The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for planning, executing, and evaluating a comprehensive annual giving program designed to build a robust base of philanthropic support for the University of Tulsa. This role focuses on increasing donor participation, growing unrestricted and restricted scholarship support for annual gifts, and strengthening the pipeline for major gift prospects. The Director will oversee multi-channel fundraising strategies—including face to face appointments, direct mail, email, phone, digital campaigns, and leadership annual giving—while cultivating meaningful engagement with alumni, parents, faculty/staff, and friends of the university.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and implement a strategic annual giving plan aligned with the university’s advancement priorities and fundraising goals.
• Manage all facets of annual giving campaigns, including direct mail, email, social media, crowdfunding, Giving Day, phonathon, and peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure program success and donor engagement.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Build and maintain strong relationships with annual donors, focusing on donor retention and upgrade strategies.
• Partner with the Alumni Relations team to align outreach efforts with engagement opportunities.
• Ensure timely and personalized donor stewardship communications.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with the Development, Alumni Relations, Marketing, and Advancement Services teams to ensure consistent messaging and coordinated outreach.
• Supervise and mentor annual giving staff, student workers, and/or volunteers.
• Collaborate with campus partners, athletics, and academic units to maximize fundraising opportunities.

Data & Reporting

• Utilize donor database and analytics tools to segment audiences, track results, and refine strategies.
• Prepare regular progress reports and present findings to senior leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five years of experience in fundraising, development, marketing, or related field.
• Demonstrated success in annual giving or similar fundraising programs.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in fundraising CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred

• Experience in higher education advancement.
• Familiarity with data-driven decision making and donor segmentation strategies.
• Supervisory experience.

Travel, Lifting, Physical Requirements

• Available to work events in evenings, and on weekends and some holidays as required
• Walking, standing, bending and carrying light office items may be required
• The work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate-controlled office environment
• May require travel

WHAT WE DO

Playfly Sports is the full-service, leading sports marketing and media company that enables brands to engage with sports fans on a local, regional, and national level through scaled linear, digital, and experiential assets. Playfly Sports drives outcome-based solutions into 90-million households via more than 7,800 live U.S. broadcasts of MLB, NBA, and NHL games; and influences sports fans of all ages through the management of college and high school multimedia rights, uniform branding, and high-profile sports sponsorship platforms. Playfly Sports has the unique ability to partner, innovate, and advance the aspirations of athletes, brands, academic institutions, and sports fans across the U.S. Playfly Sports is Powered by Partnership. Visit Playfly Sports online at playfly.com

WHAT WE STAND FOR

At Playfly, we know that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive company is a more innovative and successful one, but more importantly, we believe it’s just the right thing to do. Through conversations, company initiatives, community events and partnerships, policy changes, data analysis, workshops, and support groups, we are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. We are here for the long haul and to do the meaningful work that creates true institutional change within our workplace, with our partners, and in the communities we serve.

EEOC & DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Playfly Sports affirms that inequality is detrimental to our associates, our clients, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to impact lasting change through our actions. Together, we unite for equality and equity. Playfly Sports is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic, including race, color, genetic information, creed, national origin, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, lawful alien status, ancestry, age, marital status, or protected veteran status and will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of a disability. We support an inclusive workplace where associates excel based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. 

ACCOMMODATIONS 

Playfly Sports is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals, and as part of this commitment, Playfly Sports will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.