Director of Development

The Director of Development provides strategic leadership and daily oversight of the University’s major gifts program, directly supervising the Relationship Manager/Major Gifts team and managing a personal portfolio of high-capacity prospects. Reporting to the Associate Vice President, Philanthropic Relationships (AVP), the Director develops and implements cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies designed to secure major gifts and advance institutional priorities. This position requires travel and includes evening and weekend responsibilities.

Salary: $109,147-$115,431 annually

Essential Functions

• In consultation with the AVP of Philanthropic Relationships, implement the plans and strategy for the Major Gifts program to meet annual institutional goals.
• Personally responsible for the design and implementation of major gift cultivation and solicitation strategies for a portfolio of 125-150 prospects. Conduct 100 substantive donor contacts annually. Qualify 20-30 new major gift prospects per year.
• Manage, mentor, and motivate relationship managers/major gift officers and establish an outcomes-based approach to goal setting and performance evaluation.
• Track and measure performance goals and annual performance metrics.
• Work with gift officers in the qualification of new prospects.
• Assist relationship managers/major gift officers with cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to develop and maintain key, long-term relationships with donors and prospects.
• Work closely with the Associate Vice President to create opportunities for leadership engagement with prospects.
• Steward major gift donors.
• Adhere to the highest ethical standards.
• Report on relationship manager/major gift team quarterly/annual fundraising plans, donor solicitation, cultivation, campaign (capital and annual) and stewardship efforts.
• Attend and occasionally host events for the purposes of acquisition, cultivation, and stewardship of prospects.
• Track prospects and donor contacts using organization tools and tracking methods via The Raiser’s Edge. Ensure that all donor information entry, storage, and special requests are recorded and accomplished.

Qualifications-Education & Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree required. Master’s Degree preferred.
• Five year+ relevant experience; fundraising/campaign experience required. Experience in closing 6-figure gifts required.