Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

10h

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Development, Leadership Annual Giving, builds meaningful relationships with donors and connects their interests with opportunities to support the University of Florida. The position cultivates, solicits, and stewards leadership annual giving prospects, manages a donor portfolio, and collaborates with campus partners to increase philanthropic support and strengthen the pipeline for future major gifts.

The role manages annual giving prospects through face-to-face visits and gift solicitations, qualifies and hands off prospects according to their interests, capacity, and propensity, and coordinates prospect management with unit partners. It also supports special-project fundraising, researches industry practices, coordinates donor stewardship, maintains accurate gift and prospect records, and drafts donor and prospect correspondence.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization, or a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization and one year of relevant experience.
• Valid Florida driver’s license and good driving record.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• Ability to pay business expenses using personal credit card or funds and receive reimbursement.
• Proficiency with Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, internet browsers, and email platforms.
• Evening and weekend work is required.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in a university or nonprofit environment, or in public relations, advertising, sales, or a marketing-related field.
• General knowledge of the business and economic environment and understanding of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
• Demonstrated success in prospect identification, relationship building, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Ability to work independently within a broad strategic framework and institutional priorities, as well as collaboratively with teams and stakeholders.
• Creative problem-solving approach, strong analytical skills, professional judgment, and project management skills.
• Experience in a data-driven environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication, strong interpersonal abilities, and ability to engage collaboratively with a wide range of people.
• Commitment to a respectful, collaborative work environment that values integrity, professionalism, and mutual respect.
• Strong organizational abilities and capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others.
• Familiarity with donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of annual giving prospects and relationships through face-to-face visits, bringing gift solicitations to closure.
• Conduct a high volume of solicitation and qualification visits.
• Solicit, cultivate, qualify, and hand off prospects according to their interests, capacity, and propensity.
• Work proactively with unit partners on prospect and pipeline management.
• Identify new sources of individual giving and coordinate with Advancement fundraising staff on new prospect solicitations and donor upgrades.
• Track prospects and maintain records, reporting, and administration in alignment with UFA/UFF metrics and reporting.
• Work with assigned colleges and units to identify, qualify, and solicit prospects in special project areas.
• Research industry standards, trends, breakthroughs, and best practices.
• Coordinate or assist with donor stewardship programs for leadership annual giving prospects.
• Maintain and create donation records so donors receive appropriate recognition and gift documentation, including thank-you and stewardship communications.
• Draft correspondence to donors and prospects.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off, including 11 paid holidays and family, sick, and vacation leave
• Professional and personal development opportunities, including UF Training & Organization Development, leadership development, and LinkedIn Learning
• Tuition assistance through the UF Employee Education Program
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level