Director, Major Gifts & Development (Remote/Flexible)

The Rome Group; Missouri; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Lindenwood University in Missouri seeks a Director of Development to secure private philanthropic support, targeting gifts of $25,000 and above, with emphasis on $100,000+ while expanding the donor pipeline. The role travels regionally and collaborates with colleges and units across campus.

The successful candidate will bring at least three years in major gifts within higher education, proficiency with Raiser's Edge, and a strategic, donor-centric approach to fundraising and relationship

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of three years of experience soliciting major donors and gifts
• Experience in a higher education environment, ideally including participation in a comprehensive campaign, capital campaign, or fundraising initiative for capital projects
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred

Responsibilities

• Manages a portfolio of major donor prospects capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more, with a focus on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure
• Coordinates with the assistant vice president, development, development colleagues, and prospect researcher to develop and implement strategies to meet annual and campaign fundraising goals
• Meets with donors and donor prospects 25%–50% of the time through travel, on-campus visits, phone calls, and video conferences, including some evenings and weekends
• Prepares donor proposals, reports, draft agreements, and communications tailored to donor interests
• Develops and executes strategies for assigned units that support philanthropic priorities and successfully increase major-gift support in partnership with Advancement and Academic leadership and other advancement colleagues
• Develops and maintains close, collaborative partnerships with assigned units to gain a strong understanding of their programs and initiatives and identify opportunities for private support
• Maintains expertise in major-gift best practices, contemporary philanthropic trends, and evolving giving vehicles, translating industry insights into innovative strategies for prospect engagement and complex gift structuring
• Collaborates with stewardship and engagement colleagues to develop strategic engagement plans for key alumni and donors
• Utilizes Raiser’s Edge to document all activities, interactions, and other relevant data
• Participates in advancement meetings and events, assists colleagues, and supports ongoing programs and operations as needed to help meet institutional engagement and fundraising goals

Skills

Donor relations

Relationship building

Proposal writing

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Microsoft Office

Job description

Lindenwood University in Missouri seeks a Director of Development to secure private philanthropic support, targeting gifts of $25,000 and above, with emphasis on $100,000+ while expanding the donor pipeline. The role travels regionally and collaborates with colleges and units across campus.

The successful candidate will bring at least three years in major gifts within higher education, proficiency with Raiser's Edge, and a strategic, donor-centric approach to fundraising and relationship