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Director of Development and External Relations - George A. Smathers Libraries

Employer
University of Florida Advancement
Location
Florida, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
Dec 9, 2022

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The Director of Development & External Relations leads the planning and execution of a comprehensive philanthropic program for the George A. Smathers Libraries in coordination with the Dean of University Libraries. This position reports dually to the Dean of University Libraries and the Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Development.

The Director of Development & External Relations leads a team of development professionals that work collaboratively with Library deans, chairs, and librarians, as well as colleagues outside of the Libraries to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major gift prospects for the Smathers Libraries initiatives and strategic priorities. The incumbent is responsible for overseeing and providing direction to the work of the advancement team in securing all private support, executing donor stewardship, development of public support groups, fundraising event coordination, and relations between the Libraries, its Library Leadership Board, and Smathers Friends of the Libraries donors, the University of Florida and the UF Advancement. Additionally, the Director of Development & External Relations will attend strategic engagement events in support of Smathers Libraries fundraising goals.

Strategic Development

  • Work closely with the Dean of University Libraries (Dean) and the Assistant Vice President of Development (AVP) to define and prioritize funding needs.
  • Build and manage a major gift prospect portfolio of approximately 65 major gift donors as well as managing a qualification pipeline.
  • Serve as the primary fundraising strategist for the Libraries, identifying, qualifying, and stewarding donor prospects up to the major gift level.
  • Strategically manage relationships through face-to-face visits with donors, prospects, and friends, with an emphasis on ,Special Collections.
  • Actively identify and research alumni and friends in targeted areas; work with the AVP to develop and implement strategy for securing gifts in these areas, including advancement plans to inform constituents in identified markets about the funding needs and gift opportunities.
  • Actively build donor pipeline through in-person visits, volunteer engagement, and other strategies.
  • Work closely with the Dean, AVP and the Office of Estate & Gift Planning in identifying and qualifying prospects who have the potential of making a planned gift to Libraries.
  • Actively qualify and manage major gift prospects in accordance with their interests, capacity, and propensity, consulting with the AVP on philanthropic engagement strategy and key campus partnerships for collaboration.
  • Provide ongoing leadership and direction to the Assistant Director of Development and other team members in building the Libraries’ donor pipeline through the qualification and solicitation of leadership annual giving donors to the Libraries
  • Work with University Initiatives to u increase parent and family giving to Libraries.
  • In collaboration with the Dean of University Libraries, develop solicitation strategies on case-by-case basis, being cognizant of development office and Library needs and procedures.
  • Oversee all stewardship efforts for the Libraries, ensuring the advancement team is recognizing donors appropriately and meaningfully. Coordinate stewardship efforts with other Libraries and external colleagues within UF Advancement and University of Florida, as appropriate.
  • Acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and appropriate to the vision, mission, and values of the Smathers Libraries and UF Advancement. 
  • Provide leadership, counsel on matters relating to fundraising, and accountability including establishing goals in alignment with library objectives, developing metrics and strategic planning.

 External Relations

  • Implement a series of strategic events designed to promote Special Collections and other library priorities, to engage a larger audience and build major gift pipeline.
  • Oversee the design and execution of fundraising plans that would include special events, VIP and donor lunches and dinners, campus visits with the dean, catered events, Library tours with the dean, team retreats, and meetings and initiatives that promote the engagement of donors and friends.
  • Develop support for the program by effectively involving stakeholders, such as volunteers, staff, and members of the libraries leadership board, in efforts supporting the fundraising program.
  • Understand and articulate the unique contributions of Smathers Libraries to education, research, and service on local, national, and international levels.
  • Oversee and manage activities and public support programs and events for the Smathers Libraries. Coordinate development  activities with Libraries’ public relations staff; assist with Libraries public relations and promotional activities. 
  • Attend and strategically engage and cultivate donors and prospects at events, providing effective follow-up.

 Friends of the Libraries

  • Provide leadership and direction to the Assistant Director of Development in the management of a successful Friends of the Library program, designed to generate unrestricted support for the library, to steward and cultivate those closest to the library, and to build a pipeline of new potential donors.
  • Lead the advancement team in executing Smathers Friends of the Libraries fundraising initiatives to generate gifts between $1,000 and $25,000 and effectively build a pipeline of prospects to ensure future success of the fundraising program.
  • Facilitate the Assistant Director of Development’s work in proactively engaging with the UFA Annual Giving Office to ensure successful Friends of the Libraries prospect and pipeline management.
  • Provide leadership and support strategic planning efforts as they relate to Smathers Friends of the Libraries.

 Library Leadership Board

  • Cultivate the Library Leadership Board (LLB), engaging a small group of individuals who can support at a high level or make significant connections on behalf of the library.
  • With the Dean, plan, manage, and successfully execute all LLB  meetings, events, and activities;  prepare meeting materials and logistics.
  • Engage with LLB members and individual prospects identified by LLB members.
  • Coordinate stewardship reports and activities for individual prospects including LLB members with appropriate members of the administration.
  • Develop support for the Smathers Libraries by effectively involving staff and stakeholders, including LLB members in efforts supporting the fundraising program.   
  • Create a structured process for the identification, recruitment, evaluation, recognition, and replacement of volunteers to strengthen fundraising effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with the Dean and the AVP regarding overall gift strategies  for LLB Omembers as appropriate.

Administrative

  • Responsible for effective prospect tracking, record keeping, reporting and administration aligned with the metrics and reporting from UF Advancement. 
  • Plan and monitor the budget, using resources for best results in fundraising and planning activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty and administration.
  • Ensure best practices in office systems, practices, files and record keeping; ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research, and analysis, and the Advance database.
  • Assist in evaluating and analyzing programs using established attributes and metrics to produce accurate reports, to guide effective decision making. 
  • Supervise the Libraries’ Assistant Director of Development and Development Coordinator.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Research industry standards, trends, breakthroughs and best practices.
  • Implement changes accordingly to maintain the Smathers Libraries’ competitiveness among its peers and other organizations.
  • Participate in professional programs at the state and national level as appropriate (CASE, DORAL, ALADN).
  • Perform related duties as required or deemed appropriate to the accomplishment of the responsibilities and functions related to this position.

Application must be submitted by October 18, 202211:55 p.m. (ET). 

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