Manager, Annual Giving
SAIT is a global leader in applied education and an institution that empowers employees to make a difference in the lives of our students.
Building on more than a century of history, we are looking for innovative employees wanting to create a future with us. As part of our team, you are encouraged to be bold and inventive, bringing new ideas to the table. Change excites you.
Along with competitive benefits, gourmet on-campus restaurants run by our culinary program and an unparalleled view of downtown Calgary, SAIT offers the chance to do work with a purpose — preparing the next generation of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and explorers. We develop leaders in the classroom and our workspaces, encouraging lifelong learning for both students and employees.
Your future starts now … at SAIT.
The Opportunity
The Alumni and Development department is hiring an Annual Giving Manager. SAIT is fortunate to receive financial support from our alumni family, industry and community at large. If you’re passionate about sharing SAIT’s story, connecting donors to incredible people, and original projects and experiences, we want to meet you. Don’t miss out, apply today!
The Annual Giving Manager plans, implements, and manages SAIT’s annual fundraising program. This includes developing and implementing new solicitation strategies for alumni/ae and friends of SAIT, as well as managing the existing programming core channels which consists of a direct mail program, emerging digital gift solicitations, e-solicitations, leadership annual giving, crowd funding, day of giving, memorials/tributes, online giving pages and faculty/staff/employee giving initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Director, Development the Manager, Annual Giving oversees two direct reports and additional casual or contract employees as required and volunteers. This individual will also work closely with Alumni and Stakeholder Relations and Major/Legacy Gifts and Sponsorship staff to solicit and steward alumni/ae and friends to reach annual fundraising targets. The Manager is accountable for the solicitation and stewardship of annual donors, growing the donor base and reaching fundraising targets.
This individual oversees and participates in the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of individuals for annual gifts in support of SAIT’s campus-wide programs, and prospect identification. With the goal of continuous program growth and improvement.
This role provides leadership in designing, implementing, and evaluating the Annual Giving program whose purpose is to build a long-term base of support for SAIT from our alumni/ae, faculty and staff, retirees and friends of the institution. The Annual Giving team works collaboratively with Major/Legacy Gifts and Sponsorship staff in the solicitation of leadership annual gifts, driving membership in SAIT’s President’s Giving Circle and major gifts and planned/legacy giving leads.
The Manager, Annual Giving is responsible for these programs and the initiation of new programs, and evaluating the lifecycle of various initiatives. In collaboration with the Associate Director, Development the Manager will set annual objectives, establish strategies to reach those objectives, and monitor progress against objectives. Further, they are responsible for the tracking and analysis of Annual Giving activities, and to support Advancement Operations to achieve the maintenance of a high level of record and database accuracy/integrity and operational effectiveness.
The Role
•Oversee the planning, execution and evaluation of SAIT’s annual giving activities and programs to ensure appropriate cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies are implemented and that fundraising goals are achieved.
•Creating programs for engaging new donors, retaining existing donors and renewing lapsed donors, with a specific focus on growing a pipeline of consistent, repeat donors (alumni, faculty, staff and friends) to help meet the goals and priorities of SAIT. The program should establish an effective pipeline of annual donors to provide a steady flow of prospects, donors and volunteers to higher levels of giving such as major gifts and legacy giving.
•Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and make recommendations for continued development and improvement.
•On a monthly basis deliver program level, stream level and audience level reporting and analysis, including identification of strategies to mitigate or capitalize on performance and plans to implement those strategies.
•Responsible for oversight and supervision of two direct reports: two Annual Giving Junior Development Officers, as well as volunteers.
•Develop and implement a sustainer giving/monthly giving program.
•Evaluate alternative and emerging solicitation strategies and make recommendations for incorporation in the SAIT program in complement to, or in place of, existing programs. Such as digital solicitations using tools like ThankView.
•Work closely with Alumni & Development business units to integrate a communication and stewardship strategy to support Annual Giving initiatives, strengthening relationship with donors to grow loyalty, elevate giving, and lay the foundation for major and legacy/planned gift cultivation.
•Work with the appropriate development staff members to develop and implement strategies and tactics to qualify prospective major gift and legacy/planned giving donors identified through annual giving programs. Including calendar co-ordination to avoid market and communications saturation.
Qualifications
•Must have a post-secondary diploma. Education in business, communications, data analysis, fundraising, marketing is preferred.
•Minimum five (5) years in fund raising.
•Minimum two (2) years of supervising, mentoring, coaching and performance managing employees.
•Valid Class 5 Alberta’s Driver’s Licence.
•Fund raising professional development in annual giving.
•Strong communication, both written and verbal.
•Excellent organizational and time management.
•Goal oriented.
•Self-motivated.
•Communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, with different internal and external constituencies.
•Able to solve problems in a strategic and tactical manner
•Flexibility to work independently as well as collaboratively to achieve defined goals.
• Use initiative to organize and follow through with complex tasks to meet deadlines.
•Demonstrated ability to use a personal computer and computer software programs at the level of sophistication required for the annual giving program.
•Good judgment in making logical and sound decisions.
•Proven ability to successfully ask for philanthropic gift from a prospect.
•Proven ability to make day-to-day decisions regarding problems of program initiatives .
•Ability to work within a restricted budget.
•Personnel management.
•Project management.
•Ability to work in an environmental of tight timelines and competing projects, while keeping donors needs a high priority.
•Knowledge of Post-Secondary fundraising programs.
•Ability to use excel, access and other office program to collate, summarize and analyze data.
•Ability to work as a team member with a variety of people and proven ability to lead.
•Be flexible, discreet and able to maintain confidential information.
•Knowledge of fundraising practices and ethical standards.
•Knowledge of correct protocol for specific situations (i.e. FOIPP).
•Research skills including: ability to use and extrapolate information from the internet and SAIT confidential files.
•Comfortable working with complex relational databases and tools, such as Banner or iModules.
•Comfort level with using Microsoft Office suite, MS Teams, PowerBI.
•Experience fundraising in post-secondary education and strategic planning is preferred.
•Expertise in using fundraising/ Customer Relationship Management software is an asset
•Certified Fundraising Certificate (CFRE) certification is an asset.
•Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) membership is an asset.
Why Work at SAIT
Enjoy a stimulating work environment, a beautiful campus overlooking downtown Calgary and a great benefits package including: comprehensive health and dental coverage, a defined benefit pension plan, professional development programs, generous paid time off, free access to our Wellness Centre, transit subsidies and more.
