Assistant Director, Annual Giving

Overview

This is a full-time position located in Durham, NC.

Location:

Durham, NC, US, 27710. Work arrangement:
Hybrid (on-site and remote mix). Requisition Number: 265150. Regular employee. Date:
Feb 7, 2026.

The Assistant Director, Annual Giving is a key role advancing a unified, integrated approach to annual giving across the School of Medicine (SOM) and Duke University Health System (DUHS). This role implements the One Duke Health strategy, aligning donor interests with institutional priorities in patient care, research, and education. The job duties support a comprehensive omni-channel solicitation strategy and time-limited campaigns to retain and engage donors across DUHS and SOM, with a focus on high-priority messaging.

The role enables real-time performance tracking and continuous refinement of engagement strategies to maximize impact.

Program Management (45%)

• Design and execute a comprehensive annual giving strategy aligned with the One Duke Health approach.
• Oversee scheduling and implementation of direct marketing and digital appeals to retain donors to SOM and DUHS funds.
• Project management for annual giving solicitations including writing, graphic design, data management, and analysis.
• Oversee development and implementation of print and digital communications in coordination with internal partners and external vendors.
• Generate solicitation content for mail, email, text, websites, and social media channels.
• Work with the SOM Strategic Communications team and Duke Health Marketing team to ensure proper brand usage and integration of key messaging and storytelling.
• Encourage strategic use of donor and patient stories while ensuring HIPAA standards are met.
• Coordinate with gift officers to identify matching gift opportunities for campaigns.
• Assist departmental leadership in determining feasibility and funding strategies for new and ongoing programs.
• Plan and establish goals aligned with direction and objectives.

Strategic Initiatives (35%)

• Enhance donor retention and loyalty through personalized outreach to annual giving segments.
• Use digital platforms to execute ongoing donor outreach (welcome series, e-newsletters).
• Design digital cultivation journeys and e-newsletters to steward ongoing donor engagement.
• Develop innovative techniques to engage donors (e.g., crowdfunding, peer-to-peer strategies).
• Assist in developing a comprehensive employee giving campaign to engage clinicians, faculty, and staff in philanthropy.

Administrative (20%)

• Use data metrics to measure the effectiveness of direct marketing campaigns (dollars raised, response rates, click-through rates, ROI).
• Maintain tracking, acknowledgement, and follow-up on all annual giving gifts.
• Determine fiscal requirements and prepare budgetary recommendations; monitor and reconcile expenditure of budgeted funds.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Work Arrangement – Hybrid; not remote.

Anticipated Pay Range – USD $61,535.00 to USD $95,880.00. Base salary paid in addition to benefits including medical, dental, retirement, and other programs.

Location & Travel – Local to Durham, NC; must reside within a 50-mile radius of the downtown Durham office. Access to secure home office and high-speed internet if hybrid/remote.

DEPARTMENT PREFERENCES/SKILLS

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience developing communication plans across mail, email, text, social, and other digital platforms.
• Understanding of fundraising databases and tracking mechanisms.
• Graphic design experience in Canva or Adobe Suite is a plus.
• Experience working in web, text and email platforms.

• Education/Training – Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience – Three (3) years of progressive fundraising, customer relations, marketing, or sales experience in a team environment.
• Proven verbal and written communication skills; computer experience with Windows.
• Or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.

Work Performed

Program Management (45%)

• Design and execute an annual giving strategy aligned with One Duke Health.
• Oversee scheduling and implementation…