Somerville College
Regular Giving and Alumni Relations Executive
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About the Role
This is a fabulous opportunity for a highly motivated, enthusiastic, and well-organised individual with experience in regular giving fundraising to join our successful Development and Alumni Relations team as we start to close our highly successful RISE Campaign.
This is a key role within the team and you will be adept at creating and maintaining excellent relationships with a wide variety of individuals at all levels. Your natural passion and enthusiasm for fundraising will allow you to engage a variety of alumni and potential donors with a wide range of events and projects and encourage our alumni to support RISE. Overall, you will contribute significantly to the success of our fundraising efforts.
Reporting to the Senior Development Executive, you will be expected to manage the college’s regular giving programme and engagement with young alumni. You will create and run annual and ad-hoc regular giving and young alumni events, liaising with colleagues throughout college and in the wider University to provide an excellent experience for our donors and potential donors. You will be a highly capable steward and administrator, able to keep accurate and timely records of communications, progress, and fundraising activities in your area and will have excellent knowledge and understanding of compliance in a fundraising context.
In return, you will get to work with an equally passionate team and will have the opportunity to develop your skills and expertise in a warm, supportive, and diverse environment.
The Role
Management of the Regular Giving Programme
Fundraising Strategy and Donor Management
- Strategically grow the Somerville Fund by increasing participation and upgrading regular donations, ensuring messaging is aligned with Somerville’s RISE Campaign.
- Work specifically with the Senior Development Executive to develop and maintain a strong pipeline of donors.
- Work closely with the Director of Development, Senior Development Executive, and other members of the Development Team to ensure coordinated fundraising activity.
- Over time, develop and manage a portfolio of mid-level donors (£5,000–£25,000), leading activity across the full donor lifecycle, from prospect identification and cultivation to solicitation and stewardship.
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Fundraising Delivery and Campaigns
- Create and deliver a programme of fundraising activity to solicit gifts from alumni and friends using a range of channels, including personal solicitations, telemarketing, crowdfunding, direct mail, and digital communications.
- Manage the College's crowdfunding projects and contribute to the development and delivery of the digital fundraising strategy.
- Organise and manage telethon activities, including recruiting callers, coordinating with external consultants, arranging training and logistics, supervising calling sessions, and overseeing follow-up activity.
- Develop and deliver the College's Giving Day campaigns, using multi-channel fundraising and engagement strategies to increase donor participation, acquire new supporters, and maximise philanthropic income.
- Organise and produce regular giving communications, including direct mail appeals, fundraising brochures, letters, and other supporting materials.
- Work with the Communications Officer to maintain and enhance the College's fundraising webpages, electronic communications, and social media activity.
- Organise and manage the Development Team's contribution to Degree Days, including the annual Leavers' Gift campaign and other relevant fundraising opportunities.
Volunteer and Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as a representative of the College and a key point of contact for alumni, parents, friends, and volunteers.
- Liaise closely with the JCR and MCR to strengthen engagement between students and the Development Office, recruiting and coordinating volunteers to support fundraising initiatives.
- Represent the regular giving programme internally and externally, promoting awareness and support across the College community.
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Monitoring and Evaluation
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the regular giving programme and report progress to the College and relevant committees.
Alumni Relations and Stewardship
- Engage young alumni through targeted events and initiatives.
- Promote and steward the Cedar Circle group of regular donors.
- Work with the Deputy Development Director (Operations) to ensure timely acknowledgment and recognition of all regular giving donations.
- Work with the Head of Communications and Communications Officer to support production of the Annual Report to Donors.
- Undertake other administrative duties and special projects as required within a dynamic Development Office.
Data Management and Reporting
- Use the College's development database (DARS) to retrieve, analyse, and manipulate data relating to the regular giving programme, using insights to evaluate performance and recommend improvements.
- Assist the Deputy Development Director (Operations) in maintaining accurate records and documenting and tracking regular giving activity.
General
- Undertake any necessary training applicable to the role as well as training which applies to general college policies and processes, such as health and safety training and data protection training.
- Be familiar with and abide by college policies and processes.
- At all times, operate with due consideration for equality, diversity, and inclusion.
The role is based in Oxford; however, some attendance at meetings, college events, or travel to see potential donors may be required and may take place at weekends or outside normal office hours. In these instances, time off will be given in lieu.
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