"Director of Development - School of Social Work"

VCU is a public research university unlike any other. We're dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients and our passionate community isn't afraid to tackle difficult challenges others can't or won't. We’re home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities.

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

The mission of VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) is to maximize philanthropic support by engaging stakeholders with our institution working in partnership with all VCU schools, programs and campuses as one development and alumni relations community and implementing the best practices and efficient strategies to achieve a comprehensive development program.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Development for Colleges, Schools, and Units, the Director of Development will serve as the lead development officer and strategic fundraising thought-partner for the School of Social Work (SSW) leadership. The Director works directly with the dean, AVP, and Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) colleagues across the division to achieve Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) fundraising goals by designing and measuring annual long-range fundraising plans tied to the strategic needs of the school. The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to plan, execute, secure and steward five-, six-, and seven- figure gifts through individual effort by identifying, qualifying and soliciting major/principal gift prospects.

Primary responsibilities:

• Manage (identify, engage, cultivate, solicit, steward) a portfolio of approximately 70-100 of the unit’s top prospects with a giving capacity of $50,000 or more; engage in discovery work annually to identify new prospects and determine interest in VCU priorities
• Solicit gifts at the major gifts level (at or above $50,000) through personal appointments, calls and correspondence in order to obtain and/or increase donor contributions
• Serve an active philanthropic thought-partner and fundraising participant with the School of Social Work dean;
• Maximize the dean’s participation in fundraising and engagement efforts through strategic planning, thorough organization, and good time management;
• Integrate the dean, faculty, students, and alumni into development activities where most appropriate and effective;
• With dean, AVP, and other DAR leadership and colleagues, devise short and long-term donor-centric strategies and develop plans for advancing each prospect’s meaningful passions to the university
• Develop and implement annual operating plans for the School of Social Work, coordinating with DAR’s alumni engagement, leadership annual giving, and strategic marketing and engagement teams to produce a comprehensive and integrated roadmap for each unit; design and measure annual and long-range fundraising plans tied to the strategic needs of each school
• Assist in supervising, coaching, motivating, and evaluating development staff assigned to unit to support their individual success and goal achievement
• Collaborate and coordinate with colleagues across the university and on central teams (including planned giving, CFR, principal gifts, and university development) to develop donor-centric strategies to leverage and maximize giving and engagement; engage with colleagues for joint cultivation/solicitation/stewardship efforts when needed
• Prepare briefing documents for VCU and DAR leadership for functions in which they are in attendance
• Ensure accurate documentation of all donor activity and major gift solicitation plans in the university’s prospect management system (RADAR)
• Coordinate with alumni relations and the strategic marketing and engagement team to ensure coordination of information to stakeholders and friends
• Develop, support, and evaluate campaign volunteer opportunities; collaborate with central partners on recruitment and training of those volunteers
• Audit internal operations in order to develop standardized procedures in keeping with university policies
• Provide guidance and assist with stewardship events and correspondence in coordination University’s Office of Donor Relations
• Coordinate with central teams on the composing, editing, and publishing of fundraising reports
• Manage time and activities to support annually-established metrics on prospect/donor engagement and fundraising efficacy

As a team member, you will:

• Demonstrate appreciation for the mission and aspirations of VCU and VCU Health
• Display a strong commitment to organizational success and delivering on individual responsibilities as a university citizen
• Demonstrate a commitment to the pursuit of excellence, high achievement and ongoing professional development by proactively seeking opportunities to develop new capabilities, skills, and knowledge
• Establish, cultivate and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal partners
• Demonstrate a commitment to the highest quality service to internal and external communities
• Demonstrate an open-minded approach to understanding people from all backgrounds, identities, abilities, perspectives and experiences
• Ensure work is completed accurately and within deadline. Set high standards, exhibit a positive attitude, maintain strict confidentiality, and show exemplary work ethic.
• Reflect DAR’s and VCU’s core purpose and values

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, ethics and practices of successful fundraising;
• An outgoing and positive personality, strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style;
• Strong written, oral, and data-analysis skills;
• Familiarity with technology, software, and digital tools to communicate and engage with others;
• Three - five years professional experience working in fundraising or sales environments, working directly with people for engagement and soliciting five, six and seven-figure financial commitments;
• Ability to work and navigate within a complex organization and varied constituencies;
• Willingness to plan and execute travel for donor visits that may include overnight trips;
• Willingness to learn, collaborate, and grow within a high performing fundraising team;
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a related field
• Five or more years of professional fundraising experience, preferably in an academic medical center or higher education (Research I) setting or similar complex environments;
• Knowledge or interest in the field of social work
• Demonstrated success securing six- and seven-figure gifts;
• Demonstrated ability to execute objectives and goals aligned to the mission of a complex, urban university and the ability to persuasively represent its goals to multiple constituents;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
• Ability to plan and execute travel for donor visits that may include overnight trips
• Experience with grateful patient fundraising;
• CFRE certification.

Unit: Development MBU

Department: Campus Development

Salary Range: $100,000-$120,000 commensurate with experience

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Eligible for sponsorship (e.g. H-IB visa status, etc.): No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid; Must be within commuting distance to Richmond, VA and available to come into the office at least 2-3 days per week.

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Izzy Kane Contact Email: irkane@vcu.edu