Senior Director of Development, Gift Planning (VPUR)

University of Maryland; United States; On-site; USD 185,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Maryland, College Park seeks a Senior Director of Development to guide the Office of Gift Planning in achieving ambitious fundraising goals during the FORWARD campaign and beyond. You will manage a 75–100 prospect portfolio and lead a team of five, driving $15M+ in gifts annually through coordinated campus collaboration.

You will collaborate with deans, faculty, and senior leaders to solicit and steward planned gifts, while overseeing program marketing, estate administration,

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Guide gift planning program and fundraising goals in collaboration with campus leadership.
• Manage portfolio of 75–100 major and principal gifts prospects and perform 80+ visits/year.
• Close gifts totaling $15M+ annually and supervise five staff members including two development officers.
• Coordinate solicitation strategies across schools, colleges, and service units.
• Oversee marketing of the gift planning program, estate administration, budget management, and related initiatives.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Donor cultivation

Strategic planning

Communication

Office tools

Policy development

Executive engagement

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Description Summary Organization's Summary Statement: 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.

Additional Job Details Preferences:

Job Risks Not Applicable to This Position

Financial Disclosure Required No For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.

Department VPUR-Central Development Worker Sub-Type Staff Regular Salary Range $185,200-$220,000

Benefits Summary For more information on Regular Exempt benefits, select this link.

Background Checks Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

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University Information

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,700 students, 14,000 faculty and staff, and 388,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., we discover and share new knowledge every day through our renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And we are committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus.

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