Director/Senior Director of Development - Law School

Stmarytx; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary's University seeks a Director of Development for the School of Law to lead major gifts initiatives and grow philanthropic investment in alignment with university priorities. The role reports to the Executive Director of Law School Advancement and requires strong donor engagement and strategic fundraising.

You will manage ~200 donor prospects, conduct 150 annual visits, and work with law school and university leadership to advance annual, capital, and campaign priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's or higher preferred.
• 3–5 years of development or related fundraising experience with major gifts success.
• Must clear background check and have valid DMV/licensed transportation for daily duties.
• Willingness to work some nights, weekends, travel and special events.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage an active donor portfolio (~200 prospects) focused on major gifts.
• Complete a minimum of 150 face-to-face donor visits annually to drive gifts.
• Cultivate relationships with law alumni, parents and partners to expand giving.
• Collaborate with University Advancement and Law School leadership to fund priorities.
• Prepare proposals and materials; coordinate gift transmission and acknowledgement.
• Maintain records in Raiser's Edge/NXT and analyze data to refine outreach.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's degree or higher

Tools

Raiser's Edge

Banner

ARGOS

Office 365

Job description

The Director of Development, School of Law is responsible for initiating and managing relationships with the School of Law's community of alumni and friends using best-practice methodologies for prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The purpose of this position is to significantly increase philanthropic investment for the School of Law in alignment with institutional and campaign priorities. This position reports to the Executive Director of Law School Advancement. The Director reports to the Executive Director of Law Advancement.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Executes and implements strategies to develop and manage an active portfolio of approximately 200 prospective donors, with a primary emphasis on major gifts.
• Completes a minimum of 150 substantive face-to-face donor visits annually to drive gift revenue and deepen engagement. Specific performance metrics and fundraising goals will be established jointly with the supervisor.
• Builds and nurtures substantive relationships with law alumni, parents, legal community partners, and friends who seek to grow their connection and philanthropic impact within the St. Mary's community.
• Works collaboratively within the University Advancement Division and in close coordination with the Dean and leadership of the School of Law to secure philanthropic support for annual fund, capital, and strategic campaign priorities.
• Maintains timely, accurate documentation in Raiser's Edge/NXT, including monthly contact reports, portfolio stage updates, and proposal development strategies. Regularly analyze data insights to refine prospect segmentation and outreach tactics.
• Drafts fundraising proposals and strategic presentation materials tailored to law school constituents and philanthropic interests.
• Coordinates closely with Advancement Services and Stewardship to ensure seamless gift transmission, fund compliance, and timely donor acknowledgement.
• Partners with colleagues across University Advancement and Law School Advancement to support broader alumni engagement, stewardship, recognition, records and research.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree required, with Master's degree or higher preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in development activities and organizational fundraising or related fund activities; with documented success in major gift fundraising.
• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance
• Must have valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis
• Must be able to work some nights, weekends, travel, and attend special events as needed.
• Must have the ability to demonstrate intermediate to advanced skills in MS Office and Office 365 (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook and PowerPoint) including experience with virtual platforms such as Zoom. Experience with Banner, ARGOS, Raiser's Edge or other similar programs that support fund raising efforts, preferable
• Must possess strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication with the ability to communicate effectively in an appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community, and the public. Must have a high level of attention to detail and be responsive to the needs of others
• Must be able to demonstrate strong analytical skills for determining information needs, creating work flow processes and timelines, and the development of reports that provide comprehensive endowment fund information
• Ability to think independently and take initiative to plan and implement effective partnerships and relationships that sustain existing gifts and generate new gifts, including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Ability to stay informed of activities of the University in order to effectively articulate and incorporate relevant information in an oral and a written case for support
• Ability to articulate and implement knowledge of the fundraising process
• Ability to initiate effective and direct contact with all donors in support the University's mission, as well as establish and maintain strong relationships through individualized stewardship activities
• Ability to interface frequently with administrators, faculty, staff, students, donors, trustees and high-profile individuals in the community; Must be highly responsive to the needs of others
• Ability to stay abreast on all matters and activities of the University in order to effectively articulate and incorporate relevant information in an oral and a written case for support
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate records and reports, as well as maintain confidentiality of all records and information
• Ability to communicate and interact in an effective and appropriate manner with diverse populations, the University community, and the public
• Ability to work in an environment that is busy, fast paced, goal and deadline driven
• Ability to write error-free correspondence and funding proposals
• Bilingual Preferred (English/Spanish with the ability to understand and to make one's self understood to Spanish speaking individuals)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Working conditions are in an office environment and university campus setting. Must be able to move across the university campus to conduct day to day business.
• While performing this role, the employee will be regularly required to sit, walk, and stand; talk and hear, both in person and by telephone; and use hands repetitively to operate standard office equipment; and occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently communicates with others using approved technological resources; must be able to exchange accurate information through designated systems within a timely manner.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

St. Mary's University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Equal Opportunity Employer.