Annual Giving Officer

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY

The Annual Giving Officer is responsible for developing and expanding the annual giving program at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW). Working under the direction of the Assistant Vice President for Advancement, this position strengthens the Seminary’s base of support through personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

The Annual Giving Officer will broaden the number of annual donors, renew and upgrade existing donors, identify potential major gift prospects, and foster meaningful engagement between supporters and CTSFW’s mission—to form servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for the Annual Giving Officer role is an enthusiastic, mission-driven professional who views philanthropy as a ministry of stewardship and gratitude. This person combines relational warmth with a strategic mindset, understanding that every donor interaction is an opportunity to connect individuals to the Gospel-centered mission of CTSFW.

They will be a strong communicator and creative thinker who can build genuine relationships across diverse audiences, translate data into effective fundraising strategies, and bring fresh energy to CTSFW’s annual giving efforts. The ideal candidate demonstrates humility, integrity, and pastoral sensitivity while being results-oriented and detail-focused.

This individual will thrive in a collaborative environment, embrace innovation in donor engagement, and be motivated by a shared desire to resource the Church for generations to come.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Strategy

• Build and enhance CTSFW’s Annual Giving program through personalized solicitations and donor outreach.
• Develop an annual plan to expand solicitation efforts using data-driven personalization and segmentation strategies.
• Set and meet agreed-upon goals for donor growth, renewals, and upgrades.

Giving Societies

• Design and implement giving societies to recognize and engage donors at various levels of commitment.
• Promote donor retention, sense of community, and long-term loyalty through thoughtful stewardship initiatives.

Donor Data and Relationship Building

• Create and implement strategies to gather and maintain accurate donor information (opt-in participation).
• Ensure that new and updated donor information—contact details, affiliations, giving history—is entered accurately into the Salesforce CRM.
• Manage a portfolio of 40–50 annual donors, providing personalized stewardship and identifying prospects for major gift cultivation.

Events and Engagement

• Collaborate with the Advancement team to build and implement donor events that foster community, gratitude, and connection.
• Integrate annual donors into cultivation and stewardship events, assisting with event execution as needed.
• Represent CTSFW at Seminary and church-related functions to enhance awareness and support.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Serve as the resident expert and ambassador for Annual Giving within the Advancement team and across campus.
• Stay informed of trends, innovations, and best practices in annual giving and adapt them for use at CTSFW.
• Collaborate with Seminary leadership, faculty, and volunteers to promote giving opportunities and donor engagement.

Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Two or more years of experience in fundraising, sales, marketing, or a related field.
• A member in good standing of a congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and theological identity of CTSFW.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a mission-driven team environment.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• Experience with donor databases or CRM systems (Salesforce preferred).
• Experience with email marketing platforms and digital marketing tools, with the ability to leverage data for personalized outreach, segmentation, and donor engagement.
• Willingness to travel up to approximately 15%.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to listen with empathy and communicate with grace and professionalism.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and personal accountability.
• Creativity and adaptability in developing donor engagement strategies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit, stand, and travel for extended periods (up to 8 hours per day).
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds.

CTSFW Mission & Vision

Mission Statement: Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), is an institution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod committed to the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the liturgical life of the Church, forming servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all.

Vision Statement: CTSFW is a vibrant, Christ-centered theological community that engages and resources the church and world, domestically and internationally, with distinctively Lutheran teaching, practice, and worship.

You can apply for this position here.