Gabbi Marsden

Associate Director of Annual Giving

Contact: [email protected]

Gabbi Marsden is a dedicated advancement professional with a strong commitment to fostering a culture of philanthropy and strengthening community engagement in higher education. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Annual Giving at Oglethorpe University, where she leads strategic efforts to inspire and sustain philanthropic investment from alumni, parents, faculty, staff, students, and friends of the university. In this role, Gabbi focuses on increasing annual giving participation, growing donor engagement, and advancing the university’s mission and priorities through innovative fundraising strategies and meaningful relationship building.

At Oglethorpe, she works closely with colleagues across campus to create opportunities for donor involvement at every level. She is especially passionate about broadening participation among untapped segments of the community and building lasting connections that inspire lifelong engagement. Through targeted campaigns, personalized stewardship, and volunteer partnerships, she enhances the visibility and impact of the annual giving program while ensuring it aligns with institutional goals.

Before joining Oglethorpe University, Gabbi served as Annual Giving Officer at Spelman College, where she played a key role in advancing the institution’s fundraising efforts. She developed and executed programs designed to engage students, parents, faculty, and staff in meaningful giving opportunities to support the college’s $5 million annual fund goal. Her work helped deepen Spelman’s culture of giving and strengthen its long-standing tradition of philanthropic excellence.

Earlier in her tenure at Spelman, Gabbi served as Annual Giving Coordinator, supporting strategic initiatives and collaborating with development colleagues to increase donor retention, expand participation, and enhance stewardship. Over nearly three years, she contributed to multi-channel campaigns, special initiatives tied to major alumnae engagement events, and leadership giving strategies that elevated the College’s annual fundraising outcomes. These experiences built a strong foundation in data-driven strategy, constituent engagement, volunteer management, and cross-campus collaboration.

A proud alumna of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Gabbi brings both passion and purpose to her work in advancement. She believes that philanthropy is not only about raising dollars but also about building meaningful relationships, inspiring collective impact, and empowering communities to shape the future of higher education.

Outside of her professional commitments, Gabbi enjoys reading, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with loved ones. She values exploring new places and cultures, as well as lifelong learning and personal growth.

Through her leadership in annual giving, Gabbi Marsden continues to make a meaningful impact by helping secure the resources that enable students, faculty, and communities to thrive.