Associate Director of Development, College of Dentistry

University of Florida; Gainesville (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Associate Director of Development at the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry leads major gift fundraising efforts ($100K+), reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement. The role manages a donor portfolio, builds giving strategies, and coordinates events to advance UFCD priorities while engaging faculty, staff, and volunteers.

Responsibilities include prospect qualification, donor stewardship, content drafting for proposals, and collaboration with university advancement teams to

Qualifications

• Master's degree or bachelor's with years of experience in fundraising.
• Experience soliciting major gifts of $25,000+ is preferred.
• Background in a college or university setting is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
• Build a portfolio of major gift prospects and close gifts.
• Collaborate with Estate & Gift Planning and Foundations teams.
• Plan events and donor engagement activities with college and UF Advancement.
• Manage annual giving projects and donor communications.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

Prospect management

Strategic planning

Communication

Team collaboration

Project management

Data analysis

Travel willingness

Education

Master's degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Classification Minimum Requirements

Master's degree in an appropriate area and one year of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and three years of relevant experience.

Classification Title

ASO DIR, Development

Job Description

The Associate Director of Development is responsible for implementing a broad range of fundraising activities, primarily focused on soliciting and closing major gifts ($100K+) in support of the College of Dentistry. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement, the incumbent is responsible for assisting in developing and executing the fundraising program to fulfill the financial needs as identified by the Dean of the college, and in alignment with the strategic initiatives of UF Advancement.

Portfolio Management

• Responsible for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of mid-range gift prospects.
• Build a portfolio of fundraising prospects at the major gift level ($100K+) and strategically manage relationships through face-to-face visits to bring gift solicitations to close.
• Qualify prospects by contacting them, both in person and virtually, to evaluate their readiness to engage with the dental school and their interest in making a gift.
• Increase knowledge and grow support for UFCD campaign priorities.
• Develop support for UFCD by effectively involving stakeholders, such as faculty, staff, and volunteer, in effort to support fundraising and engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with offices of Estate & Gift Planning and Corporate and Foundation Relations teams to develop and implement a giving strategy for qualified prospects/donors.

Strategic Initiatives

• Work closely with the college’s Development Coordinator on development and alumni events.
• Initiate, plan and support activities and events involving volunteers, donors and prospects, both on campus and regionally.
• In coordination with the Senior Director of Advancement, attend college and UF Advancement functions to identify new individuals and move prospects through the donor continuum. These events include but are not limited to: Florida Dental Association Programming, Dental Fall Weekend, Grand Guard, Gator 100, President’s Suite, etc.
• Project management of Dentistry’s role in Gator Nation Giving Day.
• Coordinate all annual fund strategies and solicitations via central Annual Giving and internally with direct mail projects.
• Assist the Senior Director of Advancement in managing and executing plans and policies for the administration of the College’s overall development and alumni affairs program.
• Assist with writing content for proposals, annual giving campaigns, alumni magazine articles, and other development materials as needed.

Administrative

• Effectively perform prospect tracking, portfolio management, record keeping, file maintenance, and reporting using the Ascend database.
• Work with development team to ensure all donors are properly recognized for their contributions.
• Draft correspondence to donors, prospects, alumni, and corporations for the development office and Dean.
• Ensure best practices in office systems, files, and record keeping.
• Participate in the planning and execution of Departmental alumni association events, including those focused on cultivating prospects and donors for college initiatives.

Provide research, market, and prospect information for entry into the Foundation’s integrated database, and handle confidential prospect information in a sensitive, ethical manner.

Expected Salary

$65,000 - $75,000, commensurate with education and experience

Required Qualifications

Master's degree in an appropriate area and one year of relevant experience; or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area and three years of relevant experience.

Preferred

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Two to three years of major gift fundraising experience with proven success soliciting gifts of $25,000 and above strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in a college or university setting, enthusiasm for fundraising in a comprehensive research university, and the desire to work collegially within a goal-oriented fundraising organization.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
• Expertise in developing solicitation strategies.
• The ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a team player.
• Competency in problem solving.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and the capacity to engage effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of individuals are essential.
• Support the University’s commitment to creating a respectful and collaborative work environment that values integrity, professionalism, and mutual respect in all interactions; strong project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; and excellent organizational abilities.
• Proficient in the following areas: Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, as well as internet browsers and email platforms. Familiarity with donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking systems is also highly preferred.
• The ability and willingness to travel. A valid driver’s license and good driving record are essential.*
• Business expenses are reimbursed through a standard accounting system. The ability to pay expenses using your own personal credit card or funds and have them reimbursed is essential.

Health Assessment Required

No