Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy
Methodist University, Fayetteville, NC, United States
Methodist University Location - Fayetteville, NC 28311 Overview Position Type:
Full Time Staff
Description
Job Summary The Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy provides leadership for cultivating lifelong relationships between Methodist University and its alumni, parents, and graduating students. This position is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy to strengthen institutional affinity, increase alumni participation, and support philanthropic growth.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, this role integrates alumni engagement directly into the University’s fundraising continuum, ensuring that engagement efforts advance student recruitment, financial support, volunteer leadership, and institutional pride.
The Director supports and promotes Methodist University’s mission to engage, enrich, and empower communities while honoring the University’s Methodist heritage and commitment to whole-person development.
Overall Objectives The Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy is responsible for planning and implementing activities of the Alumni Association as advised by the Senior Director of Development for the purpose of broadening the base of alumni support to the University in the areas of student recruitment, financial gifts, and attendance at special events both on and off campus.
Direct Reports None
Specific Accountabilities Duties include, but are not limited to:
Engagement Strategy
Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year alumni engagement plan aligned with Development priorities and the University’s strategic plan.
Establish measurable engagement metrics tied to alumni participation, volunteerism, and donor pipeline development.
Build strategies that move alumni along the continuum:
Connect → Engage → Invest → Lead .
Fundraising Integration & Pipeline Development
Collaborate closely with fundraising officers to:
Increase alumni participation rates.
Identify and qualify alumni prospects for major and planned gifts.
Strengthen reunion and milestone-based giving strategies.
Support alumni-focused fundraising initiatives, including unrestricted giving, scholarships, athletics, and campaign priorities.
Ensure all alumni programming supports broader advancement goals.
Alumni & Parent Programming
Provide leadership and execution of signature engagement initiatives, including:
Homecoming
Alumni Awards
Regional and Alumni events
Senior transition programming (traditional and non-traditional students)
Graduate program alumni engagement
Provide oversight and strategic direction for a Parents’ Program, including development of a Parents Advisory Council.
Ensure programs are relationship-driven, mission-centered, and fundraising-aligned.
Volunteer & Alumni Leadership Development
Provide leadership and support to the Alumni Association Board.
Recruit, train, and steward alumni volunteers, class agents, ambassadors, and regional leaders.
Strengthen regional alumni chapters and affinity networks.
Cultivate alumni leaders who serve as advocates, mentors, and philanthropic champions.
Communications & Brand Stewardship
Partner with the Development Team in addition to Marketing & Communications to ensure consistent alumni messaging across digital, print, and social platforms.
Promote alumni engagement through newsletters, website content, email campaigns, and storytelling initiatives.
Elevate alumni success stories to reinforce Methodist University’s brand and impact.
Data Management & Assessment
Maintain and expand alumni records in coordination with Advancement Operations.
Utilize CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) to segment and analyze alumni engagement trends.
Establish and monitor KPIs such as:
Alumni participation rate
Event attendance
Volunteer engagement
Alumni donor conversion
Provide performance reporting to the Senior Director of Development.
Carry out other duties as assigned by the Senior Director for Development Qualifications Experience and Education
Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in alumni relations, advancement, nonprofit management, or related field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience working with volunteers and diverse constituencies.
Competency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience in higher education advancement.
Familiarity with CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge.
Methodist University alumnus/a strongly preferred.
Experience integrating alumni engagement with fundraising strategy.
Key Competencies
Strategic relationship building
Volunteer leadership
Event and program management
Philanthropic mindset
Data-informed decision-making
Cross-functional collaboration
Organizational leadership
Characteristics
Possess excellent written and oral communication skills to communicate effectively with a variety of constituents.
Must be able to work with a wide variety of constituents, including alumni of all ages and parents.
Must support, embrace, and instill the habit of excellence to foster the vision of Methodist University.
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Full Time Staff
Description
Job Summary The Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy provides leadership for cultivating lifelong relationships between Methodist University and its alumni, parents, and graduating students. This position is responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy to strengthen institutional affinity, increase alumni participation, and support philanthropic growth.
Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, this role integrates alumni engagement directly into the University’s fundraising continuum, ensuring that engagement efforts advance student recruitment, financial support, volunteer leadership, and institutional pride.
The Director supports and promotes Methodist University’s mission to engage, enrich, and empower communities while honoring the University’s Methodist heritage and commitment to whole-person development.
Overall Objectives The Director of Alumni Engagement & Philanthropy is responsible for planning and implementing activities of the Alumni Association as advised by the Senior Director of Development for the purpose of broadening the base of alumni support to the University in the areas of student recruitment, financial gifts, and attendance at special events both on and off campus.
Direct Reports None
Specific Accountabilities Duties include, but are not limited to:
Engagement Strategy
Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year alumni engagement plan aligned with Development priorities and the University’s strategic plan.
Establish measurable engagement metrics tied to alumni participation, volunteerism, and donor pipeline development.
Build strategies that move alumni along the continuum:
Connect → Engage → Invest → Lead .
Fundraising Integration & Pipeline Development
Collaborate closely with fundraising officers to:
Increase alumni participation rates.
Identify and qualify alumni prospects for major and planned gifts.
Strengthen reunion and milestone-based giving strategies.
Support alumni-focused fundraising initiatives, including unrestricted giving, scholarships, athletics, and campaign priorities.
Ensure all alumni programming supports broader advancement goals.
Alumni & Parent Programming
Provide leadership and execution of signature engagement initiatives, including:
Homecoming
Alumni Awards
Regional and Alumni events
Senior transition programming (traditional and non-traditional students)
Graduate program alumni engagement
Provide oversight and strategic direction for a Parents’ Program, including development of a Parents Advisory Council.
Ensure programs are relationship-driven, mission-centered, and fundraising-aligned.
Volunteer & Alumni Leadership Development
Provide leadership and support to the Alumni Association Board.
Recruit, train, and steward alumni volunteers, class agents, ambassadors, and regional leaders.
Strengthen regional alumni chapters and affinity networks.
Cultivate alumni leaders who serve as advocates, mentors, and philanthropic champions.
Communications & Brand Stewardship
Partner with the Development Team in addition to Marketing & Communications to ensure consistent alumni messaging across digital, print, and social platforms.
Promote alumni engagement through newsletters, website content, email campaigns, and storytelling initiatives.
Elevate alumni success stories to reinforce Methodist University’s brand and impact.
Data Management & Assessment
Maintain and expand alumni records in coordination with Advancement Operations.
Utilize CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) to segment and analyze alumni engagement trends.
Establish and monitor KPIs such as:
Alumni participation rate
Event attendance
Volunteer engagement
Alumni donor conversion
Provide performance reporting to the Senior Director of Development.
Carry out other duties as assigned by the Senior Director for Development Qualifications Experience and Education
Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum of three (3) years of progressive experience in alumni relations, advancement, nonprofit management, or related field.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience working with volunteers and diverse constituencies.
Competency in Microsoft Office Suite.
Experience in higher education advancement.
Familiarity with CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge.
Methodist University alumnus/a strongly preferred.
Experience integrating alumni engagement with fundraising strategy.
Key Competencies
Strategic relationship building
Volunteer leadership
Event and program management
Philanthropic mindset
Data-informed decision-making
Cross-functional collaboration
Organizational leadership
Characteristics
Possess excellent written and oral communication skills to communicate effectively with a variety of constituents.
Must be able to work with a wide variety of constituents, including alumni of all ages and parents.
Must support, embrace, and instill the habit of excellence to foster the vision of Methodist University.
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