General Function

The Development Director leads a portfolio-driven fundraising program focused on the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual and organizational donors. Drives revenue growth through personal solicitation of leadership and major gifts, while strengthening the pipeline from annual giving to major gifts.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement, the Development Director proposes and implements integrated, multi-channel fundraising strategies that engage alumni, employees, retirees, and community supporters. The Director is responsible for increasing donor participation, retention, and annual revenue, while identifying and qualifying leadership annual giving prospects for transition to major gift portfolios.

The Development Director works collaboratively with Major Gift Officers, Advancement Operations, and marketing partners to ensure a coordinated, data-informed approach to donor acquisition, engagement, and stewardship aligned with the college’s strategic priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Leads a comprehensive, portfolio-driven fundraising strategy that integrates annual giving, leadership giving, and pipeline development efforts to grow donor engagement, participation, and philanthropic revenue.

2. Establishes and is accountable for annual fundraising goals and performance metrics, including dollars raised, donor acquisition, retention, upgrade, and pipeline growth; monitors progress and adjusts strategies to optimize results, with clear expectations for donor visits, solicitations, and portfolio movement.

3. Manages a portfolio of donors and prospects across leadership annual and emerging major gift levels, developing and executing individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies; actively solicits and closes gifts, and conducts regular donor visits and engagement activity to advance relationships and secure philanthropic commitments.

4. Identifies, qualifies, and advances donors for increased giving, including retaining and upgrading leadership annual donors and partnering with Major Gift Officers on strategy and transition of high-capacity prospects.

5. Develops and implements data-informed segmentation and engagement strategies that support targeted donor outreach, strengthen pipeline movement, and align annual giving activity with broader fundraising priorities.

6. Serves as the lead advancement strategist for the college’s annual Sporting Clays Classic, responsible for maximizing revenue through sponsorship development, donor engagement, and strategic cultivation aligned with institutional fundraising goals.

7. Leverages the Sporting Clays Classic and other engagement opportunities as key fundraising and relationship-building platforms, ensuring strong donor experiences, intentional cultivation strategies, and effective post-event stewardship.

8. Partners with Advancement Operations to ensure accurate portfolio management, data integrity, reporting, and performance analysis, using insights to inform fundraising strategy and decision-making.

9. Collaborates closely with Major Gift Officers and advancement leadership to manage a coordinated donor pipeline, ensuring effective identification, qualification, and movement of donors across giving levels.

10. Provides strategic direction and oversight for annual giving initiatives and engagement efforts, including employee and retiree campaigns, alumni engagement, Giving/Founders’ Day, and other multi-channel fundraising efforts, in partnership with Advancement Operations and Marketing.

11. Participates in Foundation-wide fundraising strategy, planning, and performance review processes, contributing to a collaborative, results-driven advancement team culture.

12. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements and Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and three to five years of progressively responsible fundraising or comparable relationship-management experience, preferably in higher education or a nonprofit setting, including demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation, and closing gifts, with a proven track record of meeting or exceeding fundraising or engagement goals.

Ability to meet measurable performance expectations related to donor engagement, solicitations, and revenue generation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Experience managing a donor portfolio and conducting face-to-face solicitations
• Experience securing leadership annual or major gifts
• Experience in annual giving, digital fundraising, or donor engagement programs
• Experience advancing donors through a development pipeline (qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship)

• Experience using fundraising databases, preferably Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge

• CFRE credential

Additional Information

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Worker Characteristics:

Knowledge of:

• Fundraising principles and practices, including donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and pipeline management across giving levels
• Leadership annual and major gift fundraising strategies, including donor qualification and advancement
• Donor segmentation, data analysis, and performance reporting
• Multi-channel engagement strategies that support donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade
• Ethical fundraising standards, including the Association of Fundraising Professionals Code of Ethical Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights

Skill in:

• Building and managing donor relationships through all stages of the giving cycle
• Conducting effective donor visits, solicitations, and closing gifts
• Using data and analytics to inform strategy, prioritize prospects, and improve performance
• Developing compelling fundraising communications, proposals, and engagement strategies
• Collaborating with colleagues, volunteers, and external partners to advance fundraising goals

Ability to:

• Manage a dynamic portfolio of prospects and donors, balancing relationship-building with revenue goals
• Prioritize and execute multiple fundraising strategies and projects in a deadline-driven environment
• Work both independently and collaboratively as part of a coordinated fundraising team
• Handle sensitive and confidential donor information with discretion
• Work effectively with diverse internal and external constituents
• Think strategically while executing tactically to achieve measurable fundraising outcomes

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in an office environment with regular computer use. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required. Local or regional travel may be required for events and donor engagement.