Associate Director of Development, Annual Fund



Associate Director of Development, Annual Fund

Cal Poly Pomona is among the best public universities in the West and is nationally ranked for helping students achieve economic success. As an inclusive polytechnic university, we cultivate success through experiential learning, discovery, and innovation. The University Advancement Division is one of five central divisions of the University. Its primary purpose is to secure private financial support and build awareness of the mission of the University. By partnering with alumni and donors, the University Advancement Division secures philanthropic support for the benefit of Cal Poly Pomona students and the community. We foster inclusive excellence, and with core institutional values of diversity and inclusivity, we work with the campus community to ensure that those values are deeply embedded in every aspect of our community.

About the Position

The Associate Director of Development will report to the Director of Leadership Annual Giving and work closely with the entire Development team. In addition to supporting the Annual Fund this external-facing position is responsible for soliciting leadership-level gifts ($1,000+ annual gifts, multi-year gift agreements) from targeted pools of prospects with interests related to any of colleges, athletics, and/or student affairs. This driven, goal-oriented individual will concentrate efforts on the acquisition, renewal, and upgrades of leadership-level gifts, thus assisting in raising more private support for Cal Poly Pomona each year and strengthening the base of future major gifts. This role will also be key in developing and implementing an Annual Giving volunteer strategies aimed at securing leadership annual gifts.

The Associate Director will actively manage a pool of potential and current leadership annual giving level supporters as well as top, most loyal donor candidates. The prospect pool will include a combination of alumni, and parents. This person will engage in first contact outreach with individuals for engagement, involvement, and solicitation by appropriate staff and/or volunteers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Manages, develops, and implements processes and strategies for the annual solicitation of donors and prospective donors at the $3,000-$5,000 gift range or more, over 3-5 years.
  • Prepare for and undertake face-to-face visits and solicitations; identify, screen, and cultivate prospects: maintain contact with existing major donors and supporters; and engage in stewardship activities that keep donors and friends informed, interested, and engaged in the activities of the colleges and the university.
  • Travels locally and across the state and nation to meet with various constituencies. Manages appointments with donors and prospects, including evenings and weekends as needed. Attends conferences, seminars and trainings and various off-campus events. (Travels up to 75% of the time.)
  • Attend advisory meetings, cultivation events, university receptions, and advancement activities for the purposes of representing the university and/or college advancement and development outreach initiatives and needs
  • Work with the Major Gifts staff to refer individuals to Directors of Development when appropriate; Partner with Central Development to identify planned giving opportunities; collaborate with the corporate and foundation relations office, and work with other development personnel to ensure that the engagement needs of major donors are addressed in an appropriate manner
  • Serve as member of Annual Fund Giving Day project team and handle appointed tasks related to the event, such as supporting email solicitations, supporting Directors of Development in obtaining and tracking matching gifts, strategizing campaign tactics, and presenting on behalf of the department.
  • Identifies matching gift donors for Giving Day campaign and solicit for gifts before and during the campaign.
  • Manages, develops and implements leadership annual giving volunteer group for parents and alumni, and identify top Annual Fund volunteers and invite their participation.

Key Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university.
  • Minimum three years of experience in development/annual giving or equivalent
  • Excellent oral and written communications skills with demonstrated experience in personally soliciting gifts.
  • Outstanding initiative, work organization and time management skills.
  • Willingness to work evenings and weekends; travel up to 75% of the time.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment – with a mix of faculty, parents, alumni and staff colleagues.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Knowledge of modern data management practices and techniques, including models of analysis that lead to effective decision making on behalf of the program.
  • Ability to drive to donor and prospect visits, conferences, seminars, trainings, and various off-campus events.
  • Ability to travel locally and across the state and nation to meet with various constituencies.
  • Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Higher education development experience is preferred.
  • Knowledge of annual giving campaigns and individual giving programs such as direct mail, Phonathon, and personal solicitation programs is preferred.
  • Experience in initiating and securing high volume of development visits preferred.

Salary and Benefits

  • Anticipated hiring range: $68,000-$72,000 annually
  • An array of health plans, dental, and vision
  • CalPERS Retirement Plan
  • Educational benefits
  • Up to 24 vacation days per year (based on employee group and/or service)
  • 14 paid holidays per year
  • 12 sick days per year, with unlimited accrual


For the full job description, check out our job posting at www.cpp.edu/jobs under Staff/Management Openings!

Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Cal Poly Pomona is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. The University subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, and medical condition, and covered veteran status.