Director of Development, College of Liberal Arts

University System of New Hampshire Portal•Durham, NH

10d

About The Position

The Director of Development (DoD) leads major gift fundraising efforts on behalf of UNH’s College of Liberal Arts ( COLA ). The incumbent will manage a portfolio of prospects capable of making philanthropic contributions (focused on the $100,000+ level) from various constituencies (alumni, parents/families, friends, faculty, staff, etc.) to support the priorities of COLA . They will also manage several junior Development team members, providing effective motivation and mentorship that strengthens performance and drives goal-oriented outcomes. The DoD will strengthen the COLA major gift team’s results and lead the planning and decision making that connects Development with the evolving vision and priorities for COLA . To be successful in this role, the DoD must work closely with dynamic academic leadership and other key stakeholders in COLA (primarily the Dean), while also collaborating with colleagues and leadership across Development and University Advancement. The DoD will instill a heightened level of engagement with donors, prospects, and board members, setting the tone for the highest levels of fundraising achievement and program caliber that reflects the University’s culture, mission, and evolving strategic plans. The Director of Development, COLA will join the University of New Hampshire Foundation at a critical time during an ambitious fundraising campaign in anticipation of a public launch in 2025. The incumbent embraces goal-oriented outcomes and is an entrepreneurial, strategic, and creative thinker who is passionate about the major gift potential for COLA , and capable of building and expanding relationships with constituents in ways that have a quantifiable impact on philanthropic achievement. The DoD will have a proven track record in closing major gifts while possessing outstanding interpersonal competencies, ability to effectively manage projects/priorities, and be highly motivated, organized and detail oriented.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of fundraising experience or equivalent (sales, business development, account/relationship management, marketing and/or public relations)
A bachelor’s degree, or preferably master’s degree.
Demonstrated understanding of the relevance of philanthropy and thorough knowledge of Development principles and a record of accomplishment in managing a major gift program.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, about fundraising support.
Exceptionally strong interpersonal skills and experience interacting with internal and external constituents who are diverse in characteristics such as age, education level, race, gender identity and expression, ability, and socioeconomic backgrounds in a culturally competent and supportive manner.
Very strong organizational skills and ability to juggle and prioritize many projects/tasks.
Very strong analytical skills and experience working in a metrics-driven environment.
Proven success in managing a major gift portfolio through a disciplined moves movement strategy, and soliciting/closing principal and major gifts, blended gifts, and planned gifts.
Familiarity with estate planning instruments, products, principles, and marketing programs, and success integrating gift and estate planning into a comprehensive major gifts program.
Orientation as a team player and demonstrated strength at partnering with peers, management, and leadership and collaborating across diverse university units and departments, while also having the discipline to work independently.
Experience collaborating with academic and administrative leadership to define funding projects and initiatives, drafting strong cases for support, developing engagement experiences, etc. And demonstrated prowess translating the vision and direction of institutional leadership into actionable plans, goals, and strategies for the major gifts program.
Experience with board member and/or volunteer management.
Reputation for collegiality and collaboration, and a high level of professional maturity, judgment, and decisiveness to motivate fellow staff and to inspire confidence among donors/prospects.
Respect and support for reporting structures and lines of communication.
Demonstrated understating of the responsibility to maintain sensitive information and appreciation of ethics and compliance.
Openness to travel on behalf of UNH for donor/prospect visits or as the university’s representative.
Commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and advancement .
Proficiency in fundraising database technologies and Microsoft Office.