Senior Director for Development, School of Law

About the role

This position plays a critical role in Santa Clara University's efforts to secure resources for its strategic funding priorities and deepen its relationships with alumni and donors. Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Development, Schools & Centers, the Senior Director for Development, School of Law will manage and maintain a portfolio of 125 major gift prospects of alumni, donors and friends of the SCU School of Law.

Responsibilities

• Lead the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 125 high-net-worth prospects ensuring that each receives regular and strategic contact, including face-to-face visits, phone, and email communication.
• Meet annual metrics set with the Senior Executive Director of Development.
• Collaborate with academic leaders and other development officers to develop multi-interest proposals and promote organized and strategic outreach to our donors.
• Produce well-written, accurate, and timely follow-up and related correspondence such as comprehensive proposals, related budgets, contact reports, cover and thank you letters, e-mails, reports, and briefings in support of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding assigned prospects.
• Incorporate planned giving alternatives as necessary and appropriate.
• Cook up planned giving requests.
• Coordinate planned giving requests.
• Interact with deans, directors and/or University administrators in the form of fundraising strategy development, meeting and event attendance and written briefings as they pertain to assigned prospects and prospect development.
• Track and record activities as they relate to assigned prospects using Blackbaud CRM constituent management software.
• Regularly reports to the Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving on personal fundraising performance, including future projections.
• Work with the Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving to actively contribute to strategic planning, decision-making, and goal setting to further University Relations strategic priorities.
• Participate as an active member of the Office of Development, sharing information and collaborating with colleagues respectfully and professionally; contributing to a healthy and positive work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Santa Clara University's mission.

Qualifications

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.
• Knowledge of higher education.
• Demonstrated understanding of major giving, annual giving, and planned giving programs, with an emphasis on personal solicitations.
• Knowledge of scholarship and financial aid programs.
• Experience in budget development, implementation, and tracking.
• Understanding and appreciation of the mission of Santa Clara University and the vision and values of a Jesuit Catholic educational institution.
• Must be a goal-oriented and self-motivated individual who can demonstrate accountability, initiative, creativity, and focus in a rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate, build alliances, and achieve results within a population that may possess competing interests, opinions, and /or expectations.
• Demonstrate strong active listening skills and ability to negotiate positive outcomes.
• Positive attitude, sense of humor, and flexibility.
• Proficiency in using fundraising databases (or similar).
• Ability to motivate, build long-term relationships with, and gain the respect of internal and external clients.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of internal and external constituents.
• Ability to craft solicitation strategies in support of strategic initiatives.
• Verifiable track record of soliciting individuals/organizations for financial investments and the ability to articulate and advocate a strong case for support.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage time and workload, multitask, and achieve goals in a deadline-driven environment.
• Demonstrate a genuine appetite to contribute to a collaborative, ethical, and professional team environment.
• Positive attitude, sense of humor, and flexibility.
• Ability to work on the road and/or work at odd hours and on weekends.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask in a deadline-driven environment with a healthy attitude to attaining goals; to work independently and as a member of a staff team; to exercise sound judgment and discretion; to promote collaboration.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of related professional experience.
• 3+ years of direct major gift fundraising experience.
• Verifiable track record of raising $1,500,000 and above annually.
• Valid driver's license.