Director of Development

University of South Carolina; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Life Insurance

Retirement Programs

Paid Tuition Program

Dependent Scholarships

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Annual Leave

Sick Leave

13 Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Professional Development Opportunities

Job summary

The University of South Carolina Upstate is seeking a Director of Development to lead major gifts fundraising and manage corporate, foundation, and alumni relations. You will coordinate with university colleagues to cultivate prospects and move solicitations forward using Blackbaud RE-NXT.

Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, the role requires a bachelor’s degree and 4+ years in fundraising, with travel, evenings, and weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience.
• Ability to travel by the geographic location of donors/prospects and work evenings/weekends.
• Valid driver's license is required.

Responsibilities

• Prospect Manager duties: manage a gift portfolio for major gifts.
• Meet and exceed fundraising performance goals set by leadership.
• Solicit prospective donors including individuals, foundations and corporations.
• Partner with deans and faculty to develop fundraising strategy and donor stewardship.
• Collaborate with advancement team to plan work, research prospects, and report findings.
• Accept additional assignments as directed.

Skills

Travel flexibility

Communication skills

Fundraising knowledge

Donor cultivation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Blackbaud RE-NXT

Job description

Director of Development

University of South Carolina Upstate

STA00614PO26

Spartanburg, SC

Employment Details

• Job Title: Director of Development
• Job Family: Alumni Relations and Development
• Job Function: Development
• Job Level: P4 - Professional
• Business Title (Internal Title): Director of Development
• Campus: Upstate
• Work County: Spartanburg
• College/Division: USC Upstate College/Division Level
• Department: UPS University Advancement
• State Pay Range: G12
• USC Market Range: MRK - $84,820 $108,146 $131,471
• Anticipated Hiring Range: $84,820 - $108,146; Salary commensurate with education and experience.
• Location of Vacancy: USC Upstate, Spartanburg, SC
• Part/Full Time: Full Time
• Hours per Week: 37.5
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:30am - 5pm; Some evenings and weekends as needed are required.
• Basis: 12 months
• Job Search Category: Alumni Development
• Number of Vacancies: 1
• Desired Start Date: 09/01/2026
• Job Open Date: 08/13/2026

Job Summary

Under limited supervision, reporting to the Vice Chancellor for University Advancement (VCUA), the Director of Development will be responsible for the coordination and management of a comprehensive and ongoing development program through major gifts fundraising. Responsibilities include active engagement internally by working with university colleagues in cultivating Corporate and Foundation relations prospective donors, individuals, and alumni. Partners with colleagues to identify, cultivate and complete proposals / solicitations from prospective prospects. Proactively provides follow-up and stewardship on completed gifts.

Education & Experience

Requires a bachelor's degree in a job related field and 4 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Required Certification, Licensure/Other Credentials

Valid driver's license is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 4 years of fundraising or development experience in higher education and/or hybrid development model.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT donor database preferred.
• Corporate and foundations/major gifts solicitation experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A successful background check and a good driving record is required.
• Ability to travel by the geographic location of donors/prospects, work evenings and weekends.
• Appropriate knowledge of principles and methods of planning and conducting a comprehensive corporate and foundation philanthropy fundraising program.
• Track record of visiting and qualifying donors/prospects.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses and the general public.
• Outstanding oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills including database operation and word processing.

Job Duties

1. Prospect Manager Duties

Serves as Prospect Manager for prospective donors with capacity of $25,000 or more with emphasis on current and future major gifts.

Responsible for identifying, cultivating, and soliciting a gift portfolio that benefits the program priorities of the University.

Uses Blackbaud RE-NXT to coordinate and document all prospect and donor relationships as well as any relevant assignment, cultivation, or solicitation information or pending opportunities.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 25

2. Process Performance Goals

Meets process performance goals set and established by the VCUA that include individual and team goals. These goals include a set number of personal visits, with a focus on prospect identification and qualification as well as solicitations, with a focus on gift closures selected at the beginning of the fiscal year. Stewardship visits are strongly encouraged.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 25

3. Donor Solicitation

Solicits prospective donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations in coordination with the VCUA and assigned colleges/schools. Number of solicitations are set and established by the VCUA and documented within an Opportunity in Blackbaud RE-NXT. Adheres to Prospect Development policies and procedures.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 20

4. College/School Partnership

Actively works with deans, department chairs, faculty, alumni, and key volunteers in fundraising efforts, particularly the colleges/schools to which assigned. Partners closely with these campus partners on fundraising strategy and donor stewardship, as well as other colleagues in University Advancement.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 15

5. Advancement Team Member

Serves as a member of the overall advancement team by collaborating with colleagues across disciplines on donor strategies. Develops an annual plan of work, including specific fundraising and stewardship strategies, prospect research and development. Prepares reports and other required information as requested.

Essential Function: Yes

Percentage of Time: 10

6. Additional Assignments

Accepts and implements other specific assignments as directed.

Essential Function: No

Percentage of Time: 5

Position Attributes

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Benefits

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition Program
• Dependent Scholarships
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Veterans' Preference Statement

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

About USC

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.