<p>About the Job</p> <p>The Strategic Engagement Gift Officer will function as the engine behind Advancement's Annual Giving efforts and strategize alongside the Major Gifts team to identify donor growth opportunities. Guiding strategic fundraising practices and utilizing technology tools, the Strategic Engagement Gift Officer will orchestrate personalized communication and experiences to engage mid-level to major gift level donors with multi-channel campaigns to donors and prospects, helping retain and grow gifts while also identifying donors with the ability and affinity to make major gifts.</p> <p>By leveraging technology, the Strategic Engagement Gift Officer is responsible for managing regular donor communications primarily through Raiser's Edge and helping align that messaging with social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), external platforms, video, and personal outreach to drive engagement between the university and the donor(s). The Strategic Engagement Gift Officer will manage and report regular campaign and communication analysis to continually improve appeal and campaign performance, as well as inform and guide other Advancement Office planning and efforts.</p> <p>About CCU</p> <p>Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world-class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.</p> <p>Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU's motto is--grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (ESV)</p> <p>CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.</p> <p>Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.</p> <p>CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars-competence, character and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.</p> <p>A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master's granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.</p> <p>CCU offers more than 200 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges--the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 9,000 students attend the University on the main campus, throughout Colorado, and online.</p> <p>Job Location</p> <p>Hybrid - must reside and work legally in the U.S. Regular work location: Lakewood, Colorado</p> <p>What is most appealing about working at CCU?</p> <ul> <li>Faith-friendly: CCU's culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values? </li><li>Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God's Word. </li><li>Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. </li><li>Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities. </li></ul> <p>We're looking for candidates who have:</p> <ul> <li>Three to five years of experience in marketing, higher education, or related advancement work. A bachelor's degree is preferred. </li><li>Excellent oral and written communication skills. Includes speaking in public, writing appeals, understanding of graphic design principles, editing publications, and proofing documents prior to publication. </li><li>Proven ability to demonstrate discretion and maintain confidentiality. </li><li>Proven ability to take initiative in delivering prompt, accurate, and Christ-like customer service. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to work positively and effectively as a team member and as an individual contributor. </li><li>Demonstrated ability to work in a high-energy environment and effectively manage multiple tasks; initiative-taking to achieve goals. </li><li>Proven proficiency with computer software, especially a CRM platform, Microsoft Office, Canva (or a similar graphic design software), social media, and email. </li><li>The job may be remote, in-office, or hybrid. Occasional travel to the CCU Lakewood campus or for donor visits may be required. </li></ul> <p>Key Job Responsibilities</p> <p>Mission Contribution</p> <p>Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. The Strategic Engagement Gift Officer contributes to this mission by strategically increasing the communication to and engagement of CCU's donors, prospects, and alumni community, resulting in securing charitable donations and resources to support university priorities, academic programs, and students.</p> <p>Annual Giving & Strategic Engagement</p> <ul> <li>Serve as the team's lead for overall donor communications using digital and traditional platforms. </li><li>Create and manage an annual written plan and calendar for all annual giving solicitations to the assigned populations (physical and digital), designed to meet departmental goals and address university priorities. </li><li>Responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding the assigned donor pool of alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff giving for annual giving campaigns and appeals. </li><li>Create copy and design for all annual campaign appeals and communications to increase support and awareness of funding needs and priorities of the University. </li><li>Collaborate on any related special events for donor cultivation and stewardship (may require occasional travel to CCU's Lakewood campus or other locales). </li><li>Create and manage the annual CCU Gives Day, a digital campaign to raise funds for various funding priorities. This involves weekly meetings with the platform vendor and working with faculty and staff partners to develop funding projects, write copy, secure photographs, and develop donor lists for the platform. </li><li>Coordinate all appeals with the Major Gifts team to ensure annual donors are appropriately identified and qualified for pipeline movement. </li><li>Coordinate with external vendors and consultants to develop annual giving plans, themes, crowdfunding platforms, and other elements as needed. </li></ul> <p>University Advancement</p> <ul> <li>Collaborate closely with the Director of Annual Giving and Strategic Engagement to develop key performance indicators (KPIs), marketing strategies, funding objectives, and donor engagement initiatives. Support the creation of comprehensive stewardship plans designed to deepen donor relationships and encourage increased investment in the university. </li><li>Work collaboratively with the Major Gifts team by identifying and qualifying annual giving relationships and donors with major gift potential by creating clear next steps and a seamless donor experience for them to move to the Major Gifts team. </li><li>Coordinate with Advancement Services to ensure appropriate digital receipting and correspondence related to all donor gifts and accurate appeal/campaign reports for internal reporting. </li><li>Collaborate with the Donor Services Manager to utilize Raiser's Edge in creating emails and solicitations, crafting reports, and adhering to both industry and internal best practices and procedures for data mining and updating records. </li><li>Collaborate across university departments, faculty, and staff to glean stories, funding needs, and institutional knowledge. </li><li>Participate in staff meetings to collaborate on departmental goals, strategies, and tactics. </li><li>May be assigned additional projects or duties by the supervisor and/or the Vice President of University Advancement. </li></ul> <p>Digital Engagement</p> <ul> <li>Build strong ties with the assigned donor pool and young alumni through a variety of activities, including dedicated events, volunteer opportunities, communications, and collaboration with other departments. </li><li>Manage the fundraising plan through all available digital platforms employed by Advancement, including but not limited to social media, career networking platforms, crowdfunding platforms, and Raiser's Edge. </li><li>Manage all social media creation and postings for alumni, including but not limited to CCU SyncedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. </li><li>Educate seniors/graduating students about alumni engagement and how to stay connected to their alma mater. </li></ul> <p>Special Events</p> <ul> <li>Collaborate on strategic donor events for the identified donor pool, such as lectures, donor receptions, and other events as assigned. </li><li>Manage external vendor relationships and apply university policies and procedures for contract and invoice approvals. </li></ul> <p>Nature of Work Environment</p> <p>While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends. Supporting CCU Executive Leadership, and particularly the Office of University Advancement, requires a very high level of professionalism, confidentiality, decorum, and protocol.</p> <p>What we offer our employees:</p> <p>We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process. Colorado Christian University's pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship.</p> <p>Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $60,000 - $75,000. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate's qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.</p> <p>Application Deadline: This position will remain open until filled.</p>