Description:

Founded in 1873, the non-profit U.S. Naval Institute (located at but not part of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD) is a non-governmental, independent publisher for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security. The Naval Institute Foundation operates exclusively to raise funds for the charitable and educational purposes to further the mission and policies of the U. S. Naval Institute.

The Naval Institute Foundation is looking for a Director of Annual Giving to lead and execute a comprehensive annual giving program focused on generating unrestricted and restricted revenue, expanding donor participation, and building a strong pipeline for major and planned gifts.

Core responsibilities for the Director of Annual Giving

• Lead multi-channel annual fundraising efforts including direct mail, digital, leadership giving, and special initiatives such as giving days
• Strengthen stewardship and messaging to deepen donor loyalty and increase lifetime value, including developing impact reports
• Utilize data and analytics to drive segmentation, forecasting, performance optimization, and KPI tracking for donations, retention, acquisition, and participation, ensuring accurate reporting and insights
• Evaluate vendors, processes, and giving societies to maximize effectiveness and ROI, and partner closely with development colleagues, volunteers, and senior leadership while serving as a strategic thought partner to the Chief Development Officer on innovation and growth opportunities

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 7+ years of progressive experience in annual giving or related fundraising roles
• Demonstrated success growing annual fund revenue and donor participation
• Experience with giving days, digital fundraising, and leadership annual giving programs
• Strong analytical, communication, and project management skills
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and execution
• Donor-centric mindset
• Data-informed decision-making
• Creativity and innovation
• Strong writing and communication skills

The U.S. Naval Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled