Director of Development & Donor Engagement

Howard Community College • Columbia, MD

68d

About The Position

The Director of Development & Donor Engagement plays a vital role in advancing the mission of the Howard Community College Educational Foundation (HCCEF). This position is responsible for developing and stewarding relationships with annual and major donors, cultivating relationships that lead to major gifts, and implementing strategies that expand scholarship and program funding for students. Working collaboratively with faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners, the Director connects donor passion with student success. This role also provides opportunities to gain experience in major gifts, campaigns, and foundation operations, preparing the individual for continued growth in advancement leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit management (higher education preferred).
• Demonstrated success in annual giving, donor relations, and event fundraising.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals and deliver presentations.
• Knowledge of fundraising databases/CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or similar) and reporting tools.
• Solid understanding of financial reporting and recordkeeping in a fundraising environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Creativity, initiative, sound judgment, and a commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
• Availability for occasional evenings and weekends to attend donor meetings and events.
• Regular attendance is a requirement of this position.
• All duties are performed with consideration for the college's sustainability initiatives in environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of donors and prospects, ensuring thoughtful cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Personally, solicits gifts and assists the Executive Director with major gift cultivation, solicitation strategies, and asks.
• Develops and implements annual fundraising plans to increase participation, giving levels, and donor retention.
• Develop fundraising materials, case statements, and proposals for corporations, foundations, and individual donors.
• Manager a stewardship plan, ensuring timely acknowledgment, impact reporting, and recognition.
• Leads the fundraising efforts for key scholarship and program initiatives.
• Develops and executes strategies to grow philanthropic support for these programs through targeted outreach, appeals, and partnership development.
• Represent the college at community, donor, and campus events, serving as an ambassador and frontline fundraiser for HCCEF.
• Participate in foundation management processes, reporting, and audit preparation.
• Lead and manage assigned staff by providing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to ensure effective support of development operations and donor engagement initiatives.
• Provide staff support for event committees as senior fundraiser working with development team and committee chair on fundraising strategies, donor identification, and outreach.
• Contribute to operational planning, process improvements, and cross-departmental collaboration.

Benefits

• Howard Community College offers competitive salaries, excellent medical and dental selections, tuition reimbursement and paid leave programs.
• As a participating member of the Maryland Retirement and Pension System, HCC offers two retirement options: The Pension, which requires a 7% employee contribution and The ORP, a 403(b) with a 7.25% employer contribution only.
• Employees in positions that do not require a bachelor's degree must participate in The Pension.
• Employees that possess a bachelor's degree and hold professional positions that require a bachelor's degree may choose to participate in either The Pension or The ORP.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees