Executive Director of Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Department Summary
The Division of University Advancement is dedicated to inspiring the community to become involved with the growth and progress of the University of North Texas. Gifts to UNT are transformative. Every gift – regardless of size or form – makes a difference for our campus, students, and programs.

Working in the Division of University Advancement aids in the support and execution of these transformative gifts. This division is the connector between the donor and project and accomplishes the goals of the university by establishing and continuing mutually beneficial relationships that result in donations that support and empower the future leaders of our generations. The Division of University Advancement can be extremely rewarding for those who are motivated by making a lasting impact on the campus, students, and programs on campus.

Position Overview
The Executive Director for Corporate and Foundation Relations proactively anticipates, initiates, and develops strategies and actions to secure funding from a variety of sources for the priorities of UNT. The Executive Director will work with faculty, staff, and institutional leadership to develop a dynamic and multi-platform fundraising strategy to reach foundations, secure needed funding, as well as drive efforts at enhancing collaboration across departments within the University to encourage the submission of funding proposals for suitable projects and initiatives. This position will be extensive in foundation fundraising with minimal emphasis on corporations.

The position reports to the Assistant Vice President for Development.

Job Duties

• Career track of progressive, documentable accomplishments in driving impact, outcomes, and success as a resolute, experienced professional with a history of fundraising success working at a tier one research institution. Advanced knowledge of fundraising principles and practices, capacity to provide visionary leadership for fundraising efforts, direct successful capital campaigns, and oversee the progressive growth of a major donor development program.
• Ability to develop and manage a portfolio of highly strategic corporate and foundation relationships in support of significant UNT initiatives. Skill to initiate and facilitate new relationships between foundations and the university. Skilled and knowledgeable in the submission of grant proposals, reports and high-level briefings, and other collaterals for communication with prospective donors.
• Maintains appropriate percentage of constituents in all stages of the development cycle: discovery, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship/re-cultivation, and perpetual stewardship resulting in securing seven and eight-figure foundation gifts.
• A mindset to inspire broad-based personal participation and passionate commitment to philanthropy and support of advancement/development initiatives among university faculty, staff, and leadership.
• Skill to work in collaboration with other members of institutional leadership in developing marketing plans for existing and potential programs of interest to corporations and foundations.
• Highly innovative, bringing a diverse strategy that encompasses inventive models of funding to leverage a variety of demographics, geographies, corporate and foundation partnership approaches, and regional/national resources in addition to effectively managing a portfolio of existing and potential contributors.
• Proven skills in data analysis, conducting research and evaluations designed to identify, reach out to, and secure gift prospects.
• Demonstrated expertise in cultivating and managing donor relationships to inspire a passionate commitment to the university, connect prospects and donors with the UNT mission, and elicit long-term participation by the donor community.
• Documented skills to ensure sound management of the department’s fiscal affairs.
• Proven record of establishing and maintaining a supportive and effective team culture. Management skills and a strong desire to grow the skill sets of the department staff through professional leadership and mentoring.
• Other related duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in related field and at least eight (8) years of increasingly responsible leadership and/or management experience or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

The University of North Texas System and its component institutions are committed to equal opportunity and comply with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of North Texas System and its component institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status in its application and admission processes, educational programs and activities, and employment practices.