Assistant Director, Direct Response Annual Giving

Posting Details

I. Job Overview

Job Description Summary:

The Division of University Advancement (UA) is seeking an Assistant Director of Direct Response Annual Giving for the George Washington University within the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving. UA is responsible for leading the university’s alumni and fundraising efforts and seeks to promote a culture of philanthropy throughout the university community, including alumni, students, parents, faculty, staff, corporations and foundations, patients and other friends. Our goal is to advance GWUs mission of excellence in education, research, scholarship, and patient care.

The Assistant Director, Direct Response Annual Giving reports to the Director, Participation and Direct Response Annual Giving and is responsible for executing annual giving campaigns to target parents, undergraduate, professional and graduate alumni audiences to increase dollars and donors in support of the GW’s fundraising priorities. This critical work includes direct mail, digital appeals, and special projects focused on increasing annual dollars and donors with an emphasis on improving the donor retention rate and growing alumni participation through an omni- channel program. This role will be active and collaborative across central and school- based teams in UA.

Responsibilities include:

• Executes a high-volume of direct mail campaigns targeting parents, undergraduate, professional and graduate alumni with sophisticated segmentation to increase annual giving donors and dollars.
• Manages the Engagement Center during periods of calling in order to steward, solicit, and engage alumni and donors of the university. Management involves in-person on-site staffing of as many as 12 students for up to 10 weeks in the fall and 10 weeks in the spring. Call center hours are subject to change, but generally run 10am – 7pm.
• Develops web and email annual giving campaigns targeting parents and alumni to increase annual giving donors and dollars.
• Writes copy and works collaboratively across annual giving and marketing communication teams to generate best-in-class fundraising appeals.
• Prepares large data files to create donor segments and personalize content.
• Works closely with External Relations Marketing & Communications, Technical Services, and Constituent Records teams to maximize resources, efficiencies, and outcomes.
• Executes targeted strategies for donor segments and key audiences in collaboration with the Director, Participation and Direct Response Annual Giving and other campus stakeholders.
• Project manages all annual giving appeals so that they are executed on-time, on-budget, and on-plan as part of the overall university omni-channel direct response plan for annual giving.
  
  

Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:

Preferred Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate has outstanding written communication skills and sharp attention to detail.
• High initiative, flexibility, and creativity are desired. Proven ability to process, analyze, and prepare large data sets is ideal.
• Experience working with direct mail vendors, constituent relationship manager platforms, and Microsoft Excel is preferred.
• Candidates should be eager to play an important role in developing and executing annual giving campaigns to increase resources for students and grow GW’s donor base.
  
  

Hiring Range $45,925.13 - $75,829.87

GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

II. JOB DETAILS

Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.

College/School/Department: University Advancement

Family Dev & Alumni Relations

Sub-Family Annual Giving

Stream Individual Contributor

Level Level 1

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm

Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes

Employee Onsite Status Hybrid

Telework: Yes

Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status

Internal Applicants Only? No

Posting Number: S014034

Job Open Date: 02/04/2026

Job Close Date:

If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.