Director of Development

Lipscomb University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Lipscomb University seeks a relationship-builder to serve as Director of Development. You will manage a portfolio of 100–120 major gift prospects and donors capable of giving $25K+, with a goal of raising significant philanthropic support as you advance Lipscomb's mission.

You’ll travel to meet donors, cultivate friendships, and partner with university leaders to craft compelling invitations to give. If you’re energized by purpose and faith-driven fundraising, we’d love to meet you.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of frontline major gift fundraising experience.
• Track record of closing gifts of $25,000+.
• Experience with moves management and full pipeline management.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors.
• Visit donors in person and virtually to cultivate relationships.
• Plan and host donor experiences and events to show impact.
• Collaborate with deans, faculty, and university leadership to tell Lipscomb's story.
• Partner with Prospect Research to identify and qualify new major gifts.

Skills

Relationship-building

Fundraising

Donor cultivation

Storytelling

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Raiser's Edge NXT

Job description

At Lipscomb University, we believe generosity changes lives — and we're looking for a gifted relationship-builder to help make that generosity possible. As Director of Development, you'll spend your days doing what you do best: connecting with people, hearing their stories, and inviting them into a mission worth investing in. You'll build a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, walk alongside them as friends of the university, and help them discover the joy of giving generously toward something eternal.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Development, you'll partner closely with academic and university leaders to understand what Lipscomb needs most and turn that into a compelling invitation for donors. You'll work alongside a Development team that believes fundraising, done well, is really just an extension of ministry — building trust, telling the truth, and helping people live generously. If you're energized by people, driven by purpose, and ready to help write the next chapter of Lipscomb's story, we'd love to meet you.

Here's what you'll be doing:

Building Real Relationships

• Carry a portfolio of 100-120 major gift prospects and donors capable of giving $25K+, with a goal of raising $2M+ a year once you're fully up and running
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward these relationships — not as transactions, but as genuine friendships built on trust
• Get on the road and in the room regularly, visiting donors in person and virtually, because the best fundraising happens face to face

Making Donors Feel Genuinely Valued

• Deliver a donor experience people remember — timely updates, personal notes, and thoughtful surprises that show you were paying attention
• Make sure every gift, no matter the size, gets a timely and heartfelt thank-you
• Help plan and host donor experiences and events that let people see and feel the impact of their generosity firsthand

Connecting Campus to Community

• Partner with deans, faculty, and university leadership to understand what students and programs need most, and translate that into a story donors can rally behind
• Be the trusted go-between when faculty and staff want to engage a donor — making sure it's done thoughtfully and well
• Keep learning about Lipscomb's programs, people, and mission so you can speak about them with real credibility and heart

Playing Well With Your Team

• Work hand-in-hand with Prospect Research to find and qualify new major donor relationships
• Show up for your Development teammates and the broader campaign strategy, not just your own goals
• Keep your portfolio organized and up to date in Raiser's Edge NXT — good stewardship starts with good records

What You Bring

You've done this before. You have 5-7 years of frontline major gift fundraising experience and a track record of closing gifts of $25,000 or more. You know the rhythm of moves management and you're comfortable managing a full pipeline.

You're a natural connector. People open up to you quickly — donors, faculty, university leaders, strangers at an event. You have the emotional intelligence and warmth to build trust fast and the follow-through to keep it.

You tell a good story. You can make anyone excited about what's happening at Lipscomb — the students, the programs, the mission — through genuine, compelling storytelling rather than a rehearsed pitch.

You're driven and organized. You're a self-starter who can manage competing priorities, a full calendar, and real travel without losing sight of the relationships at the center of it all.

You live out the mission, not just talk about it. Your Christian faith is active and growing, and it shows up in how you treat people — with integrity, humility, and genuine warmth. You support and affirm Lipscomb's Statement of Faith and want to see that lived out in your work every day.

Nice to have

• Experience with Raiser's Edge NXT or a similar CRM
• Comfort working alongside deans, faculty, and academic leaders across a variety of disciplines
• Education Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.