Senior Director of Strategic Giving

About the role

The Senior Director is a senior frontline fundraiser responsible for securing significant philanthropic support for Meredith College and leading the performance of the College's major gift fundraising program. Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Senior Director manages a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors while supervising and coaching frontline development officers who advance relationships and secure significant philanthropic commitments.

Responsibilities

• The Senior Director provides oversight and leads the frontline fundraising team. The position establishes clear expectations for portfolio performance, provides regular coaching and prospect strategy guidance, participates in joint donor visits and solicitations, and holds gift officers accountable for meaningful donor engagement, solicitations, pipeline development, and fundraising results.
• Working closely with the Vice President for Institutional Advancement, the Senior Director helps translate institutional and campaign priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities and executes strategies for high-capacity prospects.
• While the position carries significant responsibility for the performance of the major gifts program, the Senior Director is expected to remain actively engaged in direct fundraising and to model effective relationship-based fundraising for the development team.
• Major and Principal Gift Fundraising - 50%
  • Manage an active portfolio of approximately 50-75 major and principal gift prospects and donors, with responsibility for qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
  • Develop and execute individualized strategies to move prospects toward significant philanthropic commitments.
  • Maintain a robust schedule of substantive donor visits and demonstrate consistent progress toward established fundraising and portfolio goals.
  • Personally solicit and close major, principal, planned, and campaign gifts in support of College priorities.
  • Build long-term relationships with alumnae, parents, friends, and other constituents with significant philanthropic capacity.
  • Identify opportunities to increase donors' philanthropic engagement over time, including multi-year, blended, and planned gift opportunities.
  • Partner with the Vice President, President, trustees, faculty, and other College leaders when their involvement can advance significant donor relationships and solicitations.
  • Model disciplined, donor-centered portfolio management and effective major gift fundraising practices for the development team.
• Frontline Fundraising Leadership and Supervision - 25%
  • Supervise, coach, and develop frontline