Director of Development

WPU The William Paterson University of New Jersey; United States; On-site; USD 91,668 - 110,002; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition support

Four-day summer workweek

Internal promotion opportunities

Job summary

William Paterson University seeks a dynamic Director of Development to lead major gift fundraising for the Cotsakos College of Business and the Honors College. You will partner with academic leadership to translate priorities into donor opportunities and drive strategic campaigns.

The role requires cultivating high-net-worth relationships, managing a portfolio, and collaborating across departments to maximize revenue while upholding ethical fundraising standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in higher education.
• Experience with major gift fundraising, donor relations, and strategy development.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of 100–125 major gift prospects.
• Serve as the development liaison to Deans of the business and Honors Colleges.
• Develop fundraising strategies for scholarships, faculty excellence, and innovation.
• Collaborate with academic leadership and external stakeholders to advance funding opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, corporations, and foundations.
• Coordinate with Corporate and Foundation Relations and Alumni Engagement teams.
• Prepare proposals, stewardship reports, and donor communications.
• Support campaign planning, pipeline development, and fundraising goals.
• Maintain accurate donor records and activity in CRM systems.
• Represent the institution at events and donor engagement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising practices.

Skills

Strategic fundraising

Relationship management

Leadership

Corporate & foundations

Communication & proposals

Portfolio & data management

Project management

Ethics & stewardship

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Banner

Raiser’s Edge

Salesforce

Job description

Thank you for your interest in working at William Paterson University. William Paterson University is a purpose-driven, proudly diverse community-designated as both a public Hispanic-Serving Institution and Minority-Serving Institution-committed to creating transformative academic, professional, and personal experiences as a powerhouse of progress. We foster a workplace that values growth, flexibility, and community, and we are recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Forbes' Best Employers by State, 2025 Great College to Work For, and honored with the NJBIZ Empowering Women Award. Our 1,000 dedicated staff members enjoy competitive benefits, a four-day summer workweek, tuition support, and strong opportunities for internal promotion. Situated on a scenic suburban campus just 20 miles from New York City, WP offers a diverse, inclusive environment where your contributions fuel student success, economic and social mobility, and community engagement. Together, we empower our students through intentional, holistic support within flexible, innovative, and inclusive settings-preparing graduates to thrive professionally and personally, and to lead with a commitment to progress in New Jersey and beyond.

Job Summary

The Director of Development serves as a strategic fundraising leader responsible for advancing philanthropic support for the Cotsakos College of Business and the Honors College. This role partners closely with academic leadership to translate institutional priorities into compelling donor opportunities and drives major gift fundraising through relationship-building, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. This role reports to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement.

Core Competencies & Skills

• Strategic Fundraising & Revenue Generation Demonstrates advanced ability to design and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with institutional and academic priorities. Proven success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major and principal gifts ($25K+). Ability to translate academic initiatives (scholarships, faculty support, innovation, student success) into compelling donor investment opportunities. Experience contributing to and advancing comprehensive fundraising campaigns and long-term revenue goals.
• Relationship Management & Donor Engagement Exceptional skill in building, managing, and deepening relationships with high-net-worth individuals, alumni, corporate leaders, foundations, and community stakeholders. Ability to develop trust-based, long-term partnerships that result in sustained philanthropic support. Demonstrated ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including faculty, administrators, volunteers, and advisory boards. Strong interpersonal skills with cultural competence and emotional intelligence.
• Leadership & Strategic Partnership Development Ability to serve as a trusted advisor and primary liaison to academic leadership, including Deans and senior administrators. Demonstrated success aligning fundraising initiatives with academic vision and institutional priorities. Skilled at influencing and collaborating across departments without direct authority. Ability to engage and mobilize volunteers, advisory boards, and leadership prospects in advancement efforts.
• Corporate, Foundation & Alumni Engagement Knowledge of corporate and foundation relations, including grant development, sponsorships, and partnership cultivation. Ability to identify and secure strategic partnerships that enhance institutional visibility and financial support. Experience leveraging alumni networks, events, and engagement initiatives to strengthen donor pipelines.
• Communication & Proposal Development Advanced written and verbal communication skills, including persuasive storytelling and case development. Ability to create compelling proposals, presentations, stewardship reports, and donor communications. Skilled at tailoring messaging for diverse audiences (individual, corporate, foundation).
• Portfolio & Data Management Proven ability to manage a portfolio of major gift prospects using data-driven strategies. Experience utilizing CRM systems (e.g., Banner, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) to track activity, manage pipelines, and forecast revenue. Strong analytical skills to assess donor capacity, engagement, and strategy effectiveness.
• Project Management & Execution Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and complex initiatives simultaneously. Strong planning and execution skills in support of events, campaigns, and donor engagement strategies. Ability to work independently while maintaining alignment with broader advancement goals.
• Professionalism, Ethics & Stewardship Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and adherence to ethical fundraising standards and confidentiality. Commitment to best practices in donor stewardship and institutional compliance. Exercises sound judgment, initiative, and accountability in managing donor relationships and institutional resources.

General Job Duties

• Manage a portfolio of 100-125 major gift prospects, leading identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
• Serve as the primary development liaison to the Deans of the Cotsakos College of Business and the Honors College.
• Develop and implement fundraising strategies supporting scholarships, faculty excellence, experiential learning, and innovation initiatives.
• Collaborate with academic leadership, advancement teams, and external stakeholders to identify and advance funding opportunities.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and community leaders.
• Partner with Corporate and Foundation Relations and Alumni Engagement teams on donor strategy and outreach.
• Prepare proposals, stewardship reports, and donor communications aligned with institutional priorities.
• Support campaign planning, pipeline development, and fundraising goal achievement.
• Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking within CRM systems.
• Represent the institution at events and engagement opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising practices and institutional policies.
• Perform additional duties in support of advancement initiatives as assigned.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. Minimum 5–7 years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or nonprofit environments. Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising and donor relationship management. Experience working with academic leadership, corporate partners, alumni, foundations, and volunteer boards preferred. Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder environments and contribute to strategic initiatives. This description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees in the above job. It is not intended to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Salary - NAL - $91,668.89 - $110,002.67

This position may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, which includes health and dental insurance and retirement plans.

EEO Statement

William Paterson University is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race or ethnicity, sex/gender (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, civil union status, familial status, religion, national origin or citizenship, military service status, or any other category protected by law. William Paterson University does not discriminate on the basis of any category stated above or as prohibited by applicable law. Individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

William Paterson University is the third most diverse public university in New Jersey. As a longstanding member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), we have been designated by the US Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. William Paterson University is also proud to be designated as a NASA MSI (Minority Serving Institution). The University offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate academic programs that range from liberal arts and sciences to pre-professional and professional programs; it enrolls over 9,000 students from across the country and from over 40 nations. The University is situated on a beautiful, 380-acre suburban campus in Wayne, New Jersey, just twenty miles west of New York City.