Annual Giving & Advancement Data Specialist, Extension Development

Annual Giving & Advancement Data Specialist, Extension Development

University of Minnesota Extension seeks an Annual Giving & Advancement Data Specialist. This position combines two critical functions : comprehensive annual giving program management (including donor engagement, stewardship, and recognition strategies) and data management with strategic analytics. The right person for this role will be adept at creating systems and strategies that connect donors with Extension's mission, while expanding the data foundation that drives success in engagement and fundraising. As part of Extension's advancement team, you will collaborate with Extension educators and leaders to translate donor insights into actionable strategies that maximize philanthropic support. You will play a key role in advancing Minnesota 4-H - the state's largest youth development organization - while building sustainable funding pipelines that extend University expertise to communities throughout Minnesota.

This position reports to the Director of Development and is part of a collaborative advancement team that includes annual giving, stewardship, and communications professionals. Together, the team secures more than $5M annually in support of Extension's mission.

Responsibilities

Annual Giving & Donor Engagement (60%)

• Design comprehensive multi-channel annual giving strategies across Extension programs, including donor segmentation to maximize engagement and conversion - specifically focused on gifts under $25,000.
• Develop strategic plans and key messaging for annual campaigns, supplemental solicitations (Give to the Max Day, 4-H programming, Minnesota State Fair, etc.), and signature events - defining objectives, targeting, timing, and metrics while coordinating with graphic designers and communicators for content production.
• Collaborate with the University of Minnesota Foundation's "M Engagement" team to ensure Extension's annual giving efforts complement and integrate with broader institutional strategies, including coordinated approaches to mailing, email, calling, text messaging, and campaign timing.
• Develop pathways for donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades across all giving levels.
• Manage budgets for annual giving solicitations, donor events, and stewardship activities, and streamline related fundraising processes and workflows.
• Manage charitable sponsorship processes and support educators in securing sponsorships that enable Extension events, conferences, workshops, educational programming.
• Meet annual performance expectations including $1.5M+ in gifts under $25,000, plus donor acquisition, retention, and pipeline development targets.
• Lead Extension's collaboration with UMF's Leadership Annual Giving (LAG) Team to qualify and solicit individuals from a community of 10,000+ donors capable of making larger gifts and multi-year pledges.
• Design recognition programs for significant donor milestones (longevity, cumulative giving, payroll donors, Extension supporters in UMF's Heritage Society, and other meaningful giving benchmarks) that celebrate donor commitment and inspire continued engagement.
• Develop volunteer engagement strategies that leverage Extension alumni, advisory board members, and committed donors as advancement ambassadors.
• Direct stewardship strategy development and coordinate with Extension's gift officers and communicators to ensure donors receive meaningful recognition and regular impact updates.
• Partner with 4-H staff to develop and manage fundraising processes that ensure sustained support for Minnesota State Fair 4-H awards and recognition.
• Manage a mid-level ($5k-$10k) portfolio of 15-30 prospects, including qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to advance donors toward consideration of larger giving.

Data Management & Strategic Analytics (40%)

Work location : This position is part of a campus-based team at the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus and requires regular on-campus presence for collaboration and planning. Work arrangements : Preferred : Full-time on-campus, or 3-4 days per week on campus. Alternative : Hybrid options may be considered. Final work arrangements will be finalized collaboratively during the offer process based on candidate location, experience, and team needs.

Qualifications

Required qualifications :

Additional Requirements :

Refer to ID 85045254 when applying