Executive Director, Foundation

Seminole State College of Florida; Sanford (FL); On-site; USD 128,000 - 199,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37.5-hour work week

Health, dental, and life insurance

Florida Retirement System (FRS) and 2

Professional development and paid tuit

Job summary

Seminole State College of Florida seeks an Executive Director for its Foundation to serve as chief advancement officer and a key member of the college's executive leadership team. The role provides strategic leadership for fundraising, governance, financial stewardship, external relations, and operations to secure and steward resources aligned with the college’s mission.

Reporting to the College President, you will work closely with the Foundation Board, college leaders, and external

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited institution.
• Eight (8) years of experience in fundraising, development, public relations or a related area.
• Experience using donor management or advancement systems, conducting prospect research, and analyzing donor or fundraising data.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of comprehensive fundraising strategies, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, corporate partnerships, private contributions, public and private grants, state-funded initiatives, and planned giving, to advance College priorities.
• Serves as Executive Officer of the Foundation, providing strategic leadership for Board of Director operations, governance, policy development, and long-term strategic planning.
• Oversees donor cultivation and stewardship programs to promote consistent and meaningful engagement, donor retention, and alignment with donor interests and College priorities.
• Collaborates with College leadership and campus stakeholders to advance the College’s role as the primary provider of higher education in Seminole County and strengthen institutional and external partnerships.
• Represents the Foundation and College in a professional and positive manner by demonstrating a commitment to Seminole State’s core values and service standards and effectively communicating the Foundation’s and College’s missions, visions, programs, and services to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinates Foundation advancement activities with College Relations, Marketing, and Government relations to strengthen public relations, community engagement, special events, advocacy, and funding initiatives supporting College priorities.
• Develops and maintains relationships with donors, corporations, foundations, government entities, community organizations, and other external partners to identify funding opportunities and strengthen philanthropic support for the college.
• Provides oversight for the Foundation’s alumni program to strengthen lifelong engagement and build a robust alumni donor pipeline.
• Develops and strategically initiates a planned giving program which will supplement and enhance all other fund development programs. Works with community agencies and representatives to encourage, solicit, and recognize bequests, life insurance, annuities, and other appropriate giving instruments.
• Facilitates continuous development of the Foundation’s Board of Directors through the selection process, orientation, engagement, thoughtful communications, education, committee involvement, and interfaces with College and Foundation personnel, donors, prospects, and legislative officials.
• Supervises the Grants Office to align philanthropic and grant-seeking strategies, maximizing opportunities for the College.
• Oversees the internal financial control processes and communicates with Foundation auditors, the Foundation Board, and key College officials regarding financial processes and statements to ensure the integrity of the Foundation’s financial reporting
• Recommends an annual budget for Board of Directors’ approval and prudently manages the Foundation’s resources to achieve or exceed goals while leading strategic planning efforts that support the Foundation’s long-term financial strength and sustainability and position the college for future success.
• Provides strategic support to the College President in fundraising activities, including prospect research, donor cultivation, appointments, speeches, presentations, and other advancement opportunities.
• Represents the Foundation and College in the community through professional networks, presentations, civic involvement, and service on local boards and organizations.
• Builds organizational capacity by recruiting, developing, and supervising Foundation staff. Fosters a culture of continuous learning, mentorship and leadership development to ensure continuity of operations and long-term organizational success.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned by the President.

Skills

Fundraising expertise

Strategic leadership

Donor engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Donor management system

