Colorado Nonprofit Association

Annual Giving Coordinator

Job Title: Annual Giving Coordinator

Reports to: Senior Director of Advancement Services  

Location: Northern Colorado/Fort Collins, CO preferred (hybrid, in office 3+ days/week) OR fully remote (from within the U.S.) may be available depending on the candidate

FLSA Status: Non-exempt, regular, full-time

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Salary Range: Typical starting range for a new employee in this role is $51,000 – $56,000/annually

Organization Description

Established in 1963, the Institute for Shipboard Education (ISE) is a 501(c) non-profit organization. In collaboration with academic partner Colorado State University, ISE delivers the Semester at Sea® (SAS) program, one of the longest-operating higher education study abroad programs. Semester at Sea® provides its students with a global comparative education through classroom and experiential learning in the field. The Semester at Sea® floating campus, the MV World Odyssey, carries around 550 students plus faculty, staff, and others. The duration of the semester voyage is typically 105 days, including visits to 8- 10 countries. ISE conducts two-semester voyages annually. See semesteratsea.org for more information.

Organization Mission

Journeys of discovery that spark bold solutions to global challenges.

Position Description

The Annual Giving Coordinator is a full time position who will report to the Senior Director of Advancement Services. The Annual Giving Coordinator holds a crucial role within our organization, entrusted with the responsibility of orchestrating and implementing our annual fundraising strategies which include direct mail, digital and our specialized giving days. Their primary responsibilities include formulating and executing strategic plans to engage new donors and nurture relationships with existing ones, setting fundraising objectives, and meticulously tracking the progress towards these goals. The role also assists with the processing and acknowledgment of gifts and providing overall support in general fundraising operations.

The Annual Giving Coordinator plays a pivotal role in building relationships with donors. Exceptional organizational skills, acute attention to detail, and a comprehensive understanding of fundraising principles and practices are essential for this role. Superior communication skills and the ability to effectively collaborate with a diverse and hybrid team are also required. The ideal candidate will possess a thorough understanding of donor databases and a proven track record in fundraising, demonstrating the capacity to solicit and secure philanthropic gifts effectively. Proficiency in writing skills is a must, as the job involves drafting solicitations, donor communications, and other written material. Above all, the Annual Giving Coordinator will bring a deep passion for our mission, and a dedicated drive to help us achieve our financial goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The individual in this position must be able to perform the essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Develop and implement strategic annual giving plans to engage, cultivate, and steward new and existing donors.
• Set fundraising goals and track progress towards these objectives.
• Coordinate and manage annual fundraising campaigns, including direct mail, online giving, and fundraising events.
• Strengthen effective communication and solicitation activities by creating strategic segmentation to maximize donor growth and engagement.
• Collaborate with marketing to identify and manage needed platforms/third-party vendors to maximize revenue, especially for Giving Tuesday, Founders Day, and Day of Giving, creation of solicitation content and material, and other related fundraising needs.
• Manage annual staff and faculty giving.
• Collaborate with the VP and fundraising team and other departments to align fundraising initiatives with organizational goals.
• Work with the Advancement Coordinator on each voyage to create a successful Shipboard drive and auction.
• Retrieve, analyze, and track appeal data to determine the best channel(s) for meeting philanthropic goals.
• Identify new donor prospects through research and networking.
• Write and edit donor communication materials, including letters, newsletters, and annual reports.
• Collaborate with the major gifts team and other advancement staff to increase participation in annual giving at all levels of the organization, including board and alumni association members and senior leadership, and build strategies for moving donors to higher levels.
• Maintain knowledge of CSM software and current and evolving solicitation trends, including analytics and social media platforms. Work with marketing to craft compelling email and social media campaigns.
• Field inquiries regarding funding opportunities at SAS and ensure proper and timely follow-up.
• Coordinate and support various activities, including scheduling, managing logistics and travel, and preparing meeting materials.
• Assist in the recording and processing of contributions and ensuring all gifts are promptly and accurately entered, receipted, and acknowledged.
• Assist with other projects as assigned.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

The above duties should not be considered an exhaustive list; other responsibilities may be required. It will be important for this person to be able to adapt to the dynamic needs of a small team environment, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to take on additional responsibilities as necessary to support the team and achieve organizational priorities.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree preferred (or relevant professional experience; one year of experience may be substituted for each year of education).
• Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in fundraising, annual giving, or a related field.
• Experience with a donor database (RE7/NXT).
• Strong project and time management skills with a demonstrated ability to work on several projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to be proactive and responsive in a metric-driven environment.
• Affinity with SAS mission; SAS graduate and/or familiarity with SAS programming is valued.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Strong commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to make thoughtful decisions while identifying the needs of donors.
• Ability to handle sensitive information discretely and maintain confidentiality.
• Appreciation for new technology to enhance workflow and ability to learn new platforms quickly.
• Flexibility and adaptability to evolve programming in an emerging and changing environment.
• Budget management skills.

Working Conditions

• This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position. Days of work and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand
• This position requires work performed in an office environment
• Travel domestically and internationally may be required. Travel may include time spent on a moving ship in the ocean, with little to no internet access at times

Physical Requirements of the Job

• Requires sitting, bending at neck, waist, legs and arms; twisting body; and changing positions at will. Occasional standing, walking, stooping, bending, kneeling, and reaching
• Requires repetitive motions with hands and fingers such as keyboarding, use of telephones, cell phones, etc.
• Requires close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus
• Work requires close attention to detail and accuracy and varies in nature with periodic interruptions
• Computer and phone work at a desk for majority of the day