Associate Director of Development

Georgia College

Milledgeville (GA)

On-site

USD 61,000 - 68,000

Full time

4 days ago

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Job summary

Georgia College seeks an Associate Director of Development to advance our major gifts program and manage a strategic portfolio of prospects in support of university priorities.

The role partners with unit leadership and Advancement colleagues to design donor-centered strategies, cultivate relationships, and close gifts while aligning with campus fundraising goals. Travel up to 50–74% is expected.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum 3 years of progressive fundraising or related experience.
Experience soliciting and closing major gifts.
Travel up to 50%–74% as needed.
Familiarity with donor pipeline and moves management.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donor strategies.
Solicit and close gifts from alumni, parents, and foundations.
Develop tailored moves management plans with the Senior Director.
Collaborate with Dean/Director and Advancement colleagues.
Provide regular portfolio updates and progress reports.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Portfolio management

Donor cultivation

Prospect research

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Associate Director of Development

Job ID: 303977

Location: Georgia College & State Univ

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

About Us

Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state'sdesignated public liberal arts university, where students learn theessential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-drivenglobal society. The university prepares students for successfulcareers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-longlearning through personalized attention in a residential settingwith opportunities for a variety of transformational experiencesthrough its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only threeselective universities within the University System of Georgia anda top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offersundergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduateprograms, doctorates in education and nursing, professionalcertificates, and continuing education programs. As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal ArtsColleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal artsenvironment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinaryinquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strongreputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programsaccording to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review andColleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources. Georgia College & State University takes great pride incombining the educational experience of a private liberal artscollege with the affordability of a public university. Faculty andstaff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learningthrough high-impact practices such as internships, service- andcommunity-based learning, leadership development, study abroadopportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstoneproject that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry andcritical thinking. The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtownin Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast ofAtlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American authorand alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college communityenjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's formerhome, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by theuniversity. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful LakeSinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students totake full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefitsof being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational andleisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta arelocated within easy driving distances. Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protectingacademic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression asoutlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy andits Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information,visit us online at gcsu.edu.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working inpartnership with the Dean or Director of the assigned area, theAssociate Director of Development independently manages agoal-oriented fundraising program for an assigned college or unit. The position manages a portfolio of major gift prospects, developsand executes donor strategies through all stages of the gift cycle,and contributes to annual fundraising plans and measurable goalsestablished in collaboration with the Senior Director. TheAssociate Director serves as an experienced fundraising partner tounit leadership and Advancement colleagues. This role has greaterindependence and portfolio accountability than the AssistantDirector level while operating under the strategic direction,coaching, and oversight of the Senior Director ofDevelopment.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Fundraising & Portfolio Management -65%

Independently manages a portfolio of qualified major gift prospects, maintaining consistent personal contact and advancingrelationships through identification, qualification, cultivation,solicitation, closure, and stewardship.
Personally solicits and closes major gifts from alumni, parents,corporations, foundations, and friends of the university in supportof assigned college or unit priorities.
Develops individualized prospect strategies, moves managementplans, solicitation timelines, and follow-up actions inconsultation with the Senior Director of Development.
Contributes to the development and implementation of the assignedunit's annual fundraising plan, including portfolio goals, priorityprospects, donor engagement strategies, and progressmeasures.
Provides regular portfolio updates to the Senior Director andmaintains accountability for assigned activity, solicitation, andfundraising goals.
Partners with the Prospect Research team to identify, qualify,prioritize, and segment prospects with the capacity and inclinationto make significant gifts.
Collaborates with Annual Giving and Digital Engagement colleaguesto identify and upgrade leadership annual donors into the majorgift pipeline.
Coordinates individual unit alumni outreach and recognition effortswith GCSU Alumni Engagement and participates in alumni programsthat support donor identification and cultivation.
Develops donor-centered cultivation, solicitation, and stewardshipstrategies aligned with donor interests, philanthropic capacity,and institutional priorities.
Collaborates with Advancement colleagues on corporate andfoundation proposals, planned giving opportunities, campaigninitiatives, and coordinated prospect management.
Coordinates State and Foundation resources to support effectivefund utilization in alignment with donor intent and gift orendowment agreements.
Travels locally, regionally, and nationally as needed to cultivate,solicit, and steward donors and prospects.

Unit Partnership & Fundraising Planning -15%

Serves as an Advancement partner to the assigned college or unit,building productive relationships with the Dean or Director,faculty, staff, and administrators.
Works with the Senior Director, unit leadership, and Advancementcolleagues to identify fundable priorities and translateinstitutional needs into donor-focused opportunities.
Provides portfolio and fundraising progress updates, identifiesemerging opportunities or barriers, and recommends next steps tothe Senior Director.
Represents University Advancement at unit meetings, donor-facingprograms, community functions, and other events as an ambassadorfor GCSU's philanthropic mission.
Supports campaign and special initiative planning by developingprospect strategies, donor briefings, and solicitation materialsfor assigned priorities.

