Director of Development for Major Gifts

The University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Director of Major Gifts for the Jackson School of Geosciences. This role focuses on raising philanthropic support from major gift donors with a capacity of $100,000 to $1,000,000, with the goal of soliciting gifts of $100,000+ annually. The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, is a globally recognized institution with 76 programs ranked in the top 10, making it the #1 public university in Texas and #7 in the nation. It serves over 55,000 students and 4,750 faculty. Texas Development is a dynamic community of over 500 fundraising professionals dedicated to creating meaningful donor experiences and achieving high levels of success in fundraising for public higher education.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Demonstrated ability to execute successful full-cycle donor strategy.
• High degree of emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrated ability to show tenacity and be nimble.
• Ability to drive results in a complex, highly matrixed organization.
• Highly effective communication skills (written, verbal, interpersonal).
• Ability to think strategically and creatively and work well under pressure.
• Project management skills.
• Capable of working independently, while also engaging in collaboration between teams.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently to visit prospects and donors.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain integrity and professionalism.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to travel frequently and overnight as necessary.
• Regular and consistent attendance is required in this job.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree or CFRE certification.
• Five + years of major or planned giving experience in higher education or non-profit fundraising.
• Experience raising funds for the sciences in higher education.
• Proven track record of adhering to and exceeding specific metrics.

Responsibilities

• Build and carry an active portfolio of 40 to 80 prospective donors.
• Engage in qualification, strategy development, relationship building and closing of major gift(s) at $100,000+ for the Jackson School of Geosciences.
• Proactively engage, cultivate, and solicit Jackson School of Geosciences parents.
• Consistently produce $2,000,000+ per year within 18 months of the start date.
• Participate in goal setting, proposal preparation, strategy development, and stewardship as required for donors in the portfolio.
• Successfully and consistently deliver funding proposals to prospective and current donors.
• Effectively work with, communicate with, and collaborate with faculty, academic leaders, and other development staff to develop campus-wide funding opportunities and reach campaign goals.
• Maintain appropriate electronic documentation on a timely basis, including engagement activities, proposal tracking, contact reports, donor strategies, and forecasting in VIP.
• Record timely reports, letters, proposals, or gift agreements following a donor contact.
• Work collaboratively, proactively, and in a professional, service-oriented manner with all University development officers to further the development goals of the University.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package that includes insurance and retirement benefits in addition to other programs and services.
• Professional development opportunities that help every team member accomplish their goals, enrich their skillset and deepen their engagement with UT.

What This Job Offers

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