Senior Director of Development, Divisions and Institutes

St.-John; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Travel opportunities

Job summary

St. John’s University seeks a Senior Director of Development, Divisions and Institutes to lead university-wide major gift fundraising for divisions, institutes and non-academic units.

You will manage a portfolio of ~150 prospects, develop individualized solicitation plans, and close gifts of $25,000 and above. You will collaborate with the advancement team, translate needs into compelling cases for support, and guide capital campaigns and strategic initiatives to advance institutional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 8–12 years of progressive fundraising or advancement experience.
• 7+ years of leadership and/or major gift solicitation experience (>$25,000).
• Experience in development within higher education or complex nonprofit environments.
• Proven ability to manage senior relationships with donors and external stakeholders.
• Strong planning, organizational, and project management skills.
• Willingness to travel locally, regionally, and nationally; some evenings/weekends required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 prospective donors in support of divisions and institutes.
• Develop strategies for cultivation, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts ($25,000+).
• Lead complex gift negotiations and close gifts aligning with institutional priorities.
• Collaborate with Advancement teams to maximize fundraising outcomes.
• Mentor development staff and engage cross-functional partners in donor relations.
• Represent the university with donors, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Utilize data and donor insights to inform strategy and pipeline development.
• Support capital campaigns and strategic initiatives tied to divisions and institutes.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Collaboration

Analytical Thinking

Stakeholder Engagement

Relationship Building

Communication

Organization

Problem Solving

Judgment

Technical Proficiency

Data Analysis

MS Office

CRM & Development Systems

Donor Relations

Fundraising

Prospect Management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Advanced degree (Master’s, MBA)

Tools

Ellucian (Advance/Banner)

Salesforce (Affinaquest, Ascend)

Blackbaud (CRM, Raiser’s Edge, NXT)

Job description

The Senior Director of Development, Divisions and Institutes will be responsible for major gift fundraising for university-wide initiatives, including Divisions, Institutes and non-academic departments, as determined by the Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Primary responsibilities include developing and managing a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects/suspects, including alumni and friends of the University, and seeking, soliciting, and securing major gifts of $25,000 and above to the University.

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 prospects in support of the designated division, institute, and/or unit
• Develop and implement strategies for the cultivation, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift ($25,000 and above) prospects.
• Determine donor interest and develop and execute an individualized plan for each prospect. Solicit every prospect for an annual gift during each fiscal year, in addition to major and planned gifts as appropriate.
• Recommend suitable giving opportunities and prepare major gift proposals for specific initiatives and priorities.
• Participate in and advise on strategies that contribute to the development of a strong prospect pipeline.
• Work with other members of the Advancement team to appropriately engage assigned prospects in University activities.
• Participate as an active member of the prospect management process, including and especially identifying new prospects and developing strategies for those prospects.
• Actively engage with assigned prospects to follow up on, and secure pledge payments in a timely manner to support pledge fulfillment efforts.
• Ensure gift recognition occurs and acknowledgements are sent from the appropriate individuals in Advancement.

• Partner with division and institute leadership to identify funding priorities, translate programmatic needs into compelling cases for support, and align development efforts with strategic goals.
• Lead complex gift negotiations and close gifts that advance institutional priorities.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to development staff supporting divisions and institutes, as applicable.
• Partner with colleagues across development (annual giving, prospect research, donor relations, etc.) to maximize fundraising outcomes.
• Represent St. John’s University externally with donors, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Utilize data, analytics, and donor insights to inform strategy and optimize performance.
• Play a leadership role in capital campaigns and strategic initiatives tied to divisions and institutes.
• Contribute to messaging, case development, and donor engagement strategies.
• Collaborate on cross-functional initiatives that span multiple areas of the organization.

Supervisory Responsibility

Manage one Assistant Director of Development

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

• Leadership & Professional Excellence: Demonstrated strength in leadership, project management, collaboration, analytical thinking, and stakeholder engagement.
• Relationship Building & Agility: Skilled at building strong relationships in donor-facing and professional settings; comfortable operating in social environments. Ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt quickly in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Communication & Organization: Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with strong organizational ability and attention to detail.
• Problem Solving & Judgment: Proven ability to think critically, resolve complex issues, work independently, and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), including presentations, reporting, and data analysis.
• CRM & Development Systems Expertise: Experience with fundraising and CRM platforms such as Ellucian (Advance/Banner), Salesforce (Affinaquest, Ascend), or Blackbaud (CRM, Raiser’s Edge, NXT), with a focus on prospect management and pipeline tracking.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum of 8–12 years of progressive experience in fundraising, advancement, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7+ years of one-on-one leadership ($1,500+) and/or major gift ($25,000+) solicitation experience.
• Minimum of 7+ years’ experience in Development, preferably in a Higher Education environment.
• Proven ability to build and manage relationships with senior leaders, donors, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated knowledge of development practices and principles and a track record of success in managing leadership or major gift prospects and in securing gifts.
• Demonstrated skill to work within a complex environment with strong capabilities in planning, organizing, and managing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and peers in the Advancement area and with internal partners and external volunteers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility to travel, largely on a local/regional basis. Occasional weekend and evening work will be necessary, as well as occasional travel nationally.
• Affinity and commitment to the mission of St. John’s University.

Preferred Education & Experience:

• Advanced degree (e.g., Master’s, MBA, or relevant field) preferred.
• Experience in complex, matrixed organizations such as healthcare systems, higher education, research institutions, or large nonprofit environments.
• Experience supporting or leading capital campaigns or large-scale fundraising initiatives.
• Familiarity with donor databases/CRMs and pipeline management tools.
• Experience working with faculty, or academic/institute program leadership.

Work Environment

Working in the University Center, where Advancement is housed, as well as off campus, to visit with donors and prospects. Primary equipment includes the phone, laptop computer, and commercial printers.

Physical Demands

Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, including virtual meetings and document preparation.

Frequent verbal communication in person, over the phone, and via virtual platforms.

Ability to travel regularly, including local and regional travel and occasional national travel; may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, or walking.

Ability to attend and actively participate in events, which may require standing for extended periods.

Occasional lifting and carrying of materials related to events or meetings (typically up to 10–15 pounds).

Environmental Conditions

Primarily office-based with a hybrid work environment (as applicable).

Frequent attendance at events outside of standard business hours (evenings and weekends) to support donor engagement and stewardship.

Work is fast-paced and deadline-driven, requiring the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt to changing needs.

Prolonged periods of sitting, working at a computer, and participating in virtual and in-person meetings.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Full-time position with office hours matching University business day as well as off hours, attending events on nights and weekends as needed. Expectations are for flexibility as needed for events and fundraising opportunities outside of those hours.

Travel

There may be some travel involved, since the assigned prospects may not be local. Having a car is necessary for this position.