Job Description

The Associate Director of Annual Giving is an important member of the VIA Advancement team; responsible for creating and implementing a program to raise unrestricted annual support for the programs and services at the Virginia Institute of Autism.  This individual will be responsible for achieving agreed-upon Annual Fund goals for each fiscal year, utilizing direct mail and online appeals, fundraising events, corporate sponsorships, volunteer management, and personal cultivation and solicitation of leadership annual gifts. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop goals and strategies, in collaboration of Director of Advancement, for successful Leadership Annual Giving program, including an Operations Plan each year

• In collaboration with Director of Communications & Foundation Relations, develop annual marketing strategy for engagement, solicitations and events

• Create and implement direct mail appeals each year; utilizing best practices in donor segmentation, gift stewardship and personal cultivation of leadership gift prospects

• Personally identify, qualify, and cultivate leadership level annual donors; leading to greater value gifts and ultimate referral to major gift program

• Conduct a minimum of 50 quality visits with identified leadership annual giving prospects each year, including corporate partners

• Develop and manage specific event timelines, planning tools, budgets, volunteer activities and responsibilities, vendors and contracts, and post-event evaluations. These will include, but may not be limited to:

• Run for Autism 5K 

• Gala

• Golf Tournament 

• Events related to Autism Awareness Month each April

• Create event corporate and individual sponsorship proposal for VIA events and train/mentor volunteers in support of these efforts

• Collaborate with Community Advisory Board, organizational staff and leadership, and key stakeholders to promote and support Annual Fund activities and events

• In collaboration with the Associate Director of Advancement Services, organize creative donor relations and stewardship activities, communications, and events for annual fund donors, including community engagement events

• Provide reporting and analysis for the Annual Fund to Director of Advancement and Advancement team as directed

• Work with the Director of Advancement to provide leadership to the Advancement Committee of the VIA Board of Directors and work directly with the VIA Staff Advancement Committee.

• Review and provide annual analysis of activities, ROI and forecast data to measure Annual Fund progress for fundraising

Personal Characteristics and Experience:

• A demonstrated understanding of the fundamentals of annual fund raising, direct mail marketing and event planning

• Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple priorities in a complex environment

• A personable and professional manner is required for both face-to-face and telephone contact

• Exceptional oral, verbal, written and presentation skills

• Proven problem solving skills and ability to exercise good judgement

• Unfailing discretion in dealing with sensitive material regarding VIA families and donors

• Must be a self-starter and have ability to work independently

Skills/Certifications:

• Intermediate proficiency working with personal computers and related hardware/software

• Proficiency utilizing internet browsers as a resource to identify statistics, trends and demographic information

• Proficiency utilizing donor database products;  Blackbaud’s Raisers Edge is preferred

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts degree from a four-year college or university required