• Dynamic Team Environment: Collaborate with passionate professionals who are committed to our mission.
• Data-Driven Philanthropy: Lead the charge in creating data inspired, innovative digital engagement and philanthropy strategies.
• Unified Structure: Work within an organization that has no barriers between key departments.
• Supportive Culture: A high-achieving work environment that values camaraderie and collaboration.
• Impactful Work: A mission that changes lives through education and philanthropy.

Job Function:

Minimum Education:

Preferred Education:

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum 6 years of experience in fundraising, annual giving, sales, public relations, journalism, marketing, and/or communications within a nonprofit or higher education setting.
• Proven professional growth in responsibilities related to fundraising, communications, marketing, or a related field.
• Strong leadership and team management skills and experience.
• Experience in developing and implementing comprehensive communication strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience partnering effectively with various stakeholders across an organization.

Preferred Experience:

• Proficiency with donor management and/or CRM software.
• Ability to tailor messaging to different audiences.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of individuals.
• Experience with day of giving and/or crowdfunding campaigns.
• Knowledge of trends in student giving and philanthropy education.
• Strategic thinker with a collaborative mindset.
• Working knowledge of Blackbaud, EverTrue and other similar tools.
• Willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends, as necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervise the strategic direction, collaboration, and alignment between the Annual Giving and Foundation Communication teams to ensure their work is complementary and supports the Foundation’s fundraising and engagement goals.
• Oversee and guide the development of comprehensive strategies that effectively enhance fundraising and engagement communications to Ball State alumni, friends, and fans through various direct marketing channels, including print, email campaigns, video, blog, social media ads, webpages and other digital channels.
• Partner with the AVP of Engagement and Strategy to design and develop an annual operating plan that includes comprehensive multi-channel strategies that result in increasing donor acquisition, donor retention and improves the number of gifts from alumni, friends, and fans of Ball State.
• Lead conversations regarding communication strategies for the Foundation’s target donor audiences, including recurring, leadership, first-time, reactivated, employees, parents, young alumni, and students.
• Lead discussions across the Foundation to ensure that all communications on behalf of the organization are consistent, strategically aligned, and effectively meet our goals. Oversee and ensure adherence to branding guidelines while monitoring and enhancing the Foundation's brand. Drive the modernization of Foundation communications by leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies and strategies.
• Hire, train, and coach performance of the Annual Giving and Foundation Communication teams. Stay updated on fundraising and marketing trends and technology, and encourage team members to pursue, discuss, and recommend innovative approaches and processes specific to annual giving and communications. Form and maintain relationships with industry peers.
• Serve as co-lead for Ball State’s award-winning giving day campaign, One Ball State Day. Project management duties include but are not limited to leading the marketing committee, which includes oversight of all giving day assets such as media, billboards, signage, print, web, texting, email, video and more. Attends departmental meetings across the University to ensure fundraising success every April.
• Work closely with the development officers, athletics, deans, academic/administrative department heads as well as advancement services to ensure fundraising goals and metrics are shared and that the vision for the annual giving program is collaborative.
• Develop compelling strategies and messaging for the Foundation’s advertisements and stories in the university magazine. Serve as the Foundation lead for conversations related to the magazine.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Foundation’s goals and objectives.