Senior Director of Development, Gift Planning

Association of Fundraising Professionals; College Park (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland’s Office of Gift Planning seeks a Senior Director of Development to guide ambitious fundraising during the FORWARD campaign and beyond. You will manage a portfolio of major and principal planned giving prospects, and collaborate with schools, colleges, and campus leadership to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts.

You will supervise five staff, including two development officers, and lead marketing, estate administration, budget management, and the Founders

Qualifications

• Knowledge of major gift fundraising principles and donor stewardship.
• Experience with prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee gift planning program leadership and staff supervision.
• Develop and coordinate joint solicitation strategies with campus units.
• Lead marketing for gift planning, estate administration, and Founders Legacy Society.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Donor cultivation

Solicitation

Stewardship

Strategic planning

Oral and written communication

Office software

Policy development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Central Development, and Executive Director, Office of Gift Planning, the Senior Director of Development will guide the Office of Gift Planning's ambitious fundraising goals during the FORWARD campaign and beyond. The Office of Gift Planning is expected to raise 20 - 25% of annual and campaign attainment in planned gifts. The Office of Gift Planning works with development officers from schools, colleges, and units, and campus leadership to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward planned giving prospects and donors. The Senior Director will actively manage a portfolio of 75-100 major (ability to give $50,000 or more) and principal (ability to give $1M or more) planned giving prospects, and will make at least 80 visits per year while raising $15M+ annually.

The Senior Director will also supervise five Office of Gift Planning staff members, including two development officers. The Senior Director will apply knowledge and understanding of the University of Maryland, its traditions, programs, campus issues, needs, and priorities to the development process. They will persuasively discuss academic programs, philanthropic opportunities, and priorities with prospective donors and volunteers to successfully solicit and close gifts on behalf of the university. Collaboration with key stakeholders in the campus units, including deans, faculty, chairs, campus colleagues, administrators, and senior leadership, is essential to the success of this role. The Senior Director will work with fundraising colleagues in University Relations and other campus schools/units to develop joint solicitation strategies and negotiate differences.

The Senior Director will provide leadership and oversight of the marketing of the gift planning program, estate administration, departmental budget management, the Founders Legacy Society (the University’s planned giving society), OGP special events, the Terrapin Advisors Network (affinity group for professional advisors), and the OGP training program for gift officers. This position will lead and coordinate efforts across schools, colleges, and service units to ensure relationships with planned giving prospects are efficient, impactful, and collaborative, and assist units in securing philanthropic support utilizing all tools available in the gift planning space.

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in an office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment and keyboards.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends as necessary
• Some travel may be required

Licenses/ Certifications: N/A

*This position does not provide visa sponsorship now or in the future. Candidates must be able to provide proof of ongoing eligibility to work in the USA.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Seven (7) years of professional development, fundraising or external relations experience.

Other: The position may or may not involve supervisory responsibilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of principles and best practices of major gift fundraising, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Knowledge of donor motivations, philanthropic trends, and prospect research methodologies.
• Skill in problem solving and strategic planning.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in the use of Microsoft Office and Google Suite products.
• Ability to develop and administer new policies and procedures.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, regulations, and laws.
• Ability to interact with donors and senior-level executives and administrators required.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and strong adherence to deadlines required.