Prospect research

Data analysis

Job description

Responsibilities

The Executive Director of the Foundation for Seminole State Collegeof Florida serves as the Foundation’s chief advancement officer anda member of the College’s executive leadership team, providingstrategic leadership for philanthropic and resource development,Foundation governance, financial stewardship, external relations,and operations. Reporting to the College President, the ExecutiveDirector works closely with the President, Foundation Board ofDirectors, College leadership, and external stakeholders to secureand steward resources, strengthen strategic partnerships, andadvance the College’s mission and priorities. The position providesexecutive-level counsel on advancement, organizational, financial,and strategic matters while ensuring the effective leadership andlong-term sustainability of the Foundation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Leads the development and execution of comprehensivefundraising strategies, including annual giving, major gifts,capital campaigns, corporate partnerships, private contributions,public and private grants, state-funded initiatives, and plannedgiving, to advance College priorities.
2. Serves as Executive Officer of the Foundation, providingstrategic leadership for Board of Director operations, governance,policy development, and long-term strategic planning.
3. Oversees donor cultivation and stewardship programs to promoteconsistent and meaningful engagement, donor retention, andalignment with donor interests and College priorities.
4. Collaborates with College leadership and campus stakeholders toadvance the College’s role as the primary provider of highereducation in Seminole County and strengthen institutional andexternal partnerships.
5. Represents the Foundation and College in a professional andpositive manner by demonstrating a commitment to Seminole State’score values and service standards and effectively communicating theFoundation’s and College’s missions, visions, programs, andservices to relevant stakeholders.
6. Coordinates Foundation advancement activities with CollegeRelations, Marketing, and Government relations to strengthen publicrelations, community engagement, special events, advocacy, andfunding initiatives supporting College priorities.
7. Develops and maintains relationships with donors, corporations,foundations, government entities, community organizations, andother external partners to identify funding opportunities andstrengthen philanthropic support for the college.
8. Provides oversight for the Foundation’s alumni program tostrengthen lifelong engagement and build a robust alumni donorpipeline.
9. Develops and strategically initiates a planned giving programwhich will supplement and enhance all other fund developmentprograms. Works with community agencies and representatives toencourage, solicit, and recognize bequests, life insurance,annuities, and other appropriate giving instruments.
10. Facilitates continuous development of the Foundation’s Board ofDirectors through the selection process, orientation, engagement,thoughtful communications, education, committee involvement, andinterfaces with College and Foundation personnel, donors,prospects, and legislative officials.
11. Supervises the Grants Office to align philanthropic and grantseeking strategies, maximizing opportunities for the College.
12. Oversees the internal financial control processes andcommunicates with Foundation auditors, the Foundation Board, andkey College officials regarding financial processes and statementsto ensure the integrity of the Foundation’s financialreporting
13. Recommends an annual budget for Board of Directors’ approvaland prudently manages the Foundation’s resources to achieve orexceed goals while leading strategic planning efforts that supportthe Foundation’s long-term financial strength and sustainabilityand position the college for future success.
14. Provides strategic support to the College President infundraising activities, including prospect research, donorcultivation, appointments, speeches, presentations, and otheradvancement opportunities.
15. Represents the Foundation and College in the community throughprofessional networks, presentations, civic involvement, andservice on local boards and organizations.
16. Builds organizational capacity by recruiting, developing, andsupervising Foundation staff. Fosters a culture of continuouslearning, mentorship and leadership development to ensurecontinuity of operations and long-term organizational success.
17. Performs other duties as required or assigned by thePresident.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally accreditedinstitution.
2. Eight (8) years of experience in fundraising, development,public relations or a related area.
3. Experience using donor management or advancement systems,conducting prospect research, and analyzing donor or fundraisingdata.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accreditedinstitution.
2. Experience working in higher education.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES & SKILLS:

1. Ability to work collaboratively to advance the mission, goals,and objectives of the College and Foundation in support of itsemployees and the students we serve.
2. Demonstrated skills in fundraising, planned giving, leadership,interpersonal relations, public relations, computer technology, andfinancial management.
3. Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonalcommunication skills.
4. Demonstrated ability to think strategically, make soundbusiness decisions, develop future leaders, and balance short-termoperational needs with long-term organizationalsustainability.
5. Management style and service orientation consistent with the mission and values of the College and the Foundation.
6. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, staff,students, College leadership, donors, Board members, and thecommunity.
7. Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain effectiverelationships with donors, corporations, foundations, governmententities, community organizations, and other externalpartners.
8. Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership forfundraising and advancement initiatives and align philanthropicopportunities with College priorities.
9. Demonstrated knowledge of Foundation governance, Boardoperations, financial oversight and stewardship.
10. Demonstrated ability to oversee budgets, financial resources,internal controls, financial reporting, and audit processes tosupport the Foundation’s financial integrity andsustainability.
11. Demonstrated ability to identify, develop, and pursue fundingopportunities, including grants, major gifts, planned giving,corporate partnerships, and other philanthropic resources.
12. Demonstrated ability to represent the Foundation and Collegeeffectively through community involvement, professional networks,presentations, civic activities, and external partnerships.
13. Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and supervise staff andfoster a culture of continuous learning, mentorship, andorganizational development.
14. Willingness to be involved in the communities within theCollege's service district.
15. Committed to promoting a welcoming environment and sense ofbelonging.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS and WORK ENVIRONMENT:

