Director of Development

Millsaps College; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Millsaps College seeks a Director of Development to build personalized relationships with alumni and donors, soliciting gifts of $25,000+ to advance strategic priorities. You will manage a portfolio and travel regularly to connect with supporters across the United States.

The role requires at least 3 years front-line major gift fundraising experience, knowledge of community-centric fundraising, and the ability to work independently while collaborating with the Office of Institutional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field or equivalent mix of education and experience.
• At least 3 years as a front-line major gift fundraiser with experience in gifts/vehicles (planned gifts, charitable gift annuities, trusts, IRA rollovers, real estate).
• Understanding of Community-Centric Fundraising and inclusive leadership.
• Ability to manage complex projects and work as an independent contributor.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both written and in person.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a regional/local portfolio of 75-125 constituents, raising gifts of $50,000+ to support Millsaps College initiatives.
• Initiate contact with major gift donors and potential donors with capacity for gifts from $25,000 to $2,500,000.
• Qualify capacity/affinity to align with priorities and readiness for cultivation.
• Develop and execute cultivation strategies aligned with donor interests and potential.
• Lead solicitations with compelling proposals and timely follow-up and gratitude.
• Maintain stewardship contacts with a disciplined schedule of appointments and activities.
• Document activities in the donor database and leverage CRM tools daily.
• Travel to visit portfolio donors in assigned U.S. regions.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Donor engagement

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Independent contributor

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field

Tools

Slate

The Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Job description

The Director of Development, part of the Office of Institutional Advancement team, builds personalized and purposeful relationships with the Millsaps community resulting in mutually beneficial investments that build and inspire positive change. The Development Officer is part of the Philanthropic Giving team within the Office of Institutional Advancement and works to secure philanthropic support for individual donors to the College. This position solicits donors for charitable contributions of $25,000+ to secure funding for a variety of initiatives and strategic priorities for the College. The Director manages a portfolio of alumni and donors and travels to defined territories within the United States on a regular basis and is expected to make one-on-one visits with donors. This position reports to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

The position works on-site in Jackson, MS with regular office hours from 8:00am – 4:30pm with a one-hour unpaid lunch break. Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support events, donor engagement, and travel. Additional availability will be needed during peak periods such as calendar and fiscal year-end giving.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee a regional and local portfolio of ~75-125 constituents, raising philanthropic outright and planned gifts of $50,000 or more to advance the mission of Millsaps College. Understand Millsaps’ programs, aspirations, and strategic priorities, and build and nurture relationships with donors to match the donor’s interests and passions to the institution’s highest priorities. Implement equitable philanthropic practices, including community-centric fundraising practices, in work with donors.
• Initiate contact with a portfolio of individual major gift donors and potential donors who have the capacity to make philanthropic gifts between $25,000-$2,500,000.
• Qualify philanthropic capacity and affinity through research and donor engagement to determine alignment with institutional priorities and readiness for deeper cultivation
• Develop and execute appropriate cultivation strategies that align with donor’s interests and potential.
• Lead and complete successful solicitations by preparing compelling proposals, coordinating with campus partners as needed, and ensuring timely follow-up and gratitude.
• Maintain stewardship contacts and strengthen relationships through a disciplined schedule of appointments and other meaningful activities.
• Create, implement, and maintain a custom relationship plan for each qualified donor to assist in the creation of engagement offers and asks.
• Regularly document these activities through the donor database and leverage digital relationship management tools in daily work.
• Travel to visit portfolio donors in assigned key U.S. regions throughout the year.
• Plan and coordinate travel logistics associated with donor trips, and maintain office work requirements while on the road.
• Actively engages in learning and practicing principles to increase individual capacity to support institutional changes that create and sustain a welcoming environment across the Millsaps community.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent mix of education and experience
• At least 3 years as a front-line, major gift fundraiser; proven experience soliciting a variety of major gifts, including experience with planned gifts and complex planned giving vehicles, such as charitable gift annuities, trusts, IRA rollovers, gifts of real estate and property, etc. preferred. Additional relevant work experience may supplement at least 3 years of work as a front-line, major gift fundraiser.
• Understanding of Community-Centric Fundraising and inclusive leadership
• Able to manage complex projects and work as an independent individual contributor
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both written and in person
• Comfort with discussing philanthropy and personal financial conversations with individuals
• Ability to work confidently in a variety of computer programs, including Google Suite, Excel, email, calendar, and database CRM programs
• Familiarity with Slate, The Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar Advancement CRM preferred
• Able to utilize professionalism, discernment, tactful communication, and uphold ethical code of conduct when interacting with a diverse population of alumni, donors and internal stakeholders
• Solid and consistent record keeping and general administrative responsibilities required for smooth office operation
• Ability to stay within a set travel budget and manage expense reports related to travel
• Able to exercise mature judgement in working with on- and off-campus constituents
• Solid and consistent record keeping and general administrative responsibilities required for smooth office operation
• Timely response to colleagues and donors

Physical & Availability Requirements

• Ability to travel as needed for donor visits throughout assigned region
• Must be available and willing to work evenings and weekends during peak seasons and for special events
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Manual dexterity needed for keyboarding and other repetitive tasks.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 15 pounds without assistance.

Millsaps College is a selective institution of higher education located on 100 beautiful acres in the heart of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi — a progressive southern metropolitan city of nearly half a million. Millsaps is dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of the region. The college was founded in 1890 by members of the Methodist Church and is consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education.

Millsaps has an enrollment of approximately 750 students and employs 80 full-time faculty members. The faculty/student ratio at Millsaps is 1:9, and the average class size is 14. Millsaps has graduated 25 Fulbright Award recipients, seven Rhodes Scholars, six Goldwater Scholars and two Truman Scholars. Millsaps is a member of the NCAA Division III and Southern Athletic Association and competes in 18 intercollegiate sports.

EEO Statement

Millsaps College values diversity within our students, faculty and staff, and strives to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people. Millsaps College does not discriminate in employment on the bases of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state and/or local laws.

All offers of employment will be contingent on successful completion of a background check and verification of employment.Salary will be commensurate with experience. Millsaps College provides acompetitive benefits package .

It is the policy of Millsaps College to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities for employment. If you require any accommodations to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [emailprotected] .

Additional Information

In compliance with the amendments to the federal Clery Act concerning annual security reports, all potential job applicants are free to view Millsaps College’sannual Campus Crime Statistics here .

The only national liberal arts college in Mississippi, Millsaps College has consistently been ranked a “Best Buy” among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report's America’s Best Colleges and is cited as one of Loren Pope’s 40 Colleges That Change Lives. It was the first institution in Mississippi with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and is the only institution in Mississippi ever to be listed in The Fiske Guide to Colleges.

Millsaps is a member of the ACS and NITLE , and has an AACSB accredited business school. In accordance with Federal law, we are making available our Campus Security Report to all prospective employees. Millsaps is located in Jackson, the capital of the state. The Jackson area has a population of around 400,000 and offers low cost-of-living, excellent schools, pleasant climate, and many recreational opportunities.