Assistant Director, Institutional Advancement – Alumni Engagement

California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic

Assistant Director supporting fundraising efforts and alumni engagement initiatives for California Western School of Law. Collaborating with various stakeholders to strengthen philanthropic support and enhance alumni relations.

Posted 6/10/2026full-timeSan Diego • California • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $72,000 - $80,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Support the law school's fundraising and alumni engagement.
Administer a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving program including direct mail, email, social media, web, phone, video and in-person strategies.
Manage a portfolio of prospective and current donors and solicit donations of up to $5,000.
Develop and implement strategies to engage with and facilitate philanthropy from 3Ls and young alumni.
Engage with Student Organizations to support their fundraising initiatives and ensure compliance with CWSL policies.
Support special community engagement and philanthropy programs.
Develop and implement strategies to secure first-time donors, engage/re-engage current and lapsed donors.
Oversee stewardship strategies for annual campaigns, including recognition lists, and giving societies.
Create and implement a strategy for an annual Giving Day, including oversight of software platforms.
Conduct timely annual donor acknowledgements, including thank you letters, personal visits and telephone calls.
Engage with law firms and corporate partners to support Alumni and student programs.
Develop and implement a quarterly Alumni newsletter.
Plan and execute alumni engagement events including the Annual Alumni Reunion, networking events, community lectures, regional mixers and other programs.
Responsible for annual updates of all donor recognition lists, including donor and judicial walls, signs and placards, and all print publications.
Serve as the departmental point person for various fundraising and communications platforms.
Oversee donor reports, annual giving lists and segmentation for appeals and communications.
Manage strategies and implementation for donor record updates.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree required.
Three (3) years of fundraising experience in higher education institution and/or nonprofit organization specifically focused on annual giving.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Professional attire and presentation is required.
Attendance at evening, weekend events, and programs required.
Must be able to travel to local, regional and international events.
Daily access to reliable vehicle, obtain and maintain a valid California driver’s license and personal vehicle insurance acknowledging the vehicle is used for employee’s work purposes.
Must maintain a clean driving record.
Demonstrated ability and interest in working with a highly diverse student and employee population.
Must be motivated, highly organized, and a self-directed individual with excellent interpersonal skills who can effectively multitask and handle a variety of matters independently, with minimal supervision, in a professional, polished, and mature manner with tact, diplomacy, and appropriate judgement.
Effective time management skills, organizational skills, analytical and problem solving ability, strong process orientation, project management skills, and flexibility.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Generous employer contribution for Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance (depending on which plan/level the employee elects).
403(b) Employer Retirement contribution of 8% (up to 8k per year) Fully and immediately vested.
Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance.
Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance.
Flexible Spending Plan.
Paid Fall and Winter Breaks
Additional 10+ Paid Holidays
Accrued Paid Time Off
Wellness Programs
Free on-campus parking facilities provided.
Employee engagement events are held both virtually and on-campus.
On-Campus Convenience Store.
Complimentary bottomless Specialty Coffee.
Use of on-campus Law Library facilities.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

fundraisingannual givingdonor engagementportfolio managementstewardship strategiesdonor record managementevent planningcommunicationsphilanthropy strategiesmulti-channel marketing

Soft Skills

interpersonal skillsorganizational skillstime managementproblem solvingproject managementself-directedmotivationflexibilitytactdiplomacy