potential donors to the law school.
• Identify and promote SOL events to MFS donors to strengthen their affinity to the School of Law and to add value to the MFS donors' membership.
• Utilize President's Club events to steward and engage MFS donors.

Days of Giving - SOL Big Give/Torero Tuesday:

• Responsible for the SOL's days of giving including the Big Give and Torero Tuesday; develop messaging, manage outreach and solicitation strategies, create social media strategies and outreach, recruit alumni volunteers and class agents, oversee staff members needed to support SOL's days of giving, and develop stewardship strategy at the conclusion.
• Work with AD to identify Challenge Gift donors, if applicable.
• Coordinate Big Give Bash event, including invitations, venue logistics, and fundraising component.
• Serve as unit leader for Torero Tuesday, USD's annual day of giving; recruit ambassadors, develop funding priorities, manage solicitations, and create awareness for the university-wide event.

Law Firm Challenge:

• Provide support to the ADOD and donor relations team to manage the Law Firm Challenge program, including recruitment of new law firms to the program, developing program materials, and training of volunteers.
• Along with the ADOD, establish goals and strategies to increase participation and donations from the Law Firm Challenge.

Professional Development/Other Responsibilities:

• Responsible for keeping up to date with annual giving trends through research and professional development opportunities, particularly those related to law school annual giving.
• Assist with SOL donor relations programs, commencement, graduation awards, and training other staff on office operations and procedures, as needed.
• Sit on Philanthropy Committee of Law Alumni Board (LAB) and attend LAB, Law Board of Visitors, and Law Comprehensive Campaign meetings.
• In addition to the responsibilities outlined in this position description, other duties may be assigned by the director of Annual Giving.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Some weekend and evening work is necessary related to student/alumni events and Telefunding Center shift supervision.
• From time to time, attendance will be required for purposes of professional development, training meetings, conferences, or volunteer committee meetings that relate to the work of this position.

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes. 

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Three years' professional office experience required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required as well as exceptional critical listening and thinking skills. Command of the English language, including AP writing style, and standard grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and proofreading skill.
• Self-starter with good project management skills and the ability to exercise good judgment in advancing projects toward completion.
• Strong organizational and planning skills for balancing multiple campaigns and tasks.
• Strong computer skills (especially Microsoft Excel and Word) and proficiency with donor database/prospect management systems is essential for success in this position.
• Must demonstrate strong analytical skills and superior attention to detail.
• Experience with budgetary management.
• Must be able to work independently, taking initiative and be able to ascertain priorities in a dynamic environment of regular interruptions, multiple projects, and deadlines.
• Willingness and ability to travel.
• Must be friendly and personable; remain professional under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Work experience in higher education, direct marketing, or non-profit setting.
• Substantive experience working with volunteers and volunteer boards is strongly desired.

Performance Expectations - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Commitment to working as a member of a team and collaborate with colleagues.
• Strong sense of integrity and ethical conduct.
• Cultural competency and sensitivity a must; ability to understand different cultural contexts and viewpoints, demonstrate respect for others, adapt to different cultural settings; and accept cultural differences.
• Ability to work with donors one-on-one for solicitation and stewardship purposes.
• Knowledge of fundraising strategies and proven ability to secure gifts.
• Knowledge of online communication to increase contacts with alumni and others.
• Understand the role of technology in annual fundraising and exhibit the ability to effectively utilize sophisticated fundraising software.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with volunteers, donors, and colleagues.
• Ability to understand and demonstrate an extremely high level of sensitivity to customer relations and embrace a donor-centric philosophy.
• Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, problem solving, and decision-making.
• Knowledge of USD's policies and procedures.

Tools and Equipment Used:

• Desktop/laptop computers, database and reporting systems (Salesforce, Affinaquest, GiveCampus, Concur, Workday Financials), Microsoft applications (primarily Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), Docusign, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google applications, Zoom, printer, telephone, copy machine, and other related office equipment.

Posting Salary:

$5,720 - $5,950 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including; medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers.  Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.  USD: Human Resources: Benefits

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position.  Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions:

Resume and Cover Letter Required

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload a cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers' review.  If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at

Additional Details:

40 Hours per week

Closing date: Open until filled

Note: External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the campus community.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit

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