Associate Director, Donor Acquisition

Department: Annual Giving

Reports to: Senior Director, Annual Giving

FLSA Status: Exempt

The anticipated salary for this position starts at $75,000+. The final pay will be determined based on several factors, including qualifications, experience, education, and years within the job or industry, with a strong emphasis on maintaining internal equity.

Who we are and what we’re about:

KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization and the official fundraising foundation for the University of Kansas. We partner with donors in providing philanthropic support to build a greater KU.

As an employee of KU Endowment, you’ll witness firsthand the power of our donors’ generosity. You will join a talented and fun group of people who are inspired to help KU through the support of loyal alumni and friends. This support fuels excellence, enabling students and faculty to develop innovative programs and research that distinguish the university. We connect the philanthropic passions of donors with the needs of students, faculty and programs – and everyone benefits.

People are engaged. Purpose is ignited. Lives are changed.

What we are looking for:

The KU Endowment Donor Engagement department is dedicated to cultivating and expanding the institution’s base of support through increased engagement and contributions by its alumni and friends. This effort is vital in building a greater University of Kansas. A robust and innovative donor engagement strategy is essential to the long-term health of KU Endowment’s overall development operations, benefiting the entire KU enterprise. A comprehensive, holistic strategy serves as the foundation for – and fuels – major gift and planned giving pipelines.

In this role, you will directly supervise a team of two full-time staff members—the Senior Multichannel Digital Campaign Coordinator and the Assistant Director, Giving Day—providing strategic guidance, performance management and professional development support. You will collaborate closely with all members of the Donor Engagement team to develop innovative and engaging strategies, prioritizing a digital-first approach. These strategies will be crafted to span the entirety of the donor engagement ecosystem, with the overarching goals of driving acquisition and reactivation, while laying the groundwork for future donor retention efforts. You will be responsible for fostering a collaborative, goal-oriented team culture aligned with broader donor engagement objectives.

You will play a pivotal role in collaborating with coordinators to refine and execute the tactical components that drive donor engagement and acquisition through flagship solicitation initiatives. This role will require close collaboration with KU Endowment’s Brand Communication team to ensure messaging, creative assets, and digital outreach align with the organization’s broader engagement strategy. Your work will be essential in ensuring that these initiatives resonate effectively with donors and donor prospects, contributing to the overall success of our fundraising endeavors.

The individual in this position is expected to embrace KU Endowment’s stated core values—collaboration, curiosity, empowerment, and excellence —and demonstrate support for them through professional interactions and activities.

What’s a typical day look like?

Develop strategies and solutions that will drive sustainable engagement and growth, ultimately through donor acquisition, reactivation, and retention.

Create a robust implementation plan to drive donor acquisition.

Create a donor engagement plan which threads across key fundraising initiatives with tactical components regarding donor acquisition.

Work collaboratively to develop streamlined processes that guide donors through a seamless giving experience, with the ultimate goal of nurturing a robust pipeline of donors for our Donor Engagement Officers to cultivate.

Leverage existing tools and resources to develop a tactical plan.

Partner with the Brand Communication and the entire Donor Engagement team to implement and execute the plan.

Point person for overseeing acquisition-focused initiatives.

Build reporting to measure and track donor retention and acquisition efforts and results.

Lead, supervise, and mentor a team of acquisition-focused staff, including the Senior Multichannel Digital Campaign Coordinator and Assistant Director, Giving Day, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, fostering professional growth, and managing workflow across key campaigns and initiatives.

Regular and reliable attendance is essential for this position.

Performs other duties as may be assigned.

What’s required to be considered:

Bachelor's Degree: A bachelor's degree in a relevant field is preferred, although equivalent experience may be considered.

Relevant Fields of Experience: Nonprofit Fundraising/Development, Digital Marketing, or Public Relations.

Salesforce Marking Cloud: Certification strongly preferred.

Experience: Minimum 3 – 5 years' experience, preferred 5 – 7.

What separates the best from the rest?

Seeking a highly motivated, data-driven individual with an entrepreneurial mindset to join our Donor Engagement team. Will be responsible for developing and executing data-informed strategies to drive donor acquisition and engagement. This role requires a strong analytical mindset, comfort with working in Salesforce Marketing Cloud, and the ability to translate data insights into actionable solicitation campaigns.

Strategic Planning: Design and implement data-driven strategies to attract and acquire new donors, focusing on enhancing the donor pipeline.

Project Management: Proven ability to manage projects effectively and simultaneously, including coordinating with team members to execute multi-channel projects, including; mail, email, digital and social media.

Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate in crafting compelling content and effectively communicate with donors and colleagues.

Collaboration: Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, including senior leadership, to achieve shared goals.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud: Utilize Salesforce Marketing Cloud to design, segment, and execute digital donor solicitation and engagement campaigns. Analyze campaign performance data, identify trends and apply insights to optimize engagement, conversion rates and acquisition outcomes.

Segmentation & Targeting: Build and maintain donor segmentation strategies based on data insights to ensure campaigns are personalized and relevant to different donor segments.

Analytical Skills: Demonstrated experience in analyzing data and metrics to identify trends, behaviors, and opportunities for donor growth and segmentation. Leverage insights to inform decision-making and optimize donor engagement efforts and acquisition tactics.

Reporting & Optimization: Develop regular reports on campaign performance, engagement metrics, and acquisition goals. Work collaboratively with team members to continuously refine strategies based on performance data and insights.

Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail, especially in managing donor communications and ensuring accuracy in project execution.

Passion for Mission: Genuine passion for the mission and values of KU Endowment, with a commitment to advancing philanthropy and supporting the university's goals.

Adaptability: Flexibility and adaptability to navigate changing priorities and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Physical Requirements:

A valid driver’s license.

Must have access to reliable transportation to travel between multiple locations for training, donor meetings, networking, events and/or work-related activities.

Must be able to respond quickly and effectively to directions and safety hazards.

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office productivity machinery such as computers, keyboards and a mouse, laptops, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

This is largely a sedentary role; however, some filing is required. This would require the ability to move files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The person in this position frequently communicates with donors, colleagues, students, and the public. Must be able to communicate with others effectively.

Physical effort/lifting: sedentary; up to 10 pounds.

Travel: rarely. Travel requirements can include the following: evenings, weekends, and out of town overnights as a regular part of the job.

KU Endowment is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job as regulated by ADA. If you require accommodation for any part of the application process or during employment, please contact to discuss your needs.

We’ve got you covered:

KU Endowment offers a competitive salary with an excellent benefit package including:

100% employer-paid pension plan

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) and Roth 401(k) matching program

Section 125 flexible benefits

Generous paid leave including holidays, personal and sick leave

Volunteer and community engagement opportunities

Paid Parental Leave

Life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance

Legal & ID Theft protection

Critical Illness

Accident and Hospital Indemnity insurance

KU education assistance

Free parking

Sounds good, right? What’s next?

Please include your resume and cover letter when applying for this position on our website at

Questions regarding this vacancy may be addressed to:

Emily Garcia

Sr. Human Resources Associate

KU Endowment

PO Box 928

Lawrence, KS 66044-0928

Email:

Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Because of the sensitive nature of KU Endowment business and the importance of our reputation with donors, KU Endowment conducts a comprehensive review of applicants. By submitting your application, you authorize us to conduct reference checks and a review of available public information. Employment is contingent upon background and reference checks that KU Endowment finds acceptable.