Binghamton Fund Program Associate - Direct Marketing_

Location: Binghamton, NY Category: Professional Posted On: Wed Jun 26 2024 Job Description:The Binghamton Fund Program Associate, Direct Marketing is a full-time, professional fundraising position responsible for planning and implementing a successful annual giving program to raise unrestricted support. The position will focus on integrated broad-based outreach to alumni and graduate school alumni constituencies and special constituencies such as recent graduates the first ten years out and parents while liaising with Binghamton Fund colleagues on outreach to faculty/staff and current students. The Program Associate reports to the Director of the Binghamton Fund.The position must have skills to help manage and grow a well-established program for Binghamton Fund donors. The primary objective of the Program Associate's position is to oversee all aspects of the direct mail, telephone and email solicitations for the Binghamton Fund and other special fundraising initiatives as directed. Strong project management skills are a must, balanced with an eye for creative design and innovative ways to share messaging. The position works closely with the Office of Development, the Office of Alumni Engagement, and other on-campus partners to integrate annual giving activity into efforts with students and parents.The Program Associate should be a strong advocate for the Binghamton Fund, both internally and externally.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESWritten solicitation strategies (50%)+ Work with the Director of the Binghamton Fund to develop segmentation, timelines, ask levels, and solicitation strategies for direct mail, e-solicitations, telefund mailings and pledge reminders. Ensure that these messages, coupled with effective segmentation strategies, are providing for maximum dollar and donor returns. In addition, develop and implement effective email solicitation strategies to supplement direct mail efforts and increase participation and per-donor gift revenue.+ Direct Mail+ Create donor- centered letter versions specifically based on each type of giving behavior from single letter template provided by the Advancement Writer. Each mailing has three templates and as many as 25 distinct letters based on the recipient's constituency and previous giving behaviors.+ Work with the Advancement Writer and Creative Services to develop Binghamton Fund publications, mailings, and direct mail appeals for alumni, parents, faculty and staff and other constituencies as needed. This includes all aspects of production - requests, writing, design, proofing, securing supervisory approvals and monitoring progress to meet deadlines.+ Evaluate, and implement as needed, new processes for stationery creation that allow for greater flexibility in our response to direct mail results.+ Email+ Send targeted email solicitations to distinct pools of donors and non-donors to create a more donor-centered approach to email contact.+ Send donors and non-donors a follow up email for each direct mail solicitation they receive 6-8 weeks after receipt to the letter to maximize response.+ Create a suite of solicitation emails to be sent during critical times of the year, such as end of calendar year and end of fiscal year.Planning, Reporting and Analysis (15%)+ Compile direct mail results and costs, analyze and prepare reports for internal use. Advise the Director of the Binghamton Fund in planning strategies for future direct mail initiatives, concepts and themes.+ Track effectiveness and impact of email solicitations.+ Help evaluate giving patterns and establish goals. Monitor the progress towards dollar and donor goals.+ Participate in analysis process including creating reports on mailing results, year-to-year comparisons, etc. Assist in developing, executing and applying research efforts.+ Run reports to effectively track overall goals towards donor retention and participation rates for the university. Utilize this information within the Binghamton Fund to develop initiatives for achieving this goal. Work with the Director on various initiatives targeted at reaching donor retention and participation goals.+ Monitor various segments to test and refine efforts for maximum effectiveness for both short and long-term.Stewardship strategies (15%)+ Produce creative stewardship pieces for Binghamton Fund donors including acknowledgement thank you cards and the annual thank you postcard for donors to the Binghamton Fund.+ Assist with creating customized Binghamton Fund Impact Reports for top Binghamton Fund donors.+ Email stories to donors about the impact of their giving at least four times per year.Telefund (10%)+ Serve as a liaison to the telefund vendor and call center manager in order to coordinate calling strategies with direct mail and email appeals.+ Create calling scripts, follow-up messages, pledge acknowledgements etc. that are donor-centered and reflect current information about Binghamton University. Help develop calling pools that are arranged to be as strategically effective as possible+ Monitor day-to-day interactions between the telefund vendor and Advancement/Foundation staff including data transfers, calling results and error resolution.+ Schedule visits from campus leadership every year to educate student callers on University messaging.+ Work to improve telefund pledge fulfillment rates through the implementation of new strategies.Creative services and operations (5%)+ Serve as the primary liaison to the Creative Services office, direct mail vendors and mailing houses for broad-based Binghamton Fund outreach.+ Track inventory of Binghamton Fund materials. Ensure samples are archived and available for the Director of the Binghamton Fund and others as needed.+ Work with Creative Services' web team to develop and enhance The Binghamton Fund's website.+ Create and maintain documentation and processes to standardize work within the Binghamton Fund. Share information with others regarding the direct mail process, mailing segmentation, and vendor relationships as needed. Maintain a working knowledge of University programs, initiatives, and how the Binghamton Fund impacts the university.+ Assist with timely responses to the Binghamton Fund email inbox and incoming phone calls from the main Binghamton Fund telephone line as needed.Professional development (5%)+ Review fundraising trade journals, books, and listservs to improve the annual giving program and develop enhanced solicitation strategies. Stay current on trends in the annual giving industry and changes in technology that affect the program.+ Forge relationships with colleagues at other institutions and organizations in an effort to learn best practices in the industry.+ As funding allows, participate in at least one professional development conference or educational program each year, if appropriate, in an effort to improve job skills and acquire broader knowledge of fundraising techniques used at other colleges and universities.Job Requirements:+ Bachelor's degree required.+ A minimum of three (3) years' experience, with preference for five (5) years, in development, thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of development and fundraising with a detailed understanding of annual fundraising programs, such as direct mail, phonathons, and personal solicitation programs preferred and/or transferrable skills. Experience in education-based fundraising strongly preferred.+ Excellent interpersonal skills, outstanding personal initiative. Very detail oriented, highly motivated. Experience in short-cycle campaign fundraising preferred.+ Superior communication skills with the ability to connect to multiple constituencies; clarity, crispness, and persuasiveness in written and oral communications.+ Ability to work effectively in a team environment?with a mix of faculty, parents, alumni, and staff colleagues.+ Knowledge of and compliance with the Fundraising Code of Ethics.+ Must have ability to safeguard confidential and sensitive donor and organizational information.+ Willingness to work evenings and weekends on occasion.+ Willingness to personally solicit gifts.+ Conversant in relevant and contemporary technologies and how they can be used in support of communicating and marketing direct mail and electronic solicitation programs, including to increase participation, and measure and manage results.+ Solid aptitude for working with databases, Word, Excel, and other e-resources is essential. Experience with donor fundraising software, particularly Millennium, highly preferred.+ Ability to manage process, deadlines, and budget while adhering to the policies and procedures of the organization and ability to get along with peers, volunteers and management.+ Maintain a positive and constructive attitude while solving problems.+ A commitment to Binghamton's mission, vision and values along with a commitment to providing services to a diverse range of clients and to the goals of the University, Foundation and Advancement team is essential.Additional Information:Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000 annually. Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.Research Foundation Commitment to Equal Employment OpportunityAs an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, The Research Foundation for SUNY will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, creed, religion, sex ,pregnancy-related conditions, reproductive health decisions, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical and mental disability, prior arrest or conviction record, genetic characteristics/genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, domestic violence victim status, military status or service, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under federal, state or local law.The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.The Research Foundation for SUNY is a private, not for profit corporation and is a separate employer from SUNY and the State of New York and offers separate compensation and benefit plans.Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus.