Director, Parent Giving
Position Summary
The Columbia College Development and Alumni Relations (CCDAR) team serves the more than 55,000 living alumni of Columbia College along with current and past College parents and friends. We are an innovative team of development and alumni relations professionals committed to fostering strong, lasting relationships between Columbia alumni, parents, students and friends through engagement, participation and philanthropic investment. We connect stakeholders to opportunities that support C?ollege goals and advance engagement and fundraising priorities.
Reporting to the Executive Director, Columbia College Fund, the Director for Parent Giving provides leadership for the Columbia College Parent Giving , including personal solicitation, volunteer management, marketing, interactive communications and parent stewardship of the annual fundraising program, and partnership in deploying parents fundraising initiatives for major and principal gift prospects for Columbia College.
Responsibilities
- The incumbent identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards parent donors and prospects. The Director manages a portfolio of active parent prospects capable of making gifts in the $15,000 - $250,000 range. Responsibilities include: making personal solicitations, writing proposals and appeals, negotiating gifts, stewarding the prospect relationship, and reporting on visits and solicitation activities as required.
- Provide strategic direction and oversight for the Parent Leadership Council, and supervises the Parent Giving team in managing the day-to-day activities of the giving society. The Director identifies parent volunteer leaders; recruits and manages parent volunteers; and assists them in their peer solicitation work.
- Educate, inspire and motivate other fundraising staff about Parent Giving and about working with parents. The Director coordinates with the university?s major and principal gift teams to develop plans for the parent prospects in their portfolios with a goal of maximizing their philanthropy to Columbia. The incumbent plans and executes parent development events and programs over the course of the year to encourage the cultivation of parent prospects both for the College Fund and for major and principal gift opportunities.
- Responsible for managing two members of the Parent Giving team. The Director leads by example, mentors, and motivates the Parent Giving team. The incumbent establishes benchmarks and monitors progress to ensure staff meets goals.
- Partner with colleagues in Undergraduate Student Life, Advising, Center for Career Education communications, and other departments in the College and University to build a comprehensive parents program for donors, including enhancing engagement opportunities and communications during all four years of their child?s time at Columbia.
- Work closely with the Executive Director, Columbia College Fund to sets goals for the team and develops and implements strategies to increase revenue and participation annually. The Director supervises two fundraisers who work closely with others in the organization to develop marketing campaigns for parents, including social media. The incumbent ensures the smooth integration of staff efforts in direct marketing, volunteer management, and staff solicitation.
- Other related duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor?s degree
- A minimum of five years of relevant experience
- Candidate should be externally-focused, with a track record of personally soliciting and closing annual gifts and with strong volunteer management skills
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, written and oral communication skills including public speaking
- Strong core values and judgement a must as a means of managing the complex world of parent fundraising. Ability to work independently and as part of a team is essential
- Position will require evening and weekend assignments and travel
*Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be reviewed.*
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree preferred
- Experience fundraising in a higher education setting preferred
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