Associate Director of Development

Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville (GA)

On-site

USD 61,000 - 68,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Georgia College & State University seeks an Associate Director of Development to manage a major gifts portfolio and drive donor strategies across all gift cycle stages. The role partners with unit leadership to meet fundraising goals and advance key priorities.

The position requires effective donor stewardship, collaboration with Advancement colleagues, and regular travel to cultivate major gifts for a designated college or unit.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Demonstrated experience soliciting and closing gifts and advancing prospects through full gift cycle.
Experience managing a portfolio with measurable fundraising goals.
Strong written and verbal communication and ability to travel regularly.

Responsibilities

Independently manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and advances relationships through all gift cycle stages.
Personally solicits and closes major gifts to support unit priorities.
Develops prospect strategies, moves management plans, timelines, and follow-up actions.
Contributes to unit fundraising plans, goals, donor engagement, and progress measures.
Coordinates with Alumni Engagement and Advancement colleagues for donor identification and cultivation.
Supports donor stewardship activities and prepares fundraising materials.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relationships

Portfolio management

Communication

Strategic planning

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's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.

As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources. Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.

The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.

Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and working in partnership with the Dean or Director of the assigned area, the Associate Director of Development independently manages a goal-oriented fundraising program for an assigned college or unit. The position manages a portfolio of major gift prospects, develops and executes donor strategies through all stages of the gift cycle, and contributes to annual fundraising plans and measurable goals established in collaboration with the Senior Director. The Associate Director serves as an experienced fundraising partner to unit leadership and Advancement colleagues. This role has greater independence and portfolio accountability than the Assistant Director level while operating under the strategic direction, coaching, and oversight of the Senior Director of Development.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Fundraising & Portfolio Management - 65%

Independently manages a portfolio of qualified major gift prospects, maintaining consistent personal contact and advancing relationships 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 support of assigned college or unit priorities.
Develops individualized prospect strategies, moves management plans, solicitation timelines, and follow-up actions in consultation with the Senior Director of Development.
Contributes to the development and implementation of the assigned unit's annual fundraising plan, including portfolio goals, priority prospects, donor engagement strategies, and progress measures.
Provides regular portfolio updates to the Senior Director and maintains accountability for assigned activity, solicitation, and fundraising goals.
Partners with the Prospect Research team to identify, qualify, prioritize, and segment prospects with the capacity and inclination to make significant gifts.
Collaborates with Annual Giving and Digital Engagement colleagues to identify and upgrade leadership annual donors into the major gift pipeline.
Coordinates individual unit alumni outreach and recognition efforts with GCSU Alumni Engagement and participates in alumni programs that support donor identification and cultivation.
Develops donor-centered cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with donor interests, philanthropic capacity, and institutional priorities.
Collaborates with Advancement colleagues on corporate and foundation proposals, planned giving opportunities, campaign initiatives, and coordinated prospect management.
Coordinates State and Foundation resources to support effective fund utilization in alignment with donor intent and gift or endowment 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 Advancement colleagues to identify fundable priorities and translate institutional needs into donor-focused opportunities.
Provides portfolio and fundraising progress updates, identifies emerging opportunities or barriers, and recommends next steps to the Senior Director.
Represents University Advancement at unit meetings, donor-facing programs, community functions, and other events as an ambassador for GCSU's philanthropic mission.
Supports campaign and special initiative planning by developing prospect strategies, donor briefings, and solicitation materials for assigned priorities.

Stewardship & Donor Relations - 10%

Plans and participates in stewardship activities that recognize, retain, and deepen relationships with major donors and supporters of the assigned college or unit.
Develops or contributes to gift proposals, case statements, impact reports, acknowledgment correspondence, and other donor communications.
Partners with Advancement Services and Stewardship colleagues to ensure timely acknowledgment, accurate reporting, and meaningful donor recognition.
Supports donor cultivation and recognition events tied to unit fundraising goals and major gift strategies.

Volunteer Engagement & Team Contribution - 5%

Supports volunteer advisory and fundraising boards associated with assigned areas by preparing materials, coordinating engagement, and involving members in appropriate cultivation and stewardship activities.
Provides informal guidance and peer support to less-experienced development staff while escalating strategic or performance matters to the Senior Director.
Contributes to a collaborative, accountable, and donor-centered culture across University Advancement.

Other - 5%

Performs other duties as assigned by the Senior Director of Development in support of the division's fundraising and advancement objectives.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Other Required Qualifications

Demonstrated experience personally soliciting and closing significant gifts/sales and advancing prospects through the full gift/sales cycle.
Experience independently managing an assigned portfolio or comparable relationship-based pipeline with measurable goals.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing correspondence, proposals, or fundraising/sales materials.
Working proficiency with a constituent relationship management system such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or a similar platform.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly, including occasional 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 and solicitation.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated success soliciting and closing gifts at the major gift level.
Experience partnering with deans, academic leaders, faculty, or senior program leaders to develop fundraising priorities.
Familiarity with planned giving concepts, corporate and foundation fundraising, or campaign operations.
Experience supporting volunteer boards, advisory groups, or donor committees.
CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential or active pursuit 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, including major gift work in higher education or a complex nonprofit environment.

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 on relevant years of experience.

Relocation is negotiable.

Required Documents to Attach

Cover Letter
Resume
Reference List

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Abilities

Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take ownership of assigned fundraising goals while working within the strategic direction of the Senior Director.
Ability to manage donor relationships through the full gift cycle and make effective recommendations about prospect strategy and next steps.
Ability to engage comfortably with donors, unit leaders, faculty, volunteers, and Advancement colleagues.
Ability to translate unit priorities into clear and compelling philanthropic opportunities.
Ability to receive coaching, incorporate feedback, and elevate complex or high-level matters appropriately.
Ability to handle sensitive donor and institutional information with discretion and confidentiality.
Ability to travel regularly and work flexible hours as required by donor 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, moves management methodology, and the full donor gift cycle.
Knowledge of annual giving and donor pipeline strategies, including the identification and upgrading of prospects.
Understanding of higher education advancement structures and the relationship among academic units, institutional foundations, and central Advancement operations.
Working knowledge of gift processing, fund accounting, donor intent, and endowment stewardship principles.
Familiarity with planned giving vehicles and their role in a comprehensive development program.
Familiarity with CASE standards, ethical fundraising guidelines, FERPA, and applicable privacy requirements.

Skills

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

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can 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 Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Other Information