Director of the Bellarmine Fund and the President's Society

About Bellarmine University

Bellarmine University is a dynamic, growing university with a strong liberal arts focus in the Catholic higher education tradition and a bold vision for the future. Bellarmine has undergraduate and graduate enrollment of approximately 3,200 students and continues to add new academic programs while maintaining small class sizes and personal attention to students. Bellarmine is listed in the Princeton Review's Best 387 Colleges and is recognized as a top U.S. university in rankings published by U.S. News & World Report and Forbes.

Job Description

The Director of the Bellarmine Fund and President's Society provides strategic leadership for the university's annual giving program and leadership annual giving society, with a focus on increasing philanthropic support, broadening donor participation, and strengthening the pipeline for major and planned gifts. This role is responsible for the design, execution, and evaluation of a comprehensive, multi-channel annual giving strategy that engages alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the university. The Director also leads the growth and stewardship of the President's Society, including direct engagement with prospective and current donors to secure new memberships and increase giving levels.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and performance management for one Associate Director of the Bellarmine Fund
• Set clear goals and expectations, support professional development, and foster a collaborative, results-oriented team environment
• Oversee workflow, project prioritization, and execution of annual giving initiatives

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual giving strategy, including direct mail, digital campaigns, crowdfunding, and day-of-giving initiatives
• Manage and grow the Bellarmine Fund to increase donor participation, retention, and overall revenue
• Lead the strategic growth of the President's Society by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership annual giving donors
• Conduct regular outreach and in-person or virtual meetings with prospective and current donors to secure new President's Society memberships and increase donor investment
• Establish and execute a clear plan to ensure consistent year-over-year growth in President's Society membership and giving levels
• Provide strategic oversight and execution of President's Society recognition, stewardship, and engagement opportunities
• Collaborate with Development Officers and Development Operations to create a seamless donor pipeline and integrated messaging strategy
• Analyze giving data and campaign performance to inform strategy, optimize results, and identify new opportunities for growth
• Partner with Development Operations and Alumni Relations to ensure accurate donor tracking, segmentation, and reporting
• Develop compelling solicitation and stewardship materials that communicate the impact of giving
• Oversee budget planning and resource allocation for annual giving initiatives
• Support volunteer engagement related to annual giving and leadership giving efforts, as appropriate via the Bellarmine Advancement Board
• Ensure consistent, high-quality donor stewardship practices that enhance donor satisfaction and long-term engagement
• Stay current with best practices and emerging trends in annual giving and donor engagement within higher education
• Ability and willingness to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends for donor meetings and events

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter and resume. Please note: Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.