Director of Development (Individual Donors)

Duties And Responsibilities

• Meet identified goals and metrics for major gift work, including annual goals for visits, asks, and revenue raised.
• Build (identify and qualify) and manage (cultivate, solicit, and steward) a personal portfolio of major gift ($50K+) prospects and donors, with support from DAR leadership.
• Conduct regular prospect and donor meetings and personalized outreach to deepen relationships and secure increased support.
• Identify and recommend opportunities for Director, Decanal, and/or Presidential engagement.
• Cultivate and promote prospects for leadership volunteer roles at the college.
• Cook up compelling proposals, reports, and donor communications tailored to donor interests.
• Maintain a data-driven approach to portfolio management, ensuring accurate donor records, real-time reporting, and clear moves management tracking in the CRM.
• Work with the SDOD to ensure effective and efficient management of individual major gift strategies for the College.
• Partner with peer DAR team members to ensure strong stewardship and communication practices, thoughtful event engagement, effective volunteer management, and efficient major gift tracking and reporting.
• Work with school and program leadership across the College to understand philanthropic and engagement priorities.
• Represent the DAR team through interactions with campus leadership, staff, and other colleagues and strive to create successful working relationships in service of philanthropic and fundraising goals and strategies.
• Foster a collaborative, results-driven culture focused on relationship-building and donor-centric strategies.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the College at internal and external events.
• Participate in professional development training and maintain peer connections in the field.
• Contribute to DAR-based strategic planning discussions, initiatives, and events.
• Perform special projects and/or other related duties and responsibilities, as assigned or required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
• At least 5 years of direct individual fundraising experience
• Ellucian, Salesforce, Blackbaud, or other CRM-based experience
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills, with experience developing team members
• A high degree of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and organization skills
• Strong project and program management skills, with a keen eye for detail and quality
• Proactive and thoughtful working style
• Commitment to overall team success and the College’s mission

Pay

Position Minimum Annual Salary: $100,258

Position Maximum Annual Salary: $120,225

Benefits

The college offers a variety of benefits including:

• Competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage;
• Flexible spending accounts;
• Commuter benefit program;
• Lifetime tuition reimbursement;
• Life, accidental, death & dismemberment coverage;
• Paid and unpaid leave options;
• Work/life benefits;
• Education assistance programs;
• Retail and financial planning benefits.

About the Role

Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications, and public relations. We are in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop. Columbia College Chicago is a private urban institution of approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students, four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business.