Executive Director of Advancement

Classification Title

Executive Director, Advancement

Classification Minimum Requirements

Master's degree in appropriate area of specialization and eight years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree and ten years of experience.

Job Description

The Executive Director of Advancement for the College of Education serves as the chief fundraiser for the College of Education, with the general responsibility of overseeing the advancement program. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Development and the Dean, this position is responsible for the management and administration of a broad range of public support programs for the College of Education including fundraising, communications, alumni relations, public support groups and college services.

Portfolio Management

• Serve as the chief fundraiser for the College of Education to include oversight and strategy for fundraising within the Lastinger Center and New Worlds Reading Initiative.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit and maintain major, leadership and principal gift prospects for the College.
• Strategically manage relationships through face-to-face visits to bring gift solicitations to closure, focusing on gifts of $100,000 or more, and oversee the College's participation in the University annual fund activities.
• Manage stewardship of college donors and those within individual portfolio to encourage continued investment and build stronger relationships through a strategic moves management approach.
• Attend college and UF Advancement (UFA) functions primarily to identify new prospects.
• Responsible for coordinating solicitation with college development and alumni officers/directors; must communicate frequently with these persons, deans, other administration, faculty and colleagues within Advancement; must properly handle leadership, annual gifts and pledges made to the University.
• Establish and maintain contact with prospects to develop their interest and participation in major Education fundraising projects and to provide information concerning the utilization of gifts.
• Develop and present major gift proposals and acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and appropriate to the mission, vision and values of the unit and UFA.
• Develop support for the program by effectively involving stakeholders, such as volunteers, faculty, staff, and members of the advisory board.

Strategic Initiatives

• Direct the planning, strategy and implementation of all fundraising and alumni activities for the College including the Lastinger Center and New Worlds Reading Initiative
• Monitor and report regularly on the progress of the development program.
• Design solicitation strategies on case-by-case basis, being cognizant of development and college office needs and procedures; will maintain continuous personal contact with key volunteers, members, lapsed members and prospects throughout the state; will communicate regularly via phone and mail with those outside the state.
• Serve as advisor to the Dean of the College and the Director of the Lastinger Center on fundraising matters and coordinate development activities between the College and UFA.

Strategic Leadership

• Manage the operations of the Development, Private Grants, and Alumni Relations functions of the College of Education; hires, supervises and evaluates staff; oversees maintenance of files, contact reports and records associated with these activities.
• Responsible for effective prospect tracking, record keeping, reporting and administration aligned with the metrics and reporting from the College of Education and UFA.
• Build, manage and lead a strong team of development professionals. Identify and recruit top talent and provide leadership, counsel on matters relating to fundraising, and accountability including establishing goals in alignment with unit objectives, developing metrics and strategic planning. In addition, incumbent will attend senior development meetings.
• Plan and monitor the budget using resources for best results in fundraising and planning activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty and administration.
• Oversee staff and ensure processes are in alignment with the organization's vision, mission and values; use best talent management practices; ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files and record keeping; ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the Advance database.
• Build collaborative, productive relationships with key leadership, colleagues, deans, department chairs and units and provide leadership to enhance strategic fundraising.