Senior Director of Development, College of Social Work

Inside Higher Ed; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A higher education institution in Columbus, Ohio is seeking a Senior Director of Development to lead fundraising efforts and manage a team. The role involves cultivating relationships with major donors, meeting fundraising targets, and aligning donor interests with university needs. Candidates should have significant fundraising experience, strong management skills, and the ability to foster relationships with diverse constituents. The position offers a salary of up to $120,000, with excellent benefits and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Six years of relevant experience, with four years in fundraising.
• Experience in donor cultivation, solicitation, and relationship management.
• At least two years of management experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify and cultivate major gift donor relationships.
• Manage team members and drive fundraising initiatives.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Skills

Fundraising

Relationship building

Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Position Overview

Senior Director of Development

Department: Advancement | Development Constituency Fundraising

The Senior Director of Development will understand the mission, needs and value proposition of the university and the College of Social Work and build relationships with prospective donors to increase philanthropic support. Donors such as alumni and friends will be identified by listening for opportunities to align their interests and passions with opportunities to donate to the university. This position leads a team focused on Development & Alumni Relations work in the College of Social Work.

The aim of the role is to actively manage a portfolio of prospective donors to be asked for gifts of $100,000 and above. Preparation for the “ask” will include creative and strategic utilization of resources to determine the prospective donor’s capacity for giving, build their interest, raise their sights, sustain their engagement and obtain a gift. Success in the position will be guided by annual metrics such as number of monthly meetings, number of gift commitments, and dollars raised. Central resources such as a robust donor database and reporting and analytics tools exist to help the role achieve goals and manage an allocated budget.

The Senior Director reports to the Interim Executive Director of Development and serves and works closely with the College’s Dean and their leadership team. This position operates with a high degree of independence to make decisions, solve problems, negotiate, and adapt to shifting priorities. Expectations include stellar communications and interactions with constituents, collaboration with colleagues across Advancement and the university and Wexner Medical Center, diplomacy, and discretion. This role requires frequent workweek travel including approximately one or two overnight trips per month, regular in-state travel and occasional evening and weekend work.

About the College of Social Work

The College of Social Work, through excellence in teaching, research, and service, prepares leaders who enhance individual and community well‑being, celebrate difference, and promote social and economic justice for vulnerable populations. The college fosters social change through collaboration with individuals, families, communities and other change agents to build strengths and resolve complex individual and social problems. As an internationally recognized college, we build and apply knowledge that positively impacts Ohio, the nation, and the world. Social work has a long and rich tradition at The Ohio State University.

Duties and Responsibilities

• 75% - Fundraising: Identifies, qualifies, and cultivates a portfolio of prospective major gift donors. Pursues connections and discovers donor values, capacity, interests and passions; Ensures quality and positive momentum within assigned portfolio to convert prospects to donors; Builds context for gift proposals, develops and implements strategic gift solicitations; Maximizes opportunities to steward donors to further enhance relationships.
• 20% - Management: Provides management of team members through leadership, coaching and mentorship to develop fundraising skills; Contributes to Advancement team strategies and helps drive initiatives through completion; Provides support for the continued trajectory of increase in new fundraising activity and philanthropic receipts to achieve college goals while driving enhancement of current and creation of new innovative programs; Recruits, trains, evaluates, motivates, and coaches employees of various backgrounds and identities; establishes and monitors goals, provides performance feedback and coaching, and supports professional development; completes annual performance management procedures; manages performance issues; is responsible for using independent, consistent and fair judgement in exercising authority; develops procedures, assigns and prioritizes work, and ensures that the resources needed to accomplish work are provided.
• 5% - Miscellaneous: Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Six (6) years of relevant experience with at least four (4) years of professional fundraising experience (building relationships towards philanthropic end through making calls, conducting face‑to‑face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, closing gifts) and two (2) years of related experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, account management or related field with emphasis on donor cultivation, solicitation and relationship cultivation of individuals/businesses.

Desired Qualifications

• At least two (2) years of management experience.
• At least six (6) years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably five or six figures and above).
• At least six (6) years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital/health care environment.
• Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and/or alumni relations.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the vibrant, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity provides exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life‑changing research and outreach. Learn more here: https://hr.osu.edu/careers/.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

To learn more about the Office of Advancement, please visit advancement.osu.edu.

The budget for this position is up to $120,000. The offer for this position will be based on internal equity and the candidate's qualifications.

Function: Development and Engagement
Sub‑function: Development
Career Band: Individual Contributor – Specialized
Career Level: S4
Location: Stillman Hall (0084)
Position Type: Regular
Scheduled Hours: 40
Shift: First Shift
First Shift Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216, Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, holds them to equal standards and provides equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

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