Director of Development

Director of Development

REPORTS TO:  Vice President for Institutional Advancement

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Development is a member of the Vice President of Institutional Advancement’s executive management team.

The Director of Development works exclusively in the area of major gift fundraising for the College and plays a key role in campaign planning and direction, with primary focus on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts of $25,000 or more.  Additionally, the Director maintains a portfolio of major gift prospects of 125 annually to cultivate and solicit, and supports the Vice President (VP) in his/her principal gift activities, work with the Board of Trustees, and interactions with the University President.

As a specific component of the Director of Development’s responsibilities, the Director works with the VP of IA in donor/constituent specific Development strategies, secure dates and plan for the VP’s and College President’s development activities, including local and regional constituency events, travel for cultivation and solicitation, correspondence and regular contact with donors.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The Director of Development operates under the College’s prospect management system with the expectations of achieving the metrics below through demonstration of a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and refined written and oral communication.

• Management and strategy development of a pool of 125 assigned, rated, and staged prospects generally rated $25,000-$1,000,000+;
• Meaningful contact or attempted contact of 100% of the assigned portfolio during any six-month period;
• Regular maintenance of prospect pipeline (i.e., planned and executed solicitations) to reflect a minimum of 15 major gift solicitations per year.
• Varying by stage of cultivation, consistent movement of prospects in assigned portfolio in proscribed timeframe.  (As an example, it is expected that prospects will only be in qualification and early cultivation mode for 6 months, regular cultivation for 12 months, and pre-solicitation cultivation and consideration mode for 6 months.)
• A minimum of 15 planned, strategic visits per month with many other interactions, meetings, events, and unplanned visits.
• Regular updates to contacts, staging, and ratings so that all reports are current for supervision meetings and monthly progress reports.
• Work in concert with Institutional Advancement colleagues, including particularly close collaboration with the Advancement Team, to conduct entrepreneurial prospect identification and qualification work equal to approximately 10-20% of all activity.  (More if Director meets expectations of progress with assigned portfolio).
• The Director of Development’s financial objectives will be established collaboratively and with close review of the capacity and readiness indicators of the Director’s prospect portfolio.

• Participate in all aspects of the major gift cycle, including capital gifts:
  • Initiate contacts with prospective and current major gift donors, including avenues of economic support for capital projects.
  • Develop appropriate cultivation strategies for the donor portfolio.
  • Move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure.
  • Make solicitations when appropriate.
  • Maintain stewardship contacts with donors; adhere to the highest ethical standards; demonstrate empathetic disposition and perseverance; reflect optimistic and positive attitude; convey sensitivity to needs of the donors.
• Work collaboratively and strategically with college constituents on effective marketing activities for promoting planned giving, capital needs, endowments, and other long-range funding activities.
• Participate extensively in community and campus activities to develop productive relationships with college constituents, alumni, donors, and business, government, and community leaders.
• Maintain a strong grasp of institutional data and knowledge regarding the College’s priorities, programs, events, etc. in order to advance the interests of the College and more fully engage donors.
• Work with the Director of Alumni Relations and the Director of Advancement Services to plan and execute Advancement Events.

The Director coordinates closely with the Director of Annual Giving to ensure messages and priorities are consistent for the mail and phone programs; as well as with directors in other areas (Planned Giving, Strategic Partnerships, other units) on mutual interest prospects and programs.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Write, or aid others in writing, grant proposals and soliciting support and sponsorships.
• Participate in on-going professional development through national higher education organizations.
• Promote the College as a learning organization within its mission context.

EDUCATION:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Desirable: Relevant training in development and institutional advancement, including appropriate graduate courses and/or degree(s).

EXPERIENCE:

Essential: 5+years’ in a fundraising, and non-for-profit environment.

Desirable: 7 years’ experience as a development professional in the small college environment.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid driver’s license

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution; seven or more years progressively responsible development experience required, with at least four years in demonstrated success in securing major gifts of $25,000+; supervisory experience; familiarity with and experience following guidelines of an established Prospect Management System; computer literacy with MS Office suite or equivalent and familiarity with fundraising systems; superior written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Experience in higher education, working with high-level executives/academics/leaders, managing volunteers, major gift solicitation and closure at the major gift level.  Attention to detail, ability to analyze and articulate reasons for giving, strong priority setting, ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment.  Maturity and diplomacy.  Analytical, research, and project management skills. 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear.  The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.  The office is located on the 3rd floor of a building with no elevator so the employee must be able to navigate stairways.  Travel off-campus is required.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Eureka College is an equal opportunity employer committed to achieving diversity and cultural awareness within its administration, faculty, staff, and students. The College is intentional in its inclusivity of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability or ancestry.

WORK SCHEDULE:

Normal workday is Monday through Friday 8:00AM to 5:00 PM with one hour allocated for lunch.  Travel is required in this position. Travel may exceed 5 days per month. Flexibility is needed to allow for periodic evening and weekend hours to participate in alumni, donor and fundraising events.

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Submit cover letter, resume, and list of 3 references electronically to employment@eureka.edu (please put “Freshman Admissions Counselor” in the subject heading); pdf or WORD format acceptable. Print materials may be sent to Human Resources, Eureka College, 300 E. College Avenue, Eureka IL  61530.   

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until position is filled.