Senior Director of Development

Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as a Senior Director of Development to work with the Executive Director of Development to jointly implement successful major gift development programs.
• Identify the resource needs of assigned colleges and create plans for meeting those needs with philanthropic fundraising.
• Meet regularly with Deans, the Executive Director of Development, the Chief Development Officer, and the Vice President of University Advancement to identify and operationalize development objectives and goals of both colleges.
• Prepare for and undertake face-to-face solicitations and funding proposals; identify, screen, and cultivate prospects; nurture existing donors and supporters; and engage in stewardship activities that keep donors and friends informed, interested, and engaged in the activities of the University.
• Collaborate with department chairs, faculty, coordinators, volunteers, advisory committees, and alumni focused on development to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward prospects and donors.
• Maintain and constantly work to enhance an individual major gift prospect pool and actively cultivate and solicit prospects for major gifts to the university by presenting the goals and objectives of the funding needs in a manner which effectively informs and persuades others.
• Integrate development activities with university-wide advancement programs and assets, including Alumni Affairs, Public Affairs, Prospect Research, Gift Processing, Annual Fund activities, Planned Giving, university events, foundation and corporate outreach, and the like.
• Coordinate with university prospect management system to ensure effective coordination with fundraising professionals, soliciting and cultivating support for assigned colleges and programs.
• Plan, implement, and successfully engage in personal face-to-face prospect calls.
• Conduct at least two personal, face-to-face visits per week.
• Undertake off-campus travel to meet with prospects and donors as part of a strategic plan of development for prospective and current donors.
• Participate in capital campaigns, endowment development, grant writing and management, events and sponsorships, and special fundraising spritzes.

University Advancement and Campus-Wide Participation

• The SDOD is a vital member of the University Advancement team.
• Work with advancement colleagues to envision campus-wide development goals, initiatives, events, campaigns, and protocols.
• Attend advisory meetings, cultivation events, university receptions, and advancement activities for the purposes of representing university and/or college advancement and development initiatives and needs.
• Evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of various development strategies and activities and recommend refinements and new advancement ventures as needed.
• Work with the central development staff to refer individuals to the annual giving office; identify planned giving opportunities; collaborate with the divisional corporate grant specialist; and work with other development personnel to ensure that the needs of university supporters are addressed in a seamless and immediate manner.
• Affiliate with general university donor cultivation, solicitations, and stewardship.
• Affiliate with the university advancement team to attract additional campus support important for all colleges, schools and programs, such as support for scholarships, technology acquisition, capacity-building, marketing and outreach, and support for areas of greatest need.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree - from an accredited university.
• Valid California Driver's License and required insurance.
• Minimum of seven years of progressive experience in major gifts fundraising, or equivalent business development experience, with a demonstrated record of increasing responsibility and consistent success in securing philanthropic/financial support at the major and principal gift levels, preferably within a higher education or similarly complex environment.
• Demonstrated participation in a development/advancement organization (CASE, APRA, NSFRE, AFA, etc.).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required relating well and communicating effectively with a variety of constituents, including high-profile leaders.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, on and off campus, serving in a leader role, and a liaison /representative of the College, Division, and the university.
• Must demonstrate accepted business and professional etiquette in all dealings with constituents and colleagues.
• Demonstrated success in donor cultivation and asks, and in preparing and submitting support proposals.
• Understanding of gift processing, valuation, and acknowledgement requirements.
• Must be able to successfully engage in personal face-to-face calling on prospects.
• Understanding of types of gifts (planned, current, endowment, restricted, estate, etc.).
• Understanding of ways to give (cash, gifts-in-kind, grants, awards, instruments, etc.).
• Ability to work evenings and weekends for cultivation meetings, events, and activities.
• Understands and reflects the highest standards of professional conduct and integrity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Familiarity with contemporary state and national issues and trends related to Liberal Arts, Social Sciences and Educational Studies.
• Experience working in a higher education or non-profit setting preferred.
• Demonstrated participation in development/advancement organizations such as CASE, APRA, NSFRE, and AFP.
• Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential preferred.