Senior Director of Major Gifts & Development Strategy

University of Delaware; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business & Economics seeks a Senior Director of Development to lead major gift fundraising, focusing on $100,000+ gifts, and to manage a frontline fundraising team while partnering with college leadership.

You will develop fundraising strategies, cultivate and solicit donors, and deliver proposals and stewardship, coordinating with university partners to advance programs and priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum of seven years of relevant experience (development, sales, customer relations, etc.), or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven ability to solicit and close philanthropic gifts at six-figure levels, or equivalent experience in a related field such as sales.
• Experience managing and motivating a frontline fundraising team.
• Experience collaborating to develop and execute strategic initiatives and fundraising goals.
• Strong organizational and planning skills to advance strategic plans for the program and fundraising enterprise.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills with varied constituencies.
• Ability to engage with individuals of high social status and affluence.

Responsibilities

• Lead major gift fundraising for the college, focusing on $100,000+ gifts.
• Manage a portfolio of qualified major and principal giving prospects.
• Conduct all stages of the major gift process: qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship.
• Provide donors with an exceptional experience moving them to gift closure.
• Develop solicitation plans and donor engagement activities with college leadership.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Team management

Stakeholder collaboration

Strategic fundraising planning

Donor cultivation and solicitation

Communication skills

High-net-worth donor engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business & Economics seeks a Senior Director of Development to lead major gift fundraising, focusing on $100,000+ gifts, and to manage a frontline fundraising team while partnering with college leadership.

You will develop fundraising strategies, cultivate and solicit donors, and deliver proposals and stewardship, coordinating with university partners to advance programs and priorities.