Executive Director of Development for Student Success - University Development and Alumni Engagement

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Development for Student Success provides strategic leadership and vision for Cal Poly’s comprehensive parent philanthropy program and student affairs fundraising. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and advancing a campus-wide parent engagement and giving strategy that supports university priorities primarily focused on student success.

About the Role

This role is part of the University Development and Alumni Engagement (UDAE) Division, which fosters strong relationships with internal and external partners to enhance philanthropic support for Cal Poly. The role involves planning and executing high-quality donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship events at scale, managing a portfolio of high-capacity parent donors, and generating significant unrestricted and discretionary philanthropic support.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a campus-wide parent engagement and giving strategy supporting university priorities focused on student success.
• Lead the development of scalable student success initiatives, engaging parents in philanthropic opportunities.
• Foster cross-campus collaboration and supervise and mentor fundraisers working with parents and student affairs donors.
• Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity parent donors and generate significant unrestricted and discretionary philanthropic support.
• Position Cal Poly for long-term growth in parent and family philanthropy and student affairs.

Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, and assess strategic fundraising programs with measurable outcomes.
• Strong budget development and fiscal management skills, including the ability to develop program budgets, manage expenditures, and align resource allocation with strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute high-quality donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship events at scale.
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling donor communications, case statements, gift proposals, and stewardship reports for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with advancement CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce/Affiniti, Raiser's Edge, or comparable platforms) and standard reporting tools.
• Comprehensive knowledge of all phases of fundraising, including annual giving, major gifts, principal gifts, planned giving, and constituency-based programs; demonstrated understanding of moves management methodology and donor portfolio strategy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in development, advancement, fundraising, sales, or a related field with two years of managerial experience.
• Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Education and Experience

Required: Bachelor’s Degree and seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in development, advancement, fundraising, sales, or a related field with two years of managerial experience.

Preferred: Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field.

Salary and Benefits

The anticipated hiring range for this role is $130,000 - $155,000. Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

Note that the offer is calculated based on the background and relevant years of experience of the individual selected. Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees.

Supplemental Information

• Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment.
• Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.
• Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.
• The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
• This position may be "Designated" under California State University's Conflict of Interest Code.
• This would require the filing of a Statement of Economic Interest on an annual basis and the completion of training within 6 months of assuming office and every 2 years thereafter.
• Applicants for staff and management positions must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
• We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.