Senior Director of Annual Giving and Foundation Communications

Are you ready to be part of an energetic and unified team dedicated to transforming annual giving and communications at the Ball State University Foundation? Our foundation is breaking down barriers between advancement, engagement, communications, and stewardship to create a cohesive environment where philanthropy and innovative partnerships thrive. This is your chance to join us in our mission to support students in realizing their purpose, achieving their dreams, and leading meaningful lives through Our Call to Beneficence: The Campaign for Ball State University.

If you are passionate about making a difference and thrive in a collaborative, goal-driven setting, we encourage you to apply for the Senior Director of Annual Giving and Foundation Communications position.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness is one of the enduring values and informs all of our work. We define 'inclusiveness' as a commitment 'to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.' As such, this value incorporates a commitment to inclusive excellence and freedom of expression.

Ball State University offers an excellent benefits package for eligible positions. Click here to explore options.

Curious about benefits calculations? Please visit the following link to explore: https://www.bsu.edu/about/administrativeoffices/humanresources/jobs

The senior director serves on the Ball State University Foundation's Engagement and Strategy leadership team and assumes responsibility for managing two complementary teams: Annual Giving and Foundation Communications.

The senior director leads and manages a strategic and comprehensive annual giving program that reflects industry best practices and works to annually increases the number of donors and dollars to Ball State through a robust, multi-channel fundraising strategy. Responsibilities of the team include direct mail, digital ads, online giving, mobile/text giving, giving day, and crowdfunding, online giving.

The senior director's team also holds responsibility for the planning, writing, editing, and producing of content for Foundation and Alumni Association emails, web pages, blog, social media campaigns, video, and multimedia projects in a manner that ensures all content and branding is aligned with strategic priorities and is relevant and engaging to a variety of audiences.

This individual ensures Foundation communications maintain a consistent voice and style, are well timed and allow us to attract and engage new supporters and maintain donor confidence.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Master's degree from an accredited institution.

Director of Digital Communications, Associate Director of Annual Giving

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 20,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 270+ undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of our master's, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees rank among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

Supervise the strategic direction, collaboration, and alignment between the Annual Giving and Foundation Communication teams to ensure their work is complementary and supports the Foundation's fundraising and engagement goals.

Oversee and guide the development of comprehensive strategies that effectively enhance fundraising and engagement communications to Ball State alumni, friends, and fans through various direct marketing channels, including print, email campaigns, video, blog, social media ads, webpages and other digital channels.

Partner with the AVP of Engagement and Strategy to design and develop an annual operating plan that includes comprehensive multi-channel strategies that result in increasing donor acquisition, donor retention and improves the number of gifts from alumni, friends, and fans of Ball State.

Lead conversations regarding communication strategies for the Foundation's target donor audiences, including recurring, leadership, first-time, reactivated, employees, parents, young alumni, and students.

Lead discussions across the Foundation to ensure that all communications on behalf of the organization are consistent, strategically aligned, and effectively meet our goals. Oversee and ensure adherence to branding guidelines while monitoring and enhancing the Foundation's brand. Drive the modernization of Foundation communications by leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies and strategies.

Hire, train, and coach performance of the Annual Giving and Foundation Communication teams. Stay updated on fundraising and marketing trends and technology, and encourage team members to pursue, discuss, and recommend innovative approaches and processes specific to annual giving and communications. Form and maintain relationships with industry peers.

Serve as co-lead for Ball State's award-winning giving day campaign, One Ball State Day. Project management duties include but are not limited to leading the marketing committee, which includes oversight of all giving day assets such as media, billboards, signage, print, web, texting, email, video and more. Attends departmental meetings across the University to ensure fundraising success every April.

Work closely with the development officers, athletics, deans, academic/administrative department heads as well as advancement services to ensure fundraising goals and metrics are shared and that the vision for the annual giving program is collaborative.

Develop compelling strategies and messaging for the Foundation's advertisements and stories in the university magazine. Serve as the Foundation lead for conversations related to the magazine.

Perform other duties as assigned to support the Foundation's goals and objectives.

In support of your application for this position, please prepare and submit a cover letter that describes how your qualifications and experience align with the elements of the position description (or leadership profile). In your cover letter, please select one of our enduring values and describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to that value in your professional endeavors.