Assistant Director, Philanthropy - Emerging Donors & Qualifications

University of LouisvilleLouisville, KY
Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Philanthropy – Emerging Donors and Qualifications at the University of Louisville will play a key role – individually and collectively – in identifying and cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make mid to major level gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives. The Assistant Director of Philanthropy will be an exceptional team-oriented fundraising professional who will demonstrate a successful track record in identifying, qualifying, and advancing donors through the giving pipeline toward higher levels of support. The Assistant Director of Philanthropy reports to the Executive Director of Philanthropy – Schools and Colleges. The individual will provide creative and visionary coordination of fundraising endeavors for university-wide programs on the Belknap campus. They will convene campus partners and advise on the development of coordinated, cross-functional strategies to enhance lifetime donor engagement and philanthropic investment. Working collaboratively across PAE, the Assistant Director will play a key role in strengthening the donor pipeline by identifying and qualifying prospects with the capacity and inclination to give at higher levels. When appropriate affinity and capacity are identified, the Assistant Director will proactively refer donors to major gift teams to support continued growth and long-term philanthropic impact.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Grade 7 (Salaried)
  • Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including individual and large groups.
  • Ability to assess risk combined with a willingness to take calculated risks.
  • A tolerance for the inevitable ambiguity that typifies a large university.
  • Proven ability to drive performance and execute for results; strategic and agile thinker to develop opportunities and strategies for organizational success toward objectives.
  • High integrity, judgement, and courage of convictions.
  • Maintain self-awareness, understanding the impact of self on others.
  • Strong evidence of ability to function in an environment of complexity, uncertainty, and change management.
  • Natural sense of curiosity regarding individuals and industry, with a skill to uncover connections, networks, and interests.

Nice To Haves

  • 2-3 years of prior work experience in a related field.

Responsibilities

  • Manage a portfolio of 100-150 individual prospects capable of making 5 figure gifts through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UofL.
  • Actively maintain a portfolio of prospects capable of making $10,000-$49,999 gifts, particularly where there are multiple complex university relationships and the opportunity exists to have university-wide impact that requires thoughtful, experienced, prospect management.
  • Solicit and secure significant gifts to reach a minimum annual goal as determined by PAE leadership and will be no less than the performance standard minimum of $500,000 annually.
  • Identify and advance qualified donors toward major gift portfolios through proactive collaboration with major gift officers, sustaining a 20–30% referral rate of prospects capable of long-term philanthropy at the $50,000+ level.
  • Collaborate with major gift officers and deans, faculty, program directors, and other university leaders when needed to prepare for prospect meetings, engagement strategies, and solicitations.
  • Complete at least 140 donor and prospect meetings annually to enhance relationships and drive progression along the donor cycle.
  • Record moves management into the CRM database to track engagement with donors.
  • Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, gift agreements, and stewardship reports for assigned prospects. Ensure that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
  • Promote deferred giving and have an understanding and expertise in deferred vehicles and the role they can play in supporting visionary gifts.
  • Travel to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves.

Benefits

  • The University of Louisville has an exceptional benefits package
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