Stewardship & Donor Relations -10%

Plans and participates in stewardship activities that recognize,retain, and deepen relationships with major donors and supportersof the assigned college or unit.
Develops or contributes to gift proposals, case statements, impactreports, acknowledgment correspondence, and other donorcommunications.
Partners with Advancement Services and Stewardship colleagues toensure timely acknowledgment, accurate reporting, and meaningfuldonor recognition.
Supports donor cultivation and recognition events tied to unitfundraising goals and major gift strategies.

Volunteer Engagement & Team Contribution -5%

Supports volunteer advisory and fundraising boards associated withassigned areas by preparing materials, coordinating engagement, andinvolving members in appropriate cultivation and stewardshipactivities.
Provides informal guidance and peer support to less-experienceddevelopment staff while escalating strategic or performance mattersto the Senior Director.
Contributes to a collaborative, accountable, and donor-centeredculture across University Advancement.

Other - 5%

Performs other duties as assigned by the Senior Director ofDevelopment in support of the division's fundraising andadvancement objectives.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Other Required Qualifications

Demonstrated experience personally soliciting and closingsignificant gifts/sales and advancing prospects through the fullgift/sales cycle.
Experience independently managing an assigned portfolio orcomparable relationship-based pipeline with measurable goals.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, includingexperience preparing correspondence, proposals, orfundraising/sales materials.
Working proficiency with a constituent relationship managementsystem such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or a similarplatform.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly, includingoccasional evenings and weekends.

Required Experience

Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in fundraising,development, advancement, sales, or a closely related field,including direct experience with donor cultivation andsolicitation.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated success soliciting and closing gifts at the major giftlevel.
Experience partnering with deans, academic leaders, faculty, orsenior program leaders to develop fundraising priorities.
Familiarity with planned giving concepts, corporate and foundationfundraising, or campaign operations.
Experience supporting volunteer boards, advisory groups, or donorcommittees.
CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential or activepursuit of the credential.

Preferred Educational Qualifications

Master's degree or advanced degree in a related field.

Preferred Experience

Four or more years of progressive fundraising experience, includingmajor gift work in higher education or a complex nonprofitenvironment.

Proposed Salary

This position is a pay grade 10. The available salary range is$60,868 to $68,000. Starting salary within this range is based onrelevant years of experience.

Required Documents to Attach

Cover Letter
Resume
Reference List

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES

Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and takeownership of assigned fundraising goals while working within thestrategic direction of the Senior Director.
Ability to manage donor relationships through the full gift cycleand make effective recommendations about prospect strategy and nextsteps.
Ability to engage comfortably with donors, unit leaders, faculty,volunteers, and Advancement colleagues.
Ability to translate unit priorities into clear and compellingphilanthropic opportunities.
Ability to receive coaching, incorporate feedback, and elevatecomplex or high-level matters appropriately.
Ability to handle sensitive donor and institutional informationwith discretion and confidentiality.
Ability to travel regularly and work flexible hours as required bydonor schedules and university events.
Ability to represent the university with professionalism,integrity, enthusiasm, and consistent follow-through.

KNOWLEDGE

Working knowledge of major gifts fundraising principles, movesmanagement methodology, and the full donor gift cycle.
Knowledge of annual giving and donor pipeline strategies, includingthe identification and upgrading of prospects.
Understanding of higher education advancement structures and therelationship among academic units, institutional foundations, andcentral Advancement operations.
Working knowledge of gift processing, fund accounting, donorintent, and endowment stewardship principles.
Familiarity with planned giving vehicles and their role in acomprehensive development program.
Familiarity with CASE standards, ethical fundraising guidelines,FERPA, and applicable privacy requirements.

SKILLS

Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to engageauthentically and credibly with donors, volunteers, academicpartners, and community stakeholders.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including theability to prepare persuasive gift proposals, donor correspondence,briefings, and presentations.
Strong organizational and project management skills with theability to manage a portfolio, competing priorities, deadlines, anddonor commitments.
Analytical skills to assess prospect capacity, evaluate portfolioactivity, track progress against goals, and adjust strategies inconsultation with the Senior Director.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Advancement CRMplatforms.
Skill in planning and facilitating donor meetings, visits,presentations, and engagement activities.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25institutions of higher education and learning as well as the SystemOffice. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence,Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundationfor all that we do as an organization, and each USG communitymember is responsible for demonstrating and upholding thesestandards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values andCode of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 andcan be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in BoardPolicy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-lineat https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamentalvalues of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board ofRegents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual'sage, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race,religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). Noindividual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied thebenefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination,harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activitybecause of the individual's protected status; nor shall anyindividual be given preferential treatment because of theindividual's protected status, except that preferential treatmentmay be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate underfederal or state law.

Other Information