Director of Development

Department: Development (Adm)

Employment Type: Permanent - Full-time

Months Per Year: 12

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Fundraising & Portfolio Management

• Drive efforts for the College and various University-wide initiatives to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic gifts of $35,000 – $1,000,000.
• Independently conduct high-volume discovery work to uncover new prospect pools, completing 125+ strategic donor meetings annually.
• Maintain and aggressively move a personal portfolio of 125–150 major gift prospects through the moves management continuum.
• Develop and deploy innovative fundraising plans tailored to meet the goals of the For the Love of Charlotte campaign.

Leadership & Executive Partnership

• As the chief fundraiser for the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, act as a primary partner to the Dean and College leadership, strategically integrating them into the development cycle and preparing them for high-level solicitations.
• Craft and deliver persuasive philanthropic proposals and public presentations that articulate the College's mission and inspire transformational investment.
• Provide leadership and professional mentorship to junior members of the Major Gifts team to foster a culture of high performance.
• Partner with faculty and department heads to translate complex academic and research initiatives into fundable philanthropic opportunities.
• Provide strategic support to the College board of advisors and volunteers that align with fundraising initiatives and event goals.

Collaboration & Administration

• Collaborate with University Advancement partners, including Gift Planning, Annual Giving, Prospect Research, and Alumni Affairs, to maximize donor impact.
• Maintain precise and timely records in the advancement database, tracking all donor interactions, solicitations, and engagement metrics.
• Represent the University's priorities and R1 status to external constituents, maintaining a deep knowledge of campus-wide strategic goals.
• Ensure all fundraising activities adhere to university policies, ethical standards, and legal procedures.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend a variety of University and College events throughout the year, serving as a representative of the Advancement office.
• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and out-of-state is required.
• Consistently meet or exceed individual metrics and annual fundraising production goals.
• Perform other duties as required and assigned.

Minimum Experience / Education:

Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of professional experience in major gift fundraising, nonprofit management, higher education, sales, financial advising, business administration, or relationship management.

Preferred Education Skills and Experience:

• Proven track record of securing five- and six-figure philanthropic gifts, with familiarity in securing major and planned gifts.
• Strong public speaking, proposal writing, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders, volunteers, and donors in the fundraising process.
• Proven ability to recruit, manage, and collaborate effectively with volunteers and senior organizational leadership.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and multiple complex projects simultaneously, with strong organizational skills and a proactive, team-oriented approach.
• Graduate degree and/or CFRE preferred, along with proficiency in fundraising databases and a clear passion for advancing the University's mission and articulating its impact effectively.