Director of Annual Giving

Director of Annual Giving Rochester, NY ( u2022 Association Office Job Type Full-time Description $67,000-$74,000 Annually and a Free Family YMCA Membership Under the direction of the Vice President of Development, the Director of Annual Giving serves as the YMCA of Greater Rochesteru2019s primary annual giving strategist and branch fundraising partner. This role combines the core responsibilities of a traditional annual giving director (direct marketing, donor acquisition and retention strategy, stewardship and giving society development) with a high-touch, relationship-driven partnership approach that supports branch Executive Directors in growing annual leadership level gifts ($1,000+). The Director functions as a trusted internal consultant and partner to the branches, helping Executive Directors identify opportunities, develop practical donor strategies and mobilize the Associationu2019s development and communications resources to support cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activity at the branch/camp level. Success in this role requires strong credibility with senior branch leadership, creative and strategic problem-solving and an ability to move work forward through influence, coaching and collaboration. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Branch Partnership and Support u00b7 Serve as the primary annual giving partner to branch Executive Directors, providing consistent coaching, strategic support and follow-through to strengthen leadership annual giving at each location, with regular touchpoints focused on priority prospects, renewals and donor upgrades. u00b7 Build strong working relationships with branch/camp leadership teams and operate with a high degree of professionalism and responsiveness. u00b7 Help Executive Directors translate fundraising goals into specific donor strategies including prospect outreach, moves management activities, LYBUNT reactivation, stewardship touchpoints and giving society membership growth. u00b7 Support Executive Directors and their leadership teams in managing the complete annual fundraising cycle: cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and renewal/upgrades with an emphasis on consistent donor movement throughout the year. Leadership Annual Giving Strategy u00b7 Lead the development of strategies, tools and activity plans that strengthen leadership annual giving across the Association. u00b7 Partner with the Manager of Data and Systems to help branches prioritize high-potential prospects and move annual donors toward major giving. u00b7 Maintain ownership for the development and implementation of individual cultivation and stewardship plans for $1,000+ prospects, created in partnership with Executive Directors and serving as the moves management roadmap for each priority donor relationship. Portfolio Management u00b7 Manage a small portfolio of donors and prospects, focused on leadership annual giving relationships using disciplined moves management to drive renewals, upgrades and long-term engagement. Annual Giving Campaigns and Direct Marketing u00b7 Oversee Association-wide donor acquisition, retention and reactivation strategies and calendar ensuring priority donor segments are supported by active moves management outreach beyond mass appeals. u00b7 Manage the planning and execution of direct mail and email appeals below the leadership level, in coordination with internal teams. u00b7 Ensure annual giving outreach reflects strong segmentation and messaging as well as incorporates industry best practices. Stewardship and Donor Experience Support u00b7 Coordinate closely with the Manager of Donor Engagement and Stewardship to ensure annual donors receive meaningful acknowledgment, recognition and reporting. u00b7 Help branch/camp leadership implement strong, individualized stewardship plans that deepen relationships and improve retention as part of an overall moves management approach that strengthens renewal and upgrade activity. u00b7 Partner with the Experience Team to develop compelling donor stories and impact communications that locations can use in prospect/donor conversations. Internal Coordination u00b7 Coordinate with internal teams to deliver timely fundraising tools, collateral, prospect lists and support to branch/camp leadership. u00b7 Maintain a set of shared templates and resources that Executive Directors and branch staff can use to support cultivation, solicitation and stewardship work. u00b7 Provide a high level of responsiveness and customer service to branch partners, ensuring branch leaders feel supported and equipped. Requirements u00b7 Bacheloru2019s degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered. u00b7 5+ years of experience in annual giving, donor engagement, or nonprofit development, with demonstrated success designing and executing acquisition, retention, and stewardship strategies that strengthen donor relationships and increase sustainable philanthropic support. u00b7 Proven ability to build credibility with senior leaders, influence decision-making without direct authority, and effectively communicate a compelling case for support that advances mission impact. u00b7 Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with a consultative approach that fosters trust, collaboration, and shared accountability across branches and departments. u00b7 Experience developing strategic donor engagement plans and equipping staff and volunteers with tools, guidance, and confidence to successfully implement them. u00b7 Demonstrated organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple branch priorities, balance competing timelines, and ensure consistent follow-through and measurable results. u00b7 Ability to operate effectively in a highly collaborative, branch-facing environment, navigating diverse stakeholder perspectives while promoting alignment and a culture of philanthropy. u00b7 Experience planning, implementing, and evaluating annual giving campaigns, including direct mail and digital appeals, using data-driven insights to refine strategy and improve performance. u00b7 Proficiency with donor databases, segmentation tools, and moves management tracking; experience with Raiseru2019s Edge preferred, with a strong commitment to data integrity and performance analysis. u00b7 Commitment to inclusion and the YMCAu2019s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, with the ability to build authentic relationships across diverse communities. u00b7 Ability to travel regularly to branches and camp locations in support of relationship-building and fundraising efforts. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: u00b7 Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time. u00b7 Ability to sit, stand and move within an office environment. u00b7 Ability to occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 15 pounds. u00b7 Must be able to travel from location to location.

Created: 2026-04-04