Director of Advancement Partnerships and Major Gifts (MC)

Finger Lakes Community College•Canandaigua, NY

About The Position

The Director of Advancement Partnerships expands Finger Lakes Community College’s philanthropic and external partnership capacity by developing high-value relationships with individuals, corporations, private and family foundations, alumni, and community organizations. As a highly visible, externally focused member of the Advancement Division, the Director identifies where donor and partner interests align with College priorities and develops those relationships into major gifts, foundation and corporate investments, planned gifts, naming opportunities, workforce collaborations, internships, grants, and other resources that benefit students and strengthen the institution. Working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, President, College leadership, faculty, staff, and the FLCC Foundation, the Director creates customized engagement and funding strategies supporting scholarships, emergency student support, capital priorities, workforce development, academic innovation, and other institutional initiatives. The role includes substantial community and regional engagement to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective partners and donors. The Director manages approximately 75–100 qualified major gift and strategic partnership prospects, maintains accurate records in the College/Foundation constituent relationship management system, tracks outcomes, and works toward annual revenue-generation goals demonstrating a positive return on investment. This position requires flexible working hours, including evenings and occasional weekends, as well as regional travel. Visa sponsorship is not available. The position is not eligible for employment under a Section 211 waiver. Applicants receiving benefits through the New York State Retirement System should review state regulations regarding post-retirement employment. Applicants must submit a cover letter and curriculum vitae or résumé online.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, fundraising, major gifts, corporate or foundation relations, business development, community engagement, or a related field.
Demonstrated success securing major philanthropic investments of $100,000 or more from individuals, corporations, or foundations.
Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and highly relationship-oriented.
Exceptional interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.
Ability to build trust with donors, corporate leaders, foundation representatives, alumni, and community partners; identify shared interests; and translate institutional priorities into compelling investment opportunities.
Strong skills in major gift cultivation and solicitation, proposal development, strategic planning, prospect management, and collaborative problem solving.
Ability to work effectively across academic and administrative units, manage multiple priorities, and represent the College professionally throughout the region.
Knowledge of, respect for, and successful engagement with people from other cultures or backgrounds.
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and occasional weekends, and travel regionally.
Must be eligible to work without current or future visa sponsorship; visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT fundraising software or a comparable fundraising CRM preferred.

Responsibilities

Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals, corporations, private and family foundations, alumni, and community organizations capable of making significant investments in FLCC.
Manage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 qualified major gift and strategic partnership prospects, with individualized relationship, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
Maintain an active external presence in the Finger Lakes region and beyond, including regular face-to-face meetings with donors, business and industry leaders, foundation representatives, alumni, and community stakeholders.
Develop philanthropic partnerships by aligning external interests with College priorities, particularly student success, workforce development, scholarships, emergency assistance, capital projects, academic innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional economic vitality.
Develop and present customized funding proposals, cases for support, sponsorships, naming opportunities, and other investment concepts in collaboration with College leadership and subject-matter experts.
Collaborate with the President and Advancement leadership on major and principal gift strategies, campaign priorities, leadership solicitations, and high-value external relationships.
Build corporate and employer relationships that may produce philanthropic support, workforce collaborations, internships, equipment or in-kind support, employee education pathways, sponsorships, or other benefits to FLCC students and programs.
Develop a planned giving pipeline by identifying and cultivating prospective legacy donors, initiating planned giving conversations, and coordinating gift-planning resources and stewardship.
Partner with Grants Development and other College units to identify private foundation and corporate funding opportunities and strengthen relationships that may lead to grant proposals or other institutional investments.
Serve as an internal connector and advancement resource, working with academic and administrative leaders to understand institutional priorities and develop fundable opportunities aligned with donor and partner interests.
Maintain timely and accurate prospect strategies, contact reports, proposals, moves management activity, and relationship information in the College/Foundation constituent relationship management system.
Represent FLCC and the FLCC Foundation at business, civic, philanthropic, economic development, alumni, and community events, cultivating relationships that strengthen the College’s visibility and reputation.
Track and report outcomes using Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, including external visits, qualified prospects, solicitations, proposals, partnerships, philanthropic commitments, planned giving activity, and other resources generated.
Work toward annual revenue-generation goals sufficient to demonstrate a positive return on investment.
Perform related work as required, including written correspondence, donor and partner meetings, Foundation events, community activities, and other Advancement initiatives.