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Overview
The Associate Director is responsible for supporting the development, implementation, and growth of all giving to the Yale SOM Alumni Fund and other annual giving vehicles. Reports to the Director of Annual Giving.
Job Duties Assigned
Working with the Director of Annual Giving and the Managing Director of Development, Individual Giving, create and execute strategies for fundraising from all SOM alumni for the SOM Alumni Fund. This includes soliciting upgrades and renewals, placing stewardship calls throughout the year, planning regional donor events, special recognition societies, and working closely with the Leadership Giving, Reunion Giving, Major Gifts, and the Alumni Relations teams.
Manage and personally solicit a portfolio of Alumni Fund donors and volunteers for renewals and upgrades. In partnership with the Director, actively feed the donor and volunteer pipeline for increased giving and engagement for Yale SOM. Closely monitor the top 500 LYBUNTs and SYBUNTs and work closely with Gift Officers to ensure timely gift solicitations and closures of renewals and upgrades. Travel to key cities and hold regular on-campus, virtual and/or phone meetings to solicit and thank donors and to meet with and recruit annual giving volunteers.
In partnership with the Director, organize and execute the Yale SOM Alumni Fund's major campaigns, including donor challenges, Graduating Class Gifts, student phonathons, Giving Day, the Dean's Leadership Society, and all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the Alumni Fund marketing plan, including solicitations and stewardship. Work collaboratively with the Leadership Giving, Major Gifts and the Reunion Giving Team to identify alumni who can make stretch gifts to the Alumni Fund.
Extract and analyze data about the Yale SOM Alumni base. The Associate Director is responsible for tracking progress against goals and, in partnership with the Director, using the Yale donor database to inform strategy for segmentation and to create the most compelling direct mail and marketing pieces for the Yale SOM Alumni Fund, inspiring increased giving among the SOM Alumni population, including developing ask-strings, strategic re-solicits, high-level Alumni Fund proposals, and more.
Organize and oversee all Alumni Fund writing projects, including but not limited to persuasive annual fund appeals, create compelling stewardship communications, and ensure timely and customized communication to volunteers and donors. Use outstanding persuasive writing skills, become an expert with SOM communications standards and collaborate effectively with other editorial and communications staff at the school.
Work with the Director to source and develop compelling, accurate, and timely information and stories for the annual philanthropy report. Produce an accurate annual Alumni Fund donor roll for an end-of-year stewardship report.
Ensure that gifts and pledges are accurately booked in Yale's donor database; contacts are documented in a timely manner, and appropriate information is recorded in university records.
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Demonstrated ability and interest to personally solicit unrestricted gifts and manage and motivate volunteers. Ability to recruit, train, manage and solicit volunteers, and work cooperatively to ensure successful volunteer and donor experience.
2. Excellent persuasive writing skills demonstrated expertise with writing persuasive appeals and other related written communications, outstanding people skills, sound judgment, and experience managing confidential information. Strong initiative, creativity, organizational ability, and attention to detail.
3. Proven advanced skills with Excel and CRM databases. Knowledge of Excel and other leading desktop technologies, along with the ability to adapt to and use future technologies.
4. Demonstrated ability to work well independently and as part of a team and to work collaboratively with other groups: Reunion Giving, Leadership Giving, Major Gifts, Alumni Relations, etc.
5. Ability to travel and occasionally work evenings and weekends.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Manages special projects ranging from academic to financial from inception to completion, which requires quantitative analysis, independent research, and the proposal of resolutions or conclusions. Creates and envisions programmatic initiatives and communication strategies. 2. Designs and develops communications strategies for special projects. Develops and exercises a keen understanding of the multiple audiences and contributing University offices involved in a given project to ensure that individual communications are rolled out within a structure planned in advance and with appropriate communication among key stakeholders. 3. Envisions, creates and authors a wide variety of sensitive and high-level written materials. Serves as coordinator and executor for a range of internal and external committees. May participate in decisions regarding committee work. Advises panelists on precedents and prior actions. 4. Serves as Secretary for committee(s), manages informal and formal resolution processes and voluminous correspondence. 5. May supervise the work of project coordinator and administrative staff. 6. Serves as liaison to other departments on all communications. 7. Contributes to design, organization, and maintenance of department website. 8. May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience Bachelor’s Degree in a related field and four years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Job Posting Date
08/12/2026
Job Category
Professional
Bargaining Unit
NON
Compensation Grade
Administration & Operations
Compensation Grade Profile
Supervisor; Senior Associate (P5)
Salary Range
$68,000.00 - $120,500.00
Time Type
Full time
Duration Type
Staff
Work Model
Hybrid
Background Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Health Requirements
Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.
Posting Disclaimer
Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
