Director of Development for Principal Gifts at McCombs

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Development for Principal Gifts will be part of Texas Development’s fundraising team supporting the McCombs School of Business. This role involves working closely with the CDO and Executive Director of Principal Gifts to identify and cultivate prospects with a capacity of $1M+, with a focus on soliciting gifts of $1M and above. The position requires maintaining an understanding of university and McCombs School of Business priorities, vision, and mission. The successful candidate will build and manage an active portfolio of 60 to 80 prospective donors, engaging in qualification, strategy development, relationship building, and closing principal gifts. The role is expected to consistently produce $5M - $8M per year. Responsibilities include participating in goal setting, proposal preparation, strategy development, and stewardship for donors in the portfolio. The Director will also be responsible for successfully and consistently delivering funding proposals, effectively collaborating with faculty, academic leaders, and other development staff to develop campus-wide funding goals, and utilizing a fundraising database and prospecting tools. Maintaining appropriate electronic documentation on a timely basis, including engagement activities, proposal tracking, contact reports, donor strategies, and forecasting, is crucial. Timely recording of reports, letters, proposals, or gift agreements following a donor contact is also required. The role emphasizes working collaboratively, proactively, and in a professional, service-oriented manner with all University development officers to further the development goals of the University. Additional duties may be assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Demonstrated ability to execute successful full-cycle donor strategy.
A minimum of three to five years’ experience in major gifts fundraising or related fields.
High degree of emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated ability to show tenacity and be nimble.
Ability to drive results.
Highly effective communication skills (written, verbal, and 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.
Experience working with VIP, Salesforce or other similar CRM.
Ability 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.

Nice To Haves

More than the required years of fundraising experience.
Graduate degree and/or CFRE certification.
Experience working in a large-scale complex academic research university.
Knowledge of UT Austin policies and procedures.
Demonstrated success closing gifts at $1M+ in a complex academic setting.

Responsibilities

Maintain and understanding of university and McCombs School of Business priorities, vision and mission.
Build and carry an active portfolio of 60 to 80 prospective donors.
Engage in qualification, strategy, development, relationship building, and closing of principal gifts at $1M or more for the business school.
Consistently produce $5M - $8M per year.
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 goals.
Utilize a fundraising database and prospecting tools.
Maintain appropriate electronic documentation on a timely basis, including engagement activities, proposal tracking, contact reports, donor strategies and forecasting.
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.