Senior Director, Philanthropy at Large

The Opportunity

Since its inception, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has remained best in class — the unquestioned global leader in aerospace education and the definitive source of innovation in aviation and aerospace education and research. The largest, most comprehensive institution of its kind, Embry-Riddle, was founded in 1926, 22 years after the Wright brothers' first demonstration of piloted, powered flight: 12 seconds that changed the world and eventually brought Embry-Riddle into existence. Today, with a nearly 100-year legacy of innovation and excellence in education, even more extraordinary accomplishments lie ahead — and above!

Embry-Riddle holds multiple Top 10 academic rankings. The aerospace engineering programs, for example, have routinely been judged to be the nation's best. With a long history of serving those who serve, Embry-Riddle is annually named "Best for Veterans." In addition, the University's online bachelor's degree programs have ranked first or second in the nation for the past eight years. Finally, Embry-Riddle's professional pilot degree programs are the unquestioned gold standard for aspiring aviators.

As we prepare for our Centennial Campaign, there has never been a more exciting time to make your mark on our University's history. We seek a dynamic and seasoned fundraiser to join the Office of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement as Senior Director of Philanthropy At Large for the Daytona Beach campus.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy, the Senior Director of Philanthropy At Large will chart the course for fundraising success at the Daytona Beach campus by cultivating relationships with esteemed alumni, foundations, and our many corporate partners.

The Senior Director of Philanthropy At Large works to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts from alumni and community partners. They will provide leadership and coordination to the campus in approaching donors for major gifts, working closely with academic leadership, student support leadership, and development colleagues. They will develop and implement fundraising strategies, prepare compelling oral and written proposals, and build and maintain effective relationships with donors.

This isn't just a job; it's an opportunity to be a catalyst for change, a champion of innovation, and a guardian of our legacy. If you're ready to make waves, break barriers, and leave an indelible mark on the future of aerospace education, we want you on our team.

Key Responsibilities:

Major Gifts

The Senior Director shall be assigned a portfolio of approximately 75-125 prospects. In this role, they shall conduct discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship calls within their assigned portfolio. Prospects will engage through print or electronic correspondence, calls, encounters at events, and, most importantly, individual face-to-face visits. Travel on evenings and weekends should be anticipated. On behalf of the University, the Senior Director of Philanthropy At Large will develop written strategies and tactics for each prospect, implement them, and collaborate with colleagues in the division to achieve donor engagement and stewardship goals.

Unit Liaison

Engage with and coordinate development activities within academic units. Participate in leadership meetings to better understand unit needs, challenges, and opportunities. Help coordinate central advancement efforts in annual giving, major gifts, advancement communications, data acquisition, planned giving programming, donor relations, and donor impact reporting. Foster solid and collaborative relationships with academic leaders, staff, and students across campus to actively engage them in the philanthropic process. Advise academic leadership and staff on the institution's charitable policies, practices, schedules, strategies, and general best practices. Ensure a healthy, solid relationship between units and University administration.

Support Central Development

Observe institutional development policies, participate actively in meetings held by central development, and maintain satisfactory training and knowledge of best practices. The Senior Director's primary focus is to secure funding for the University with a donor-centric approach. Additionally, they will assist the central development enterprise as needed to help achieve the University's broader objectives. This may entail transferring or sharing assigned prospects based on interests in other units. Conduct discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts in alignment with assigned responsibilities. Engage current and prospective donors through print or electronic correspondence, calls, encounters at events, and, most importantly, individual face-to-face visits. Complete timely, accurate, concise, and complete contact reports and enter them into the division's enterprise system.

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: 

At Embry-Riddle, we take pride in our position as the world's largest and most comprehensive university dedicated to aviation and aerospace. Located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, our esteemed residential campuses offer a prestigious educational experience. However, our commitment to education knows no borders as our Worldwide campus expands our reach globally, providing a world-class education online and at approximately 110 locations across the United States, Asia, Europe, and Central and South America. This breadth of reach ensures students can access our exceptional programs without geographical limitations. 

With a history spanning nearly a century, we have continually adapted to the dynamic needs of the industries we support. In the Academic Year 2022-23, we welcomed over 11,100 students to our residential campuses and over 19,000 students to our worldwide campus.  

Join our global community and embark on a journey of academic excellence and limitless possibilities. Employees working more than 30 hours a week can enjoy medical, dental, and vision benefits, an amazing retirement plan with immediate vesting that includes a 6% gift and up to 4% match, free tuition for employees and their immediate family members, and a generous personal leave program. To learn more about our benefits and why ERAU has been named a "Great College to Work For" for 13 consecutive years, visit our careers page.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree is required (foreign equivalent or higher). Six (6) years of full-time fundraising experience in higher education, a complex healthcare system, or a large non-profit. Proven record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing major level ($100,000+) gifts from individual donors. Experience managing numerous priorities and a broad portfolio of donor/client relationships. Experience with Salesforce or comparable donor relationship applications.

Preferred Qualifications:

A master’s degree is preferred. Additional years of fundraising experience in higher education, a large non-profit, or a healthcare institution, experience at an academic or medical center, experience managing volunteers or an advisory board, comfort with high-net-worth individuals, including the ability to maintain confidential information, basic knowledge of planned giving vehicles and techniques, and experience developing a new donor constituency are strongly preferred.