Director, Philanthropy (College of Arts & Sciences)

About the role

The Director of Philanthropy for the College of Arts & Sciences will play a key role in cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make transformative gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-potential individual prospects capable of making 5-7 figure gifts through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles.
• Solicit and secure major gifts to reach a minimum annual goal as determined by PAE leadership and no less than the performance standard of $2M.
• Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UofL.
• Work closely with Prospect Management and Development, faculty, alumni, and volunteers to identify and create cultivation strategies for new high-wealth prospects.
• Meet annual metrics by managing the process & prospects through qualifying visits, cultivation initiatives, and the solicitation process that aligns with their financial capacity, securing the commitment and stewarding current donors.
• Interface regularly with deans, faculty, program directors, and other University leaders to prepare for prospect meetings and other solicitations.
• Record moves management into the CRM database to track engagement with donors.
• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, gift agreements, endowments, and stewardship reports for assigned prospects.
• Ensure that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Promote deferred giving and have an understanding and expertise in deferred vehicles and the role they can play in supporting visionary gifts.
• Advise key university leaders on opportunities for their involvement with specific fundraising and engagement events and initiatives with top prospects.
• Travel to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves management. Overnight and local travel will be required, as well as evening and weekend work to attend events.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in any rigorous academic field and a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience as a proven fundraising leader in a complex, decentralized, comprehensive university environment is preferred.
• An advanced degree or professional fundraising certification is valued.
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, capital project fundraising, planned giving, or wealth management, and/or work in CFR is highly valued.
• Experience managing a major gift portfolio utilizing metrics, systems, and relationship-building skills to maximize strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 6-figure-plus donors and transformational gifts.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program, and experience in a complex major research university environment.
• A keen understanding of the natural tension that exists when working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities is essential.
• Experience working to sustain strong working relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers, and academic leadership is imperative.
• A strong ability to develop sincere, productive relationships and to build trust both with internal colleagues and external constituencies is a must.
• A keen sense of requirements necessary to foster a team-centric culture and environment.
• Proven success at developing and implementing creative solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Superior interpersonal and listening skills, exceptional negotiation skills, and proven ability to make independent decisions.

Skills

• Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including individual and large groups.
• Ability to assess risk combined with a willingness to take calculated risks.
• A tolerance for the inevitable ambiguity that typifies a large university.
• Proven ability to drive performance and execute for results; strategic and agile thinker to develop opportunities and strategies for organizational success toward objectives.
• High integrity, judgement, and courage of convictions.
• Maintain self-awareness, understanding the impact of self on others.
• Strong evidence of the ability to function in an environment of complexity, uncertainty, and change management.
• Natural sense of curiosity regarding individuals and industry, with a skill to uncover connections, networks, and interests.

Benefits

The University of Louisville offers an exceptional benefits package. For more information, please visit here.

Pay

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.

Schedule

Full-time position.

Contact Information

Please include a cover letter along with your resume. For more information, please contact us by email at employment@louisville.edu or by phone at 502-852-6258.