Lawrence University Department of Theatre Arts
Director of Leadership Annual Giving
Lawrence University Department of Theatre Arts, Appleton, Wisconsin, United States, 54914
REPORTS TO:
Associate Vice President for Leadership and Institutional Giving LOCATION :
1025 E. South River Street Appleton, WI
About Lawrence University Lawrence University is a top-ranked liberal arts college and conservatory of music, known for its commitment to academic excellence, student engagement, and vibrant campus lifeincluding 22 varsity athletic programs. The Advancement team builds the partnerships, philanthropy, and alumni engagement that fuel Lawrences mission and amplify its impact.
The Opportunity Are you a strategic fundraiser with a passion for coaching, collaboration, and meaningful impact? Join a high-performing Advancement team that values creativity, excellence, and community. The Director of Leadership Annual Giving plays a key leadership role, overseeing a team of frontline fundraisers and driving the universitys leadership-level annual giving effortshelping to grow our donor pipeline and fuel our mission. This role offers the opportunity to manage and mentor a dynamic team, cultivate strong donor relationships, and contribute to a collaborative culture that celebrates innovation, results, and mission-driven work.
Key Responsibilities Lead and manage a team of gift officers focused on leadership-level annual giving ($1,000 and higher). This position will lead fundraising efforts to meet our Lawrence Fund goal of $4 million, including Reunion giving, Crowdfund efforts, Giving Day, the Family Leadership Circle, the Boynton Society, and other annual campaigns. Manage a personal portfolio of donors and prospects; conduct approximately 90 individual meetings annually, primarily within the Midwest. Lead peer-driven fundraising programs such as Reunion Giving. Build strong partnerships across Advancement to create donor-centric strategies that move prospects from annual giving towards major and planned gifts. Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Communicationswho is responsible for devising annual giving communication and program strategiesas well as the Executive Director of Development Analytics and Operations. Supervise and coach Leadership Annual Giving Officers, supporting their professional development and fundraising success. Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. Oversee regular tracking and goal setting with team members; collaborate on portfolio reviews and gift strategy sessions. Ensure effective and timely acknowledgment and stewardship of gifts in collaboration with the Advancement Services and Donor Engagement teams. Stay informed of trends and best practices in higher education fundraising; share learnings and insights with colleagues. Represent Lawrence with professionalism and passionon the road, online, and on campus. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
35 years of professional fundraising experience preferred, ideally in higher education and annual giving. Previous experience managing staff and/or volunteers preferred. Demonstrated success in donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Knowledge of philanthropic strategy, donor databases, and digital fundraising tools. Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail. A collaborative spirit, entrepreneurial mindset, and sense of humor. Comfort with regular travel (primarily regional) with occasional overnights/evenings/weekends. Why Join Lawrence?
A high-impact management and fundraising role with room for creativity and strategy A collaborative Advancement team and a vibrant campus community Three weeks of vacation + paid holidays Paid sick leave and parental leave Tuition assistance for employees and families 403(b) with employer match Health, dental, vision, and wellness benefits Access to fitness center and campus amenities Apply Today
Join us in shaping Lawrence Universitys future. Apply by
July 31, 2025,
for best consideration.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter via
https://lawrence.peopleadmin.com
. For questions, contact Amy Kester at amy.kester@lawrence.edu. Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
Public Job Posting Internal Job Posting Agency Referral Advertisement/Publication Personal Referral Website Other
Lawrence University 711 East Boldt Way Appleton, WI 54911
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Associate Vice President for Leadership and Institutional Giving LOCATION :
1025 E. South River Street Appleton, WI
About Lawrence University Lawrence University is a top-ranked liberal arts college and conservatory of music, known for its commitment to academic excellence, student engagement, and vibrant campus lifeincluding 22 varsity athletic programs. The Advancement team builds the partnerships, philanthropy, and alumni engagement that fuel Lawrences mission and amplify its impact.
The Opportunity Are you a strategic fundraiser with a passion for coaching, collaboration, and meaningful impact? Join a high-performing Advancement team that values creativity, excellence, and community. The Director of Leadership Annual Giving plays a key leadership role, overseeing a team of frontline fundraisers and driving the universitys leadership-level annual giving effortshelping to grow our donor pipeline and fuel our mission. This role offers the opportunity to manage and mentor a dynamic team, cultivate strong donor relationships, and contribute to a collaborative culture that celebrates innovation, results, and mission-driven work.
Key Responsibilities Lead and manage a team of gift officers focused on leadership-level annual giving ($1,000 and higher). This position will lead fundraising efforts to meet our Lawrence Fund goal of $4 million, including Reunion giving, Crowdfund efforts, Giving Day, the Family Leadership Circle, the Boynton Society, and other annual campaigns. Manage a personal portfolio of donors and prospects; conduct approximately 90 individual meetings annually, primarily within the Midwest. Lead peer-driven fundraising programs such as Reunion Giving. Build strong partnerships across Advancement to create donor-centric strategies that move prospects from annual giving towards major and planned gifts. Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Communicationswho is responsible for devising annual giving communication and program strategiesas well as the Executive Director of Development Analytics and Operations. Supervise and coach Leadership Annual Giving Officers, supporting their professional development and fundraising success. Define clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. Oversee regular tracking and goal setting with team members; collaborate on portfolio reviews and gift strategy sessions. Ensure effective and timely acknowledgment and stewardship of gifts in collaboration with the Advancement Services and Donor Engagement teams. Stay informed of trends and best practices in higher education fundraising; share learnings and insights with colleagues. Represent Lawrence with professionalism and passionon the road, online, and on campus. Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications
35 years of professional fundraising experience preferred, ideally in higher education and annual giving. Previous experience managing staff and/or volunteers preferred. Demonstrated success in donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Knowledge of philanthropic strategy, donor databases, and digital fundraising tools. Strong writing, communication, and organizational skills with excellent attention to detail. A collaborative spirit, entrepreneurial mindset, and sense of humor. Comfort with regular travel (primarily regional) with occasional overnights/evenings/weekends. Why Join Lawrence?
A high-impact management and fundraising role with room for creativity and strategy A collaborative Advancement team and a vibrant campus community Three weeks of vacation + paid holidays Paid sick leave and parental leave Tuition assistance for employees and families 403(b) with employer match Health, dental, vision, and wellness benefits Access to fitness center and campus amenities Apply Today
Join us in shaping Lawrence Universitys future. Apply by
July 31, 2025,
for best consideration.
Please submit your resume and a cover letter via
https://lawrence.peopleadmin.com
. For questions, contact Amy Kester at amy.kester@lawrence.edu. Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
Public Job Posting Internal Job Posting Agency Referral Advertisement/Publication Personal Referral Website Other
Lawrence University 711 East Boldt Way Appleton, WI 54911
#J-18808-Ljbffr