Director of Annual Giving

POSITION TITLE: Director of Annual Giving

REPORTS TO: Chief Stewardship & Development Officer

FLSA STATUS: Exempt, Full-Time

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, management, and growth of the Catholic Charities Appeal and annual giving initiatives in support of the mission of The Catholic Church of Philadelphia. This position plays a key role in strengthening philanthropic support by cultivating meaningful relationships with donors, clergy, volunteers, board members, and community stakeholders.

The Director of Annual Giving oversees all aspects of the Catholic Charities Appeal, including campaign planning and execution, donor stewardship, gift acknowledgments, database management and reporting, volunteer and board engagement, and ongoing analysis of fundraising efforts. The position serves as a central point of coordination between development operations and fundraising strategy to ensure exceptional donor experiences and achievement of annual fundraising goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Catholic Charities Appeal Leadership

• Lead all aspects of the annual Catholic Charities Appeal, including planning, implementation, timelines, campaign execution, and management of relationships with external fundraising partners in collaboration with the Chief Stewardship & Development Officer and fundraising partner.

• Develop and implement strategies designed to increase donor participation, retention, and revenue growth.

• Oversee campaign operations, including gift processing coordination, pledge fulfillment, donor stewardship workflows, campaign calendar management, and ongoing process improvement.

• Coordinate appeal materials and communications, including direct mail, digital outreach, stewardship messaging, and campaign updates.

• Partner with parish, Archdiocesan, and agency leadership to support campaign initiatives and strengthen engagement.

• Foster strong relationships with Catholic Charities Appeal beneficiary organizations to support communication, stewardship, impact reporting, and campaign engagement.

• Collaborate with Finance, beneficiary organizations, and Archdiocesan leadership to oversee campaign financial reconciliation, gift allocation, reporting, and the annual beneficiary application, review, allocation, and distribution process, ensuring timely and accurate grant distributions.

• Collaborate with other Archdiocesan offices and fundraising initiatives to ensure coordinated annual giving strategies, consistent donor communications, and alignment across fundraising efforts.

• Monitor campaign progress and performance metrics and provide regular reports and recommendations to leadership.

• Identify opportunities to enhance campaign effectiveness through donor analytics and fundraising best practices.

Board and Volunteer Management

• Serve as staff liaison to development committees, advisory groups, and assigned boards.

• Coordinate board and committee meetings including scheduling, agenda preparation, meeting materials, and follow-up actions.

• Maintain board records and support volunteer engagement efforts.

• Assist in the recruitment, orientation, and stewardship of board members and campaign volunteers.

• Provide board members and leadership with fundraising reports and updates as needed.

Donor Stewardship and Acknowledgments

• Develop and oversee donor stewardship strategies that promote long-term engagement and retention.

• Ensure timely and accurate donor acknowledgments, recognition activities, and donor communications.

• Coordinate personalized stewardship efforts and donor appreciation initiatives.

• Support donor relationship-building efforts through ongoing communications and outreach.

Database Management and Reporting

• Oversee the integrity, maintenance, and effective use of donor database systems.

• Oversee donor database workflows and ensure timely and accurate recording of gifts, pledges, and donor constituent information.

• Generate and analyze reports related to campaign performance, donor trends, and fundraising activity.

• Develop donor segmentation strategies and maintain accurate constituent records.

• Collaborate with internal staff to improve data quality, reporting functionality, and operational efficiencies.

• Ensure accurate gift reconciliation, campaign reporting, and financial records through close collaboration with Finance and development operations.

Administrative and Development Support

• Prepare reports, presentations, and fundraising updates for senior leadership and boards.

• Assist with annual planning, budgeting, and forecasting related to annual giving initiatives.

• Maintain organized campaign records, financial documentation, and beneficiary files while ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of donor information

in accordance with organizational policies.

• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, or related field required.

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, annual giving, development operations, or nonprofit management.

• Experience managing annual appeals, fundraising campaigns, or donor stewardship programs preferred.

• Experience working with boards, committees, and volunteers preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of fundraising principles and annual giving strategies.

• Experience with donor databases and constituent relationship management systems, including reporting and data analysis. Experience in Raisers Edge is a plus.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and strict deadlines.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret fundraising data and develop actionable recommendations.

• Experience managing fundraising vendors, consultants, or external service providers is preferred.

• Ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and with clergy, parishes, donors, volunteers, staff, beneficiary organizations, and community stakeholders.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

• Demonstrated discretion in handling confidential donor and organizational information.

• Commitment to the mission and values of the Catholic Church of Philadelphia.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position requires occasional evening and weekend work for meetings, donor events, campaign activities, and organizational functions. Limited travel may be required.