Director of Development, Southeast

THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT FOUNDATION INC • Remote, FL

1d • $110,000 - $125,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Director of Development, Southeast is a frontline fundraiser based in Northern Florida and responsible for leading major gift fundraising at the $100,000+ level across Northern Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, and other parts of the Southeast as needed. This role focuses on increasing philanthropic support from UConn alumni, parents, and other stakeholders in the region. The Director partners with alumni relations and principal giving to strengthen a culture of philanthropy, advance campaign priorities, and secure funding aligned with the University’s strategic plan. The role also works closely with Deans and University and Foundation colleagues to achieve fundraising goals, elevate the University’s presence in the region, and coordinate leadership travel, meetings, and events.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• 5+ years of experience as a major gift fundraiser and/or relevant transferrable skills.
• Champion for inclusive priorities both internally and externally.
• High level of motivation, as well as an ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to work independently and entrepreneurially away from the central office, consistently representing the Foundations standards and core values
• The ability to build productive, beneficial relationships with a broad range of constituencies.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, including ability to effectively communicate University priorities to donors and prospects, and to positively represent the University and Foundation.
• Familiar with the use of computers and information management tools, such as CRMs (Blackbaud).
• Familiarity with the Atlanta area, and general Southeast.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, to assess and order priorities, and to track details in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to engender trust and confidence of donors and prospective donors and to maintain confidentiality of donor information; ability to represent the UConn Foundation to prospects, donors, faculty, administrators, and others.
• Ability to work to the demands of the position, which may exceed a 40-hour work week.
• Attention to and concern for others.
• Must be willing to travel extensively, including as needed to Connecticut for All Foundation meetings and other necessary functions
• Reliable personal transportation is required for this position.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license issued from the state in which the employee resides.
• Employees must maintain at their expense automobile liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000 or a combination of umbrella and automobile liability insurance coverage of $500,000.
• A certificate of automobile insurance evidencing the limit, must be provided to the Foundation at hire and annually thereafter.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a prospect portfolio of 100+ prospects.
• Raise $1-5M per year.
• Conduct 20-40 qualification meetings; 15+ solicitations at the $100K+ level; and 100-135 face-to-face, meaningful meetings per year.
• Collaborate closely with donors, volunteers, and University leaders to identify new prospects and serve as the Foundation’s Southeast expert.
• Perform administrative duties related to advancement work including documenting activity, writing proposals, inputting engagement plans in relationship management database, and adhering to Foundation policies.
• Contribute to the overall productivity and efficiency of the Division/Department’s development staff, by meeting or exceeding goals in a metrics-driven environment.
• Collaborate with the development leadership team to develop and support clearly defined and strategic personal fundraising priorities within the campaign and articulate compelling cases to advance these priorities.
• Model and articulate the Foundation’s organizational core values at all times.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Demonstrate the ability to personally solicit gifts of $100,000 and above, while advancing the number and quality of principal ($5M+) and leadership ($1M+) gift conversations in partnership with the principal gifts team.
• Collaborate with the Prospect Management and Research team to increase and grow the major gift pipeline and overall fundraising success.
• Collaborate with Stakeholder Engagement to steward donors, engage with alumni, and support events specific to your unit.
• Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as development management meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.

Benefits

• Benefits start from day one.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Annual contribution to your health savings account if enrolled in one of the high-deductible health plans offered by the Foundation.
• Generous contribution to your 403(b) retirement plan
• Hybrid schedule
• Thirteen paid holidays
• Five weeks of paid time off per calendar year
• Additional sick time
• Opportunities to participate in various trainings, committees, and conferences throughout the year
• Tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.

What This Job Offers

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