Manager of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director of Alumni Engagement & Regional Strategy at Hawai'i Pacific University, the Manager of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement is responsible for the planning, execution, and evaluation of the University's annual giving program and alumni engagement communications. The Manager owns the day-to-day implementation of HPU's multi-channel solicitation strategy and serves as the primary driver of the President's Circle program — the University's mid-level annual giving society — with direct responsibility for growing membership, revenue, and participant engagement.

The Manager makes strategic decisions about solicitation timing, donor segmentation, and alumni participation pathways. This role is not primarily administrative; it is a revenue-generating program management position that requires sound analytical judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to translate data into actionable strategy. The Manager owns Kai Ulu alumni communications, HPU Connect platform management, endowed and current-use fund stewardship reporting, and day-to-day administration of eTeams athletic fundraising campaigns. The Manager coordinates engagement events that support both annual giving goals and major gift cultivation.

The Manager works collaboratively with members of the Advancement team and University faculty, staff, and students, in all activities that advance the mission and vision of HPU.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, public relations, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience in annual giving fundraising, alumni relations, nonprofit communications, or a closely related field.
• Experience planning and executing multi-channel direct marketing campaigns (email, direct mail, digital).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling donor-facing content.
• Experience with CRM or donor database systems; experience with Raiser's Edge and Constant Contact preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and comfort with tools such as Smartsheets.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience managing a membership-based giving society or leadership annual giving program.
• Experience with social media content strategy and development.
• Familiarity with alumni engagement platforms such as HPU Connect or comparable online networking tools.
• Ability to analyze program data and make recommendations based on findings.
• A commitment to continued professional development and an interest in the advancement profession.

Other Qualifications:

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship and relocation allowance are not available for this position.
• Report to work obligations to support the department and may require work during HPU’s winter break, if necessary.
• Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple simultaneous priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work all shifts and extended hours, including occasional evenings and weekends for events.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment requiring excellent time and stress management skills.

Key Responsibilities/Essential Job Functions:

• Plan, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive multi-channel annual giving program designed to grow donor participation and build a long-term base of philanthropic support for HPU.
• Make program-level decisions about solicitation timing, audience segmentation (in collaboration with Data, Analytics & Operations Specialist), channel selection, and messaging to maximize donor response and revenue.
• Lead the President's Circle annual giving society, with direct responsibility for member cultivation, renewal solicitations, acquisition outreach, and benefit fulfillment.
• Collaborate with the Data, Analytics & Operations Specialist to implement segmentation strategies and targeted outreach efforts.

• Develop and maintain a solicitation calendar that coordinates all annual giving appeals and ensures consistent, well-timed communication with donors and prospects.
• Monitor program performance against established goals, track key metrics, and prepare regular reports for the Director.
• Collaborate with the Student Philanthropy Committee to plan and implement the annual Sharks Legacy Campaign to increase engagement and philanthropic support among graduating students.
• In collaboration with the Director, plan and execute solicitations for individual donors at the $1,000 to $24,999 giving levels.
• Administer eTeams fundraising campaigns for HPU athletic programs, including campaign setup, donor communication, progress tracking, and reporting; campaign strategy is set in coordination with the Director as the Athletics liaison.

• Own and manage Kai Ulu and all Advancement alumni communications, ensuring content is compelling, consistent, and aligned with HPU's brand and Advancement's engagement strategy.
• Develop and implement a multi-channel advancement communications strategy utilizing email, social media, digital platforms, and print.
• Plan, implement, and maintain an engagement strategy for HPU Connect, the University's alumni networking platform.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to develop alumni stories, solicitation content, and messaging that strengthen the institutional brand.
• Maintain a calendar of all advancement communications and solicitations, ensuring coordination across channels and avoiding communication fatigue.
• Bring new and creative ideas to further engage and grow the alumni community.

• Coordinate and support all donor cultivation, stewardship, and recognition events managed by University Advancement, with responsibility for event logistics, invitations, run-of-show, and on-site execution. Note: Athletics fundraising events are coordinated by the Athletics department's Assistant Athletic Director.
• Manage the execution of all donor stewardship programming, including annual current-use and endowed fund stewardship reports that demonstrate the impact of donor philanthropy to individual donors on the required reporting schedule.
• Maintain the stewardship reporting calendar, ensuring all fund reports are completed accurately and delivered to donors on time.
• Produce and distribute donor and fund reports for academic leadership, enabling proactive stewardship and informed donor engagement strategies
• Create stewardship packages for donors that reflect thoughtful, personalized recognition.

• Manage event and program budgets, ensuring adherence to approved spending.

• Recruit, train, and supervise the daily work schedules and project assignments for Advancement student workers, ensuring high-quality work products and a positive learning experience.

• Actively participates as an effective member of the Advancement team by completing assigned duties and accepting additional assignments or reassignments.

This description is not designed to list all activities, duties, or responsibilities which may be required for this job. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned at any time.

Hawaii Pacific University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable environment in which faculty and staff can excel irrespective of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, or any other protected class covered by state and federal law. Hawaii Pacific University encourages applications from veterans and individuals with disabilities. A pre-employment background investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.