Director, Development

Lindenwood University • St. Charles, IL

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Development secures private philanthropic support by aligning donor interests with institutional priorities. The role identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and solicits donor prospects capable of gifts of $25,000 or more, with an emphasis on gifts of $100,000 or more. The Director travels within assigned regions and serves as a liaison to designated colleges and campus units, helping Lindenwood University grow its donor pipeline and philanthropic reach through strategic work and relationship-building.

The position manages a portfolio of major donor prospects, develops fundraising strategies with University Advancement colleagues and campus leaders, and prepares donor proposals, reports, draft agreements, and tailored communications. It builds partnerships with assigned units to understand their programs and identify opportunities for private support, applies current major-gift practices and giving vehicles, collaborates on donor engagement and stewardship, and records activities in Raiser’s Edge. The Director also supports advancement programs and operations, advises division leaders on constituency relations, provides fundraising guidance to campus constituents, and mentors advancement colleagues.

The role is a flexible work arrangement involving regular in-office and remote workdays as assigned by the supervisor. It includes regional travel and occasional evening and weekend work. The employee represents Lindenwood Advancement in the assigned region and attends donor visits and alumni engagement events. Regular attendance is an essential function.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least three years of experience soliciting major donors and gifts.
• Experience in a higher education environment, ideally including participation in a comprehensive campaign, capital campaign, or capital-project fundraising initiative.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures.
• Deep understanding of fundraising principles, including prospect discovery, the donor lifecycle, storytelling, and pipeline segmentation and analysis.
• Experience writing proposals and gift agreements.
• Ability to build relationships and alliances with internal and external audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Knowledge of current concepts, practices, and procedures in the field.
• A track record of securing major gifts of $25,000 or more, or comparable results in a business-to-business or inside sales setting.
• Knowledge of planned giving techniques and vehicles.
• Attention to detail.
• Empathetic listening and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain accuracy under time pressure while handling multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to handle confidential information discreetly.
• Ability to work effectively at a computer for up to eight hours daily, sit and stand for extended periods, lift or carry common office items, and attend on- and off-campus events.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major donor prospects capable of gifts of $25,000 or more, focusing on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure.
• Coordinate with the Assistant Vice President, Development, development colleagues, and the prospect researcher to develop and implement strategies for annual and campaign fundraising goals.
• Meet with donors and prospects through travel, campus visits, phone calls, and video conferences; meetings occupy approximately 25%–50% of the time and may include evenings and weekends.
• Prepare donor proposals, reports, draft agreements, and communications tailored to donor interests.
• Develop and execute fundraising strategies for assigned units in partnership with Advancement, academic leadership, and other advancement colleagues.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with assigned units to understand their programs and identify opportunities for private support.
• Maintain expertise in major-gift practices, philanthropic trends, and evolving giving vehicles, applying insights to prospect engagement and complex gift structuring.
• Collaborate with stewardship and engagement colleagues to develop strategic engagement plans for key alumni and donors.
• Use Raiser’s Edge to document activities, interactions, and other relevant data.
• Participate in advancement meetings and events, assist colleagues, and support programs and operations to advance institutional engagement and fundraising goals.
• Support the University’s mission and Q2 culture of service excellence; model and uphold University values.
• Conduct donor acknowledgment and stewardship activities and cultivate relationships with donors, alumni, and friends of the University.
• Advise division leaders on internal and external constituency relations.
• Provide leadership to campus constituents on current and effective fundraising techniques.
• Mentor advancement team members in industry best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s programs for the employee, spouse, and dependents, and for master’s programs for the employee and spouse.
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs for the employee.
• Comprehensive benefits plan including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays and breaks, including MLK Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break, and winter break.
• Free lunch Fridays at Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall, including Chick-fil-A and Qdoba.
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

What This Job Offers

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