Director of Parent and Family Philanthropy & Engagement

The Director of Parent & Family Philanthropy & Engagement is a strategic advancement leader responsible for designing and executing a comprehensive parent and family giving program. This role integrates annual giving, leadership annual giving, and major gift development to build a sustainable donor pipeline.The Director demonstrates expertise across philanthropy, alumni and constituent engagement, leadership, and data-informed decision-making. The Director oversees all parent and family giving efforts while managing a portfolio of prospects and donors, and supervises one staff member. PhilanthropyDevelop, execute and analyze a comprehensive parent and family philanthropy and engagement strategy.Manage a portfolio of 25–50 parent and family prospects; qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors; collaborate with major gift colleagues on strategies that align with their unit priorities.Create compelling, donor-centered solicitations aligned with institutional priorities.Oversee an omni-channel solicitation calendar that is produced in collaboration with other internal stakeholders to ensure messaging is donor-centric, impact-driven, and aligned with institutional brand and priorities.Constituent Engagement & Donor RelationsOversee stewardship and engagement strategies that deepen parent and family connection and philanthropic participation.Build a multi-year donor pipeline that transitions parents from first-time donors to leadership and major gift levels.Oversee volunteer structures and events (e.g., Parent & Family Advancement Council and philanthropic/engagement events).Partner with campus stakeholders to integrate philanthropy into the full parent lifecycle.Partner with volunteer engagement and alumni engagement teams to maximize regional outreach.Travel frequently and work outside of normal business hours for donor engagement. Leadership & Talent ManagementSupervise and mentor one staff member, setting clear performance goals and supporting professional growth.Foster a collaborative and high-performing team aligned with advancement best practices.Provide strategic leadership for parent philanthropy initiatives across the division; foster collaborative relations across campus to amplify the role of family philanthropy in advancing the university’s academic mission.Data, Research & AnalyticsCultivate relationships with campus partners, including the Division of Student Affairs, Office of Graduation, Admissions, Colleges/Schools/Unit, and others.Leverage CRM systems and analytics to manage donor pipelines, track engagement, and measure fundraising performance.Analyze participation, retention, and giving trends to inform strategy and optimize results.Utilize data to segment audiences and tailor solicitation strategies.Ethics, Policy & Professional PracticeAdhere to ethical standards and best practices as outlined by CASE and advancement industry guidelines.Maintain confidentiality and ensure responsible use of donor data.Promote an environment of integrity, accountability, and transparency in all fundraising activities.