Associate Director of Development

Jobtailor; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University – Peabody College is seeking a Major Gifts Officer to manage a portfolio of high-value donors in support of student financial aid, scholarships, and academic programs. The role focuses on identifying, cultivating, and closing gifts, while building strong relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and prospective donors.

The successful candidate will develop an active pipeline, plan visits and events, translate donor interests into opportunities, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least four years of fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or related experience.
• Ability to build productive relationships across diverse backgrounds.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative development team.
• Willingness and ability to travel and participate in occasional evening and weekend events.
• Commitment to the mission of Vanderbilt University and Peabody College and to the transformative impact of education and human development.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Demonstrated understanding of major gift fundraising principles and practices.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and relationships while meeting deadlines and fundraising goals.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and prospective donors.
• Personally solicit and close major gifts generally ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.
• Develop an active prospect pipeline and annual fundraising goals and activity plans.
• Conduct donor visits and participate in meetings and engagement events.
• Raise philanthropic support for student financial aid, scholarships, faculty support, academic programs, centers, and strategic initiatives.
• Develop understanding of Peabody College programs, research, faculty expertise, centers, and initiatives.
• Translate donor interests into opportunities aligned with Peabody College priorities.
• Partner with academic and program leaders on cases for support, proposals, engagement opportunities, and stewardship materials.
• Collaborate with the Dean, senior leadership, faculty, program and center directors, and Vanderbilt Development and Alumni Relations colleagues.
• Prepare proposals, letters, briefing materials, impact reports, solicitation strategies, and other fundraising communications.
• Plan and participate in donor events and engagement opportunities.
• Maintain accurate donor activity records and provide regular fundraising updates to the Senior Director.
• Participate in team meetings, professional development, strategic planning, and assigned special projects.

Skills

Major Gift Fundraising

Relationship Management

Proposal Development

Fundraising Communication

Project Management

Event Planning

Donor Activity Records

Engagement Strategies

Financial Aid Fundraising

Scholarship Fundraising

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Advancement Databases

Standard Office Technology

Job description

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and prospective donors
• Personally solicit and close major gifts generally ranging from $25,000 to $250,000
• Develop an active prospect pipeline and annual fundraising goals and activity plans
• Conduct donor visits and participate in meetings and engagement events
• Raise philanthropic support for student financial aid, scholarships, faculty support, academic programs, centers, and strategic initiatives
• Develop understanding of Peabody College programs, research, faculty expertise, centers, and initiatives
• Translate donor interests into opportunities aligned with Peabody College priorities
• Partner with academic and program leaders on cases for support, proposals, engagement opportunities, and stewardship materials
• Collaborate with the Dean, senior leadership, faculty, program and center directors, and Vanderbilt Development and Alumni Relations colleagues
• Prepare proposals, letters, briefing materials, impact reports, solicitation strategies, and other fundraising communications
• Plan and participate in donor events and engagement opportunities
• Maintain accurate donor activity records and provide regular fundraising updates to the Senior Director
• Participate in team meetings, professional development, strategic planning, and assigned special projects

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• At least four years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, sales, relationship management, or a related field
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative development team
• Willingness and ability to travel and participate in occasional evening and weekend events
• Commitment to the mission of Vanderbilt University and Peabody College and to the transformative impact of education and human development
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record
• Demonstrated understanding of major gift fundraising principles and practices
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and relationships while meeting deadlines and fundraising goals
• Proficiency with standard office technology and advancement databases

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in major gift fundraising principles and practices, with a strong ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders. Proficient in developing proposals, managing donor communications, and achieving fundraising goals through strategic planning and collaboration.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Major Gift Fundraising
• Relationship Management
• Proposal Development
• Fundraising Communication
• Project Management

Hard Skills

• Fundraising
• Donor Solicitation
• Prospect Pipeline Development
• Fundraising Goals
• Stewardship
• Event Planning
• Donor Activity Record Maintenance
• Engagement Strategies
• Financial Aid Fundraising
• Scholarship Fundraising

Soft Skills

• Interpersonal Skills
• Organizational Skills
• Written Communication
• Verbal Communication
• Collaboration

Industry Keywords

• Philanthropic Support
• Vanderbilt University
• Peabody College
• Diverse Backgrounds
• Transformative Impact of Education

Tools & Technologies

• Advancement Databases
• Standard Office Technology