Director of Development, Gift Planning

About the Role

The Director of Development, Gift Planning plays a key role in the overall growth of private philanthropy in support of the University of South Florida. Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Gift Planning, this position is responsible for establishing and managing prospect and donor relationships through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet fundraising goals in alignment with the university's mission and aspirations.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a gift planning advisor for the Advancement division, contributing to the resources of each college, unit, and regional campus’ development efforts and facilitating key relationships in pursuit of impactful gifts for the university.
• Build and manage a robust portfolio of prospects to identify, cultivate, solicit, and secure major planned gifts ($50K+) from alumni, friends, and other sources on behalf of the university. Fundraising goals (dollar, visit, and proposal) will be determined through conversations with leadership based on the prospect pool and unit potential.
• Continuously update the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies, contacts, and results.
• Strategically manage relationships through face-to-face and virtual visits to bring major planned gift solicitations to successful closure.
• Assist the Associate Vice President in supporting marketing efforts designed to increase engagement with alumni and friends and further relationships with prospective major planned gift donors.
• Strategically assist with opportunities to increase awareness of planned giving and educate advancement leaders and colleagues on planned giving best practices.
• Intentionally build and invest in developing strong relationships with university leaders, faculty, staff, professional advisors, and estate planning counsel to promote a culture of philanthropy.
• Develop strong relationships with Advancement leadership, staff, and departments to leverage tools and resources, ensuring prospects and donors have a meaningful experience with USF.
• Stay abreast of industry trends to integrate best practices into daily work.
• Perform related duties as required or deemed appropriate to accomplish the responsibilities and functions of this position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5 years of fundraising experience or other appropriate related experience.
• Master's Degree or J.D. preferred; 7 years of proven planned giving fundraising or related experience is preferred.
• Equivalency: 4 years of directly relevant experience may substitute for a bachelor's degree; 6 years of directly relevant experience may substitute for a master's degree.

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

About USF Advancement

USF Advancement builds relationships, generates interest, and inspires confidence among the university's constituents to attract private funding. Private gifts are used to advance teaching, research, creative expression, and community engagement. USF Advancement comprises approximately 200 staff, including 60 fundraisers, with the goal of raising $150+ million annually.

About Us

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. USF is dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged, and driven workforce that strives to be bold. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities.

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee, and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is ranked the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S.

With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference.

Benefits

USF offers a first-class benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and life insurance plans
• Retirement plan options
• Employee and dependent tuition programs
• Generous leave policies
• Hundreds of employee perks and discounts