Director of Advancement Services

Winston-Salem State University•Winston-Salem, NC

About The Position

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is seeking a Director of Advancement Services. The Director of Advancement Services is responsible for the strategic oversight and management of Winston-Salem State University’s fundraising infrastructure, ensuring the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the university’s advancement efforts. This role supports the long-term financial sustainability and growth of WSSU by managing key functions such as gift processing, prospect management, donor relations, stewardship, and data integrity. The Director plays a central role in aligning these critical systems with WSSU’s 2022-2030 Strategic Plan. By driving innovation, improving processes, and fostering strong donor relationships, this position ensures that the university’s advancement operations are scalable, data-driven, and capable of supporting WSSU’s mission to provide an equitable, transformative education.

Requirements

Advanced proficiency in managing donor databases (such as Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or other CRM systems) with a strong understanding of data integrity and security best practices.
Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage teams effectively, with strong interpersonal skills to foster collaboration across departments.
Strong knowledge of fundraising principles, gift administration, and IRS guidelines related to charitable giving.
Expertise in identifying, researching, and tracking major gift prospects, as well as implementing moves management systems to enhance donor engagement.
Experience with process optimization, including automating workflows, improving donor data management systems, and increasing the scalability of advancement operations.
Deep understanding of donor recognition and stewardship strategies, including personalized engagement plans and impact reporting.
Strong skills in budget management, tracking donations, and ensuring proper allocation of resources in alignment with institutional goals.
Strong project management skills, including experience overseeing multiple initiatives, ensuring deadlines are met, and aligning projects with strategic priorities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively engage stakeholders and present complex information in a clear and concise manner.

Nice To Haves

Certifications in fundraising management or nonprofit leadership (such as CFRE, Certified Fund Raising Executive) are preferred but not required.
Advanced training in donor database systems (Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar platforms) and data analytics.
Ongoing professional development and training in fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, and advancement services.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic direction for the Advancement Services unit, aligning operations, fund administration, and donor stewardship with Winston-Salem State University’s broader fundraising goals and strategic priorities.
Provide overarching oversight for university gift fund management, ensuring that all endowed, restricted, and scholarship funds are utilized in strict compliance with legal gift agreements, donor intent, and institutional policies.
In coordination with the WSSU Foundation, Financial Aid, and university business offices, oversee the strategy for scholarship fund allocations, monitoring fund balances, disbursement schedules, and award criteria execution.
Establish monitoring mechanisms to identify unspent or underutilized restricted/scholarship funds, collaborating with campus partners and development staff to resolve utilization bottlenecks or execute necessary fund agreement amendments.
Formulate, enforce, and audit policies and procedures governing gift administration, fund setup, spending compliance, and state/federal regulatory guidelines.
Use data analysis and reporting to inform strategic decisions, optimize fundraising efforts, and identify opportunities for growth in donor engagement and giving.
Oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing management of Winston-Salem State University’s fundraising database (Raiser’s Edge NXT), prospect management systems, and auxiliary award management platforms (e.g., Scholarship Universe).
Oversee relationships with advancement technology vendors, ensuring proper staff access and optimal utilization of software platforms, contract management, implementation of upgrades, and ongoing system enhancements.
Ensure data integrity and financial accuracy across all donor, prospect, fund, and scholarship distribution records.
Oversee gift processing and financial recording operations to ensure timely recording of contributions, adherence to IRS regulations, accurate fund designation, and prompt donor acknowledgments.
Lead efforts to integrate technological innovations across advancement operations, automating workflows between scholarship management software, CRM systems, and general ledger accounting.
Lead and manage donor stewardship strategies, ensuring donors are consistently recognized, thanked, and informed of their fund’s impact.
Implementing stewardship plans that align with donor preferences and institutional priorities, including the creation of impact reports, personalized communications, and recognition events.
Direct the production of annual financial endowment reports and scholarship impact statements, verifying that financial data (balances, payouts, and beneficiary details) reported to donors is accurate and transparent.
Oversee efforts by the Assistant Director and donor relations team to facilitate meaningful connections between donors and fund beneficiaries (such as student scholarship recipients and endowed faculty).
Including the preparation and delivery of donor acknowledgment letters, annual giving reports, and other communication efforts that demonstrate the impact of gifts on Winston-Salem State University’s mission.
Work closely with development officers to ensure that stewardship activities are integrated into broader fundraising strategies and that donor expectations are met or exceeded.
Continuously improve stewardship processes, exploring innovative approaches to donor engagement such as digital recognition platforms, virtual events, and personalized outreach strategies.
Direct and oversee prospect management and research functions, including the identification, research, and qualification of potential major gift donors.
Supervise the Assistant Director and prospect analysts (including shared services resources) in utilizing wealth intelligence platforms (e.g., iWave, LexisNexis, ResearchPoint) to build strong prospect pipelines.
Develop and oversee tracking and moves management strategies to equip development officers with accurate data regarding donor interests, capacity, and engagement history.
Lead the prospect research team in conducting comprehensive research and analysis to identify new fundraising opportunities, leveraging both qualitative and quantitative data sources.
Create and maintain a repository of prospect profiles and briefing materials for development staff to facilitate personalized engagement and solicitation efforts.
Collaborate with advancement leadership to prioritize and strategize outreach efforts, aligning prospect management activities with institutional fundraising goals and campaigns.