Regional Director of Development

University of Georgia; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Georgia seeks a Regional Director of Development based in Charlotte, NC, to cultivate and solicit major gifts across the Charlotte region and beyond. You will manage a high-capacity portfolio, travel for donor meetings, and collaborate with campus partners to advance fundraising priorities.

The role requires a strategic, donor-centered approach, with strong relationship-building, communication, and project-management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience.
• Major gift fundraising experience in higher education preferred.
• Strong donor-centered relationship management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct monthly meetings with prospective donors, alumni, and constituents in assigned regions.
• Design and implement fundraising strategies to secure principal and major gifts.
• Collaborate with campus partners to maximize giving potential and coordinate across units.
• Travel frequently to meet prospects and manage a high-velocity portfolio.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship management

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

GAIL database

Job description

Regional Director of Development

The University of Georgia’s Regional Development team plays a critical role in advancing the university’s mission by building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and friends across the country. Through strategic engagement and major gift fundraising, Regional Directors help shape the future of UGA by connecting donors’ passions and philanthropic interests with opportunities to make a lasting impact.

Regional Directors serve as trusted advisors and frontline fundraising leaders, representing the breadth and excellence of the University of Georgia to some of its most engaged constituents. Working across colleges, schools, academic units, and the UGA Athletic Association, they identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects while helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals.

Success in this role requires a highly strategic, donor-centered approach to relationship management. Regional Directors develop and execute comprehensive engagement strategies through a thoughtful blend of in-person visits, virtual outreach, and collaboration with campus partners. They are expected to maintain a robust portfolio of high-capacity prospects and conduct approximately 140 meaningful, strategic visits annually, with the majority taking place in person through intentional and coordinated travel.

As ambassadors for the University, Regional Directors operate with a broad institutional perspective, connecting donors to opportunities across the entire UGA enterprise. They leverage their deep understanding of donor motivations, university priorities, and regional markets to maximize philanthropic investment and strengthen lifelong affinity for Georgia.

This position will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with primary responsibility for cultivating and managing relationships throughout the Charlotte region. While building a portfolio and advancing major gift opportunities within Charlotte will be the primary focus of the role, Charlotte is a shared fundraising market that includes significant activity from multiple colleges, schools, units, and development officers. Success in this position requires a highly collaborative approach, including frequent partnership with campus-based fundraisers, central development colleagues, academic leaders, and unit-based advancement professionals to deliver a coordinated and donor-centered experience. The Regional Director will serve as a key connector across the institution, helping align philanthropic opportunities with donor interests and facilitating engagement that benefits the University as a whole.

Although Charlotte will comprise the majority of this position’s portfolio and engagement activity, additional territories may be assigned as institutional priorities evolve. These assignments may include nearby regional markets or flight-based territories requiring strategic travel and coordination across multiple geographic areas.

Why Join UGA?

This is an opportunity to represent one of the nation’s premier public research universities while working remotely in a highly visible and entrepreneurial fundraising role. Regional Directors enjoy significant autonomy, build relationships with influential alumni and friends, and directly help secure transformational philanthropic investments that advance the University of Georgia’s students, faculty, programs, and future.

Special Instructions to Applicants

• This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.
• Candidates residing in North Carolina are preferred. The position’s primary fundraising responsibilities will focus on the Charlotte metropolitan area, while also supporting donor cultivation and fundraising efforts throughout North Carolina and other assigned territories as needed.

Additional Schedule Information

8:00am–5:00pm; Flexibility to work evenings and weekends may be necessary to meet business needs

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates residing in North Carolina are preferred. The position’s primary fundraising responsibilities will focus on the Charlotte metropolitan area, while also supporting donor cultivation and fundraising efforts throughout North Carolina and other assigned territories as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of professional experience related to sales, marketing, development, business administration, higher education, project management, or relationship management.
• Major gift fundraising in Higher Education ($50k and up)
• Knowledge of private funding landscape in higher education
• Ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university business and confidential donor and prospect information.
• Ability to respond to donors needs and concerns in a kind and professional way.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Proven record of accomplishment of success in fundraising or similar role
• Ability to cultivate and solicit private gifts from high-level prospects
• Self-starter and highly motivated
• Collaborative style combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment
• Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail and confident, strong verbal communication
• Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible
• Team-oriented strategist able to effectively manage complex situations
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects
• Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities
• Skilled using Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
• Creative thinker with ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas

Additional Division Expectations

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• The position’s primary fundraising responsibilities will focus on the Charlotte metropolitan area, while also supporting donor cultivation and fundraising efforts throughout the state of North Carolina and other assigned territories as needed.
• Sit for extended periods while working at a computer workstation and during travel as required by job responsibilities
• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Driving as needed to perform job duties
• Travel in and out of state
• Work evenings and weekends, as necessary
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for an extended amount of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Duties/Responsibilities

(40%)Conduct monthly scheduled meetings with prospective donors, alumni, assigned portfolio, and UGA constituents in assigned regions. That goal, along with a fundraising goal, will be agreed upon annually during strategic planning and revisited quarterly.

• The purpose of the meetings is to discover, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward University-wide prospects and donors.
• Basic expectation of a meeting is that it is a scheduled and agreed upon face-to-face meetings between the Regional Director and the prospect.
• Territories to conduct monthly meetings include cities assigned to the Regional Director based on institutional priority, wealth ratings, and alumni density.
• Purpose of the meetings is to cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned and newly identified prospects and donors for current and deferred gifts of $50K+ to benefit any School, College, or Unit within the University of Georgia.

(20%) Design and implement fundraising strategies to secure Principal gifts ($1 million+) and major gifts ($50K+) in support of the University’s strategic priorities.

• Fundraising goals are established and agreed upon annually by the Senior Regional Director and the Regional Director in consultation with the Senior Director of Regional Development.
• Develop and continue to increase a portfolio of prospects with capacity of $50K+ in collaboration with the Research & Prospect Management teams and the Senior Regional Director.
• Participate in prospect strategy meetings with the Regional Development team, Research & Prospect Management team, volunteers, etc. when appropriate.

(20%) Complete managerial processes critical to travel, scheduled meetings, and fundraising performance.

• Complete telephone/correspondence/preparation/follow-up; record meetings, interactions, and plans in the giving & alumni database (GAIL) in a thorough and timely manner after the completion of individual meetings and/or trips.
• Prepare timely, accurate, and relevant proposals, presentations, and other fundraising materials as needed for solicitation.
• Develop a strategy or plan for each prospect assigned with a written solicitation strategy in place for each person.
• Plan and/or participate in quarterly strategy planning sessions for assigned regions with internal university stakeholders.
• Perform administrative duties as needed.

(20%) Work collaboratively with development and alumni colleagues across campus on prospects, alumni, and constituents in an effort to maximize giving potential for Schools, Colleges, and Units fundraising priorities.

• Create and execute fundraising plans for assigned regions with School/College/Unit fundraisers, Alumni Association, and other internal stakeholders.
• Work with School/College/Unit fundraisers to fulfill requests to schedule meetings with prospects for the Regional Director’s assigned regions.
• Attend division and development staff meetings, scheduled individual strategy meetings, as well as agreed upon professional development activities.

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the Regional Development Team

The Regional Development team builds and maintains relationships with alumni and friends to raise major gifts for the University of Georgia. The Regional Directors build a culture of philanthropy in regions across the country while strengthening affinity for UGA. Through frequent travel to assigned cities, this team provides strategic direction and leadership for alumni and friends as they make philanthropic and volunteer decisions.

EEO Policy Statement

TheUniversity of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ([e-mail]).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.