Senior Director of Direct Marketing and Participation - University Advancement
Quick Summary
Develop a strategic plan to segment and solicit alumni, parents, and friends to increase donors to the Annual Fund and the university.
Bachelor's degree Certifications/Professional Licenses:No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
The ideal candidate is a data-driven, strategic thinker with a passion for leveraging modern fundraising and annual giving marketing practices in support of higher education. This person is a collaborative team player and will have experience in direct marketing, emerging fundraising technologies, and staff management.
Responsibilities
~2 min read- →Develop a strategic plan to segment and solicit alumni, parents, and friends to increase donors to the Annual Fund and the university. This includes strategic analysis of past performance of appeals and solicitation methods, acquisition rates, retention rates, and industry trends. Closely monitor return on investment and make data-based decisions to guide future fundraising strategies. Report on overall results to internal and external constituencies, as needed.
- →Develop key strategies for retention, acquisition, and stewardship of donors to the Annual Fund based on affiliation, class year, and interest. Serve as the final approver on all direct marketing materials and confirm that recommended messages and graphics align with the strategies for each appeal. Verify that all WashU audiences are appropriately included in the direct marketing schedule.
- →Collaborate closely with key departments in University Advancement including by not limited to Advancement Communications, Analytics, Data and Reporting, Advancement Systems, and Donor Relations, on fundraising projects and campaigns including but not limited to WashU Giving Day, Loyalty Society, Engagement Center, License Plate Program, Matching Gift Program and emerging technologies.
- →Work closely with other colleagues in University Advancement to align program goals with the overall philanthropic goals of the university.
- →Oversee the technology used to support direct marketing efforts for all university constituents including engagement center system/vendor, and the data analytics system/vendor. Assist with the development of websites, including online gift forms.
- →Manage data as it relates to direct marketing, including responsibility for data hygiene, segmentation, and other issues related to ensuring accurate and useful data for direct marketing including editing and proofreading publication content.
- →Manage a team of six responsible for the WashU Giving Day, Loyalty Society, Engagement Center, premium fulfillment, License Plate Program, and Matching Gift Program.
- →Stay up to date on the latest fundraising trends, technologies, and strategies and implement them as appropriate.
- →Additional duties as assigned and in support of the Annual Giving Programs (AGP) team.
Requirements
~1 min read- Ability and flexibility to work outside of the normal workday/office hours including evenings and weekends.
- Experience within a complex university setting or national nonprofit organization.
- Annual giving experience at an institution of higher education.
- Experience working with high-level volunteer leadership.
- Experience creating and implementing complex, multi-channel fundraising marketing campaigns.
- Knowledge of VanillaSoft.
- Knowledge of ClickUp.
- Understanding of the high-level relationship-building and strategies involved in securing complex gifts.
- Ability to set priorities and successfully manage multiple projects and competing deadlines.
This position is located in St. Louis, MO and the targeted hiring range for this position is $96,000 - $130,000.
About the Role
~1 min readFor frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.What We Offer
~1 min readPersonal
Location & Eligibility
Listing Details
- First seen
- October 11, 2026
- Last seen
- October 11, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 0
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 51%
- Scored at
- October 11, 2026
Signal breakdown
Stay ahead of the market
Get the latest job openings, salary trends, and hiring insights delivered to your inbox every week.
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.