Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving (A00706)

Job title: Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving (A00706)

About the Role Mercy University seeks an Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving to provide strategic leadership over annual giving, donor relations, advancement communications, and alumni relations. Reporting to the VP for Institutional Advancement, this position aims to grow the alumni and donor pipeline through a comprehensive engagement plan and meaningful alumni relationships. The role also serves as the primary staff liaison to the alumni advisory council and leads campus-wide events such as the Annual Golf Outing and Trustee Scholarship Gala.

What You'll Do

• Provide strategic direction and management for Mercy’s pipeline development: annual giving, donor relations, advancement communications and alumni relations.
• Create and execute a comprehensive strategic plan to enhance alumni and donor connections to Mercy.
• Create and maintain an annual engagement and communications calendar of activities and outreach, including the alumni e-newsletter, social media and the Mercy Magazine.
• Create and maintain strong internal relationships with key campus offices that will serve as strategic partners (Athletics, Student Life, Career Services, Admissions, etc.).
• Partner with the alumni advisory council to create meaningful engagement that strengthens their relationship with the institution.
• Work collaboratively with campus partners on the planning and execution of signature campus-wide events, including the Annual Golf Outing and Trustee Scholarship Gala.
• Create and maintain a modern annual giving program that strengthens the donor pipeline and grows unrestrictive support through multi-channel outreach.
• Working with the Director of Donor Relations, ensure Mercy has a thorough and thoughtful donor stewardship plan that recognizes individual and organizational support throughout the year.
• Serving as a leader within the Office of Institutional Advancement, collaborate with other members of the leadership team to ensure Mercy has a best-in-class advancement program.
• Effectively manage budgets aligned with the office’s strategic priorities.
• Provide counsel and advice to the Vice President.
• Other duties as assigned.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of seven years of experience in alumni relations, annual giving, or fundraising.
• Experience in a college or university setting preferred.
• Previous experience in a development and alumni relations office also preferred.
• A strategic thinker and self-starter who can both lead and execute.
• Proven leadership skills, with experience building, mentoring, and motivating high-performing teams.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and project management abilities.
• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.
• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems such as Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar platforms.
• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and drive cross-functional initiatives.
• Flexible and adaptable, with a demonstrated ability to lead through change and ambiguity.
• Unwavering commitment to confidentiality and ethical conduct.
• Strong customer service orientation and a genuine interest in advancing the mission of Mercy University.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $95,893 to $124,630 per year (USD).