Director of Development

Sowela Technical Community College; Baton Rouge, Northern (LA, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) seeks a Director of Development to drive philanthropic growth and strategic partnerships. You will oversee leadership, major, principal, and transformational gifts, aligning donor interests with institutional priorities.

The role partners with college leadership to craft impactful proposals, manage a donor portfolio, and advance stewardship and annual giving programs. Strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field.
• 5 years of development experience.
• Experience with major gifts and donor portfolio management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio focused on leadership and major gifts.
• Lead identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors.
• Design strategies to renew and upgrade donor commitments and build donor relations.

Skills

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts/Management/Business/Marketing

Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit management/Business/Marketing

Tools

Raiser’s Edge/NXT

Job description

Director of Development Job no: 495681 Closes: Work Type: Staff Full-Time Locations: Baton Rouge, LA Categories: Institutional Advancement, Institutional Effectiveness, Institutional Research, Strategic Initiatives

Director of Development

Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC)

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Driving Philanthropic Growth, Cultivating Strategic Partnerships, and Advancing Institutional Excellence.

The Director of Development advances the philanthropic priorities of the Baton Rouge Community College by directing a strategic portfolio of leadership, major, principal, and transformational gift prospects and donors. This role drives engagement strategies, secures financial investments, ensures donor interests are aligned with institutional funding needs, and oversees the stewardship and annual giving programs.

Key Responsibilities

70% Fundraising Strategy and Donor Engagement

• Develop and manage a portfolio focused on leadership gifts ($1,000+), major gifts ($10,000+), principal gifts ($1 million+), and transformational investments.
• Lead the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects and donors through a structured and strategic engagement process.
• Design and direct strategies to renew, upgrade, and deepen donor commitments to build long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Lead efforts to secure project-specific, programmatic, scholarship, and unrestricted gifts.
• Establish and execute individualized engagement plans that match donor interests with the college’s highest funding priorities.
• Achieve annual performance goals for meaningful contacts, solicitations, dollars raised, donor retention, timely reporting, and portfolio activity as defined by college leadership.
• Serve as a strategic liaison between the development office and faculty, administrators, and program staff to design donor-centric proposals and impact communications.
• Partner with advancement leadership and the Grants Manager to align philanthropic and grant strategies with institutional initiatives.
• Represent BRCC and the BRCC Foundation at donor meetings, industry events, advisory councils, and community gatherings.
• Direct the use of the college’s CRM (Raiser’s Edge/NXT) to maintain accurate and comprehensive donor records, proposals, gifts, and stewardship activities.
• Track and report on portfolio activity, fundraising progress, and key performance indicators to leadership.
• Uphold fundraising policies, procedures, and best practices to ensure compliant and effective operations.

20% Stewardship and Annual Giving Leadership

• Direct the development and execution of stewardship strategies that reinforce donor loyalty and demonstrate the tangible impact of giving.
• Lead the annual giving program to strengthen leadership-level support and broaden the donor base.
• Ensure stewardship activities, including recognition, impact reporting, and engagement opportunities, are timely, personalized, and aligned with donor expectations.

10% Professional Development and Institutional Service

• Engage in professional development opportunities to strengthen fundraising expertise and stay informed of industry best practices.
• Supervise staff position supporting Raiser’s Edge or Stewardship.
• Support college-wide initiatives, serve on committees as assigned, and promote a culture of philanthropy across the institution.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, Management, Business, Marketing or related fields.

Experience

• 5 years of experience.

Experience Substitution:

• 10 years direct development experience and a CFRE certification.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Advanced

• Major gift fundraising and portfolio management
• Donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Communication and presentation skills
• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement

Proficient

• Strategic planning and goal setting
• CRM database management (Raiser’s Edge/NXT)
• Proposal writing and impact reporting
• Team collaboration and leadership

Basic

• Financial acumen and data analysis

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Non-Profit management, business, marketing or related fields

Preferred Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in development, fundraising, or advancement in higher education or a nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated success in securing major and principal gifts, managing a donor portfolio, and exceeding fundraising goals.
• Experience with campaign planning, endowment growth, and donor communications.
• Proven ability to build relationships with corporate, foundation, and individual donors.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of development best practices, ethics, and trends in philanthropy.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate fundraising performance and adjust strategy accordingly.
• Ability to articulate institutional mission and impact compellingly to diverse audiences.
• Skill in managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits:

As a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System,BRCC has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some childcare and medical expenses), holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits and Employee Assistance Program. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort, and length of employment.

Why Join BRCC?

Baton Rouge Community College offers a collaborative work environment, a commitment to employee development, and the opportunity to support the mission of student success through strong institutional operations.

Passing pre-employment criminal background screen is required as a condition of employment.