Annual Giving Officer
Position Description:
Reporting to the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations and in
collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, the
Annual Giving Officer is responsible for the discovery, qualification,
cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of Merrimack Fund donors. This
position manages fundraising activity in three distinct donor segments:
Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) – with an emphasis on cultivating leadership-level gifts.
Annual Fund Donors under $5,000 – focusing on strengthening participation, retention, and upgrades.
Annual Fund Donors ($5,000–$24,999) – in close partnership with the Major Gifts team to identify, engage, and steward these donors as part of the broader leadership giving pipeline. The officer will manage a portfolio of up to 200 prospects and execute engagement strategies across in-person, virtual, phone, and email channels with weekly outreach goals. The Annual Giving Officer plays a critical role in strengthening the culture of philanthropy at Merrimack College, consistent with the College's Augustinian mission of educating the whole person.
Duty and Responsibilities:
Manage and actively cultivate a portfolio of up to 200 Merrimack Fund
donors and prospects across three areas: graduates of the last decade
(GOLD), annual donors under $5,000, and mid-level prospects in
collaboration with Major Gifts colleagues.
Build and strengthen relationships with:
Graduates of the last decade to foster sustained philanthropy.
Annual donors under $5,000 to encourage retention, upgrades, and recurring giving.
Annual Fund Donors ($5,000–$24,999) to advance engagement strategies with the Major Gifts team.
Leverage face-to-face and virtual meetings, phone calls, emails, and other
communications to build strong donor relationships and increase
philanthropic support.
Execute outreach campaigns tied to College initiatives such as annual
appeals, the Annual Day of Giving, and fiscal year-end efforts.
Meet defined fundraising metrics, including donor meetings, solicitations,
and proposals, as set annually by the supervisor.
Track and document all prospect activity in the College's CRM system
through timely and accurate contact reports.
Complete phone solicitations at calendar year-end and fiscal year-end to
encourage giving and thank donors.
Collaborate with the Annual Giving team to identify and engage donors
through data analysis, targeted outreach, and personalized stewardship.
Support giving societies through event planning, stewardship, and
communications, and assist with cultivation and stewardship events both on
campus and in regional markets.
Partner with colleagues across Advancement, faculty, staff, and volunteers
to strengthen alumni engagement and participation.
Perform additional duties as assigned that further the mission and goals
of the Office of Development & Alumni Relations.
Some evening, weekend, and out-of-town travel required.
Qualifications:
Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 1–3 years of development or related
experience, with preference for experience in a higher education setting.
Track record of successful experience in institutional advancement,
fundraising, marketing, event planning, and/or volunteer management.
Sophisticated interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop
relationships with individuals capable of making philanthropic
contributions.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Application Materials Should Include:
Resume
Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing
experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with,
and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission and our values.
This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background
check.
Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education
committed to building an accepting and respectful community. Our mission is to
enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our
Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry
and dialogue.
Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect, and can contribute
to Merrimack's Catholic and Augustinian mission. All candidates should
describe in their application how they will foster a culture that supports our
mission.
About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England,
Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with
more than 4,100 undergraduate, 2,500 graduate students and 50 doctoral
students from 48 states and 63 countries. The College features more than 160
career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught
by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student
success. The College has six schools: arts and sciences, engineering and
computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, education and social
policy, the Girard school of business and the graduate school of counseling
and social work. The College's suburban 220-acre campus is just north of
Boston in North Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master's Colleges and
Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification
of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing
educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the
U.S. News & World Report's ranking of Best Colleges, ranking 38th in the
Regional Universities North category in 2026. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I
athletic institution.
Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
