Director of Development (Regional)

The Claremont Colleges Services; United States; Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

Potential for remote work

Job summary

The Claremont Colleges Services is looking for a Director of Development (Regional) in Claremont, CA. This position is focused on securing major gifts from alumni and friends, managing a portfolio of 125 prospects in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree and at least 6 years of major gifts fundraising experience. The role offers a salary between $130,000 and $150,000 annually, with potential for remote work based on business needs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years demonstrable experience in major gifts fundraising.
• Experience in complex nonprofit organizations.
• Comfort working with high-net-worth individuals.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 major gift prospects.
• Develop and execute strategies to secure major gifts.
• Conduct regular visits to advance donor relationships.

Skills

Fundraising best practices

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to work with high-net-worth individuals

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing, journalism, business administration, or a liberal arts field

Tools

Salesforce/Ascend CRM

Job description

Position

Director of Development (Regional) – Claremont, CA

Job Purpose

The Director of Development (Regional) is a frontline major gifts fundraiser responsible for securing philanthropic support from alumni, parents, and friends of Pomona College. The role manages a portfolio of prospects primarily in Northern California and the Seattle/Tacoma region, with additional responsibility for select high‑capacity prospects across the Western United States. The Director develops and implements individualized strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making leadership and major gifts of $100,000 or more in support of the College’s top priorities.

Essential Functions

• Major Gift Fundraising
  • Manage a portfolio of approximately 125 major gift prospects and donors.
  • Develop and execute individualized strategies to secure major ($100K or more) gifts in support of campaign priorities.
  • Conduct regular in-person and virtual visits to advance donor relationships and move prospects through the engagement pipeline.
  • Prepare compelling proposals, gift agreements, and presentations aligned with institutional priorities.
  • Solicit and close major gifts and maintain a robust pipeline of prospects at various stages of engagement and philanthropic interest.
  • Ensure thoughtful stewardship and long‑term engagement of donors.
• Regional Leadership
  • Serve as a key contributor to campaign outreach, support, and execution within Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
  • Partner with Advancement leadership to identify and cultivate high‑capacity and leadership‑level donors.
  • Develop long‑term strategies to build sustainable philanthropic support in assigned regions.
  • Represent Pomona College as a knowledgeable and persuasive ambassador of its mission, priorities, and impact.
• Volunteer Engagement & Regional Programming
  • Engage and steward high‑level institutional volunteers, including campaign leaders, advisory members, and regional volunteers.
  • Partner closely with the Alumni and Family Engagement and Office of College Events teams to coordinate and support regional programming, events, and volunteer initiatives.
  • Leverage volunteer networks to deepen relationships, expand prospect pipelines, and enhance the College’s presence in key regions.
  • Represent Pomona at regional events, fostering meaningful and enduring connections between the College and its constituents.
• Collaboration & Institutional Partnership
  • Collaborate across Advancement functions to align donor strategies and maximize philanthropic outcomes.
  • Work with campus partners to connect donor interests with academic and programmatic opportunities.
  • Assist in the preparation of briefing materials and strategic recommendations for senior leadership engagement with prospects.
  • Contribute to a culture of collaboration, initiative, and donor‑centered engagement.
• Portfolio Management
  • Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, and solicitations in the College’s Salesforce/Ascend CRM system.
  • Monitor progress toward individual and regional fundraising goals.
  • Utilize data and prospect research to inform strategy, prioritization, and decision‑making.

Qualifications

• Education – Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, journalism, business administration, or a liberal arts field.
• Experience
  • Minimum of 6 years demonstrable experience in major gifts fundraising in a medium‑to‑large development operation with a diverse portfolio of prospects.
  • Experience in complex nonprofit organizations with a record of successfully soliciting and closing six‑ and seven‑figure gifts.
  • Experience in an academic setting is strongly preferred.
  • Experience in a capital campaign environment.
• Required Knowledge and Critical Skills
  • Fundraising best practices in higher education.
  • Capital campaign fundraising in higher education.
  • Success in qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding significant institutional gifts.
  • Comfort and effectiveness working with high‑net‑worth individuals domestically and internationally.
  • Ability to monitor performance to achieve personal fundraising and metric goals.
  • Ability to work effectively in a complex institutional setting.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Discretion and tact in handling confidential information.
  • Exceptional organizational and time‑management skills.
  • Advocacy for the value of a liberal arts education.

Job Details

• Hours: Full‑time, 8:00a.m.–5:00p.m., Monday–Friday. Some weekend or evening work may be required. Travel may be required.
• Salary: $130,000–$150,000 per year, plus competitive benefits.
• Employment: Regular, full‑time, exempt position.
• Remote work policy may be implemented at the discretion of the manager and is subject to business needs.
• California residency is required.
• Visa or permanent resident card sponsorship not available.

ADA/OSHA

This job description defines the essential duties of this position and may include marginal functions as defined in TitleI of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Employees hired for this position are expected to perform essential functions without risk of substantial harm to themselves or others.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this classification. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. Any changes to duties will be reviewed and made as necessary.