1. Works in an office environment.
2. Requires flexible hours, travel, and communitypresentations.

The College anticipates that the position incumbent must beavailable throughout the workday and, on some occasions, afterregular work hours. Therefore, as a condition of employment, theincumbent is expected to be available by cell phone and is requiredto provide their current cell phone number to the Office of HumanResources and to their immediate supervisor.

This description in no way states or implies that these are theonly duties to be performed by the employee occupying thisposition. Employees will be required to follow any otherjob-related instructions and to perform any other job-relatedduties requested by their supervisor.

This position is not eligible for Veteran’sPreference.

Pay Benefits and WorkSchedule

Are you a strategic leader ready to make a meaningful impact onstudents, employees, and the future of higher education?

Seminole State College of Florida is seeking an accomplished leaderto join our team and help advance our mission of transforming livesthrough accessible, high-quality education. At Seminole State,you’ll join a diverse community of faculty and staff committed tocollaboration, innovation, and student success.

We offer competitive compensation with a salary range of$127,717 –$199,238, with placement within the rangebased on the candidate’s education, experience, andqualifications.

Our attractive total rewardspackage includes:

• 37.5-hour work week with flexible work options whereapplicable and generous paid time off, including holidays, annualand sick leave, and College Breaks
• Health, dental, and life insurance options
• Florida Retirement System (FRS) and other retirementsavings options
• Professional development and paid tuition
• Free Raider Fitness Center membership
• Free on-campus parking

Conditions ofEmployment

Finalists and individuals recommended for employment at SeminoleState College must reside in the State of Florida at thetime of hire and may be subject to background investigations incompliance with Florida Statute 1001.64; and Seminole State CollegePolicy 1.020; 2.020. Criminal background checks will be conductedfor all new employees, and for rehired employees who have had abreak in service for one year or more. The Office of HumanResources will determine which background checks shall be conductedfor each position, based upon its review of job descriptions andthe responsibilities of the position. These include, but are notlimited to, positions that have access to money, master keys,security-sensitive areas and confidential information; positionsthat have the capability to create, delete, and alter records; andpositions that are responsible for the care and instruction ofchildren. The College will conduct various types of backgroundchecks which may include, but are not limited to: criminalbackground, credit check, driver's license check, previousemployment and references.

Equal EmploymentOpportunity

Seminole State College is an equal opportunity employer andstrictly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,religion, pregnancy, national origin, ethnicity, age, sex, gender,veterans’ or military status, disability, sexual orientation,genetic information, marital status, or any other factor protectedunder applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, andregulations in its programs, activities, and employment.

OtherInformation

VETERANS' PREFERENCE

Seminole State College of Florida adheres to Florida’s Veteran’sPreference laws by providing preference in hiring to covered jobapplicants. Moreover, in recognition of the valuable contributionsmade by veterans, the College also considers any applicant’smilitary service background when filling job positions not coveredby Veteran’s Preference laws.

To claim Veteran's Preference for eligible positions, a copy ofyour DD-214 form, Certificate of Release or Discharge from ActiveDuty must be uploaded and attached to your application to claimVeterans' Preference.

HOLDERS OF DEGREES FROM INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE THE USA:

Individuals who have completed college or university course work atan institution in a country other than the United States arerequired to obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts anddegrees. Foreign transcripts should be evaluated by one of theorganizations approved by the National Association of CredentialEvaluation Services.

This evaluation must be submitted at the time of application. Werecommend World Education Services at P.O. Box 5087, Bowling GreenStation, New York, NY 10274-5087, telephone [phone] or emailaddress www.wes.org. The interview process may be delayed untilsuch a review has been completed.