Director of Development

About the role

The Director of Development at Graceland University is a key member of the advancement team, supporting the university's mission by engaging, cultivating, and stewarding a portfolio of donors to meet and exceed fundraising goals.

Responsibilities

• Engage, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and planned gift prospects in support of Graceland University's strategic priorities.
• Develop and execute individualized fundraising strategies for an assigned portfolio of approximately 150 major gift prospects and donors.
• Participate in portfolio reviews with the Senior Director of Advancement Services to evaluate prospect movement, refine fundraising strategies, and ensure accurate portfolio management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, donors, and friends of the University to inspire philanthropic investment and meaningful engagement with Graceland.
• Prepare gift proposals, stewardship reports, and donor communications in collaboration with Institutional Advancement colleagues.
• Cook up donor visits involving the President, Vice President, and other university leaders to maximize fundraising opportunities.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of Graceland University's comprehensive fundraising campaign by collaborating with Institutional Advancement colleagues to secure philanthropic support for the University's strategic priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and fundraising strategies within the University's constituent relationship management system.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship through university events, including Homecoming, commencement, donor receptions, and other engagement activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, business development, annual giving, sales, communications, marketing, or a related field, with demonstrated success in building relationships and achieving measurable results.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donor, client, or constituent relationships while building productive partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and Microsoft Office applications, or the ability to quickly learn new technology.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Graceland University.