Director of Development & Strategic Alumni Engagement

University of Florida•Gainesville, FL

23h

About The Position

The Director of Development & Strategic Alumni Engagement is responsible for managing and strategically growing a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, identifying and building relationships, and developing cultivation strategies. This role involves developing and executing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies aligned with college funding priorities, and partnering with faculty and college leadership. The position also identifies and develops relationships with private, family, and corporate foundations, coordinating strategy, proposal development, cultivation, stewardship, and reporting. A key aspect of this role is developing and executing a comprehensive engagement and programming strategy to advance the College’s priorities across six key stakeholder audiences: alumni, donors, students, parents/families, faculty/staff, and corporate/community partners. The Director will also partner with corporate relations leadership to identify, research, qualify, and prioritize corporations and corporate foundations. Management of the Dean’s Circle of Excellence, coordination of major gift outreach, recording and managing donor activity in the Advance database, analyzing giving trends, and identifying new major gift and planned giving prospects are also core responsibilities. Additionally, the role involves identifying, developing, piloting, and evaluating new approaches to alumni engagement and donor experience, establishing new programs to engage alumni with faculty and students, tracking and reporting on alumni engagement activities, overseeing alumni-facing communications in partnership with communications staff, and planning and producing select alumni engagement events. Collaboration with UF Alumni Relations staff to coordinate alumni affairs efforts is also required. The position assists in identifying award recipients for annual donor recognition events and leadership awards, works on scripts and presentations for these events, and supports the strategic planning and execution of donor recognition and stewardship events. The Director will serve as a host and advancement representative at college and university events, oversee pre- and post-event donor engagement and follow-up communications, and collaborate on event collateral and pledge materials. Participation in university events and on volunteer committees, working with the Development Coordinator on scholarship thank you notes, and connecting events to broader advancement objectives are also part of the role. Finally, the Director ensures best practices in office systems, files, and record keeping, effective use of strategic tools, and plans and monitors the budget for optimal results in fundraising and planning activities.

Requirements

Masters degree in appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in Development or a related field; or a bachelors degree in appropriate areas of specialization and five years of experience in Development or a related field.
Valid Drivers License is required.

Nice To Haves

Three to five years of major gift fundraising experience with proven success soliciting gifts of $25,000 and above strongly preferred.
Related experience working with volunteers and/or in similar organization.
Enthusiasm for fundraising in a comprehensive research university and the desire to work collegially within a goal-oriented fundraising organization.
Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
Expertise in developing solicitation strategies.
The ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities, along with a talent for motivating volunteers.
Ability to work collaboratively and as a team player
Competency in problem solving.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong interpersonal abilities, and the capacity to engage effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of individuals are essential.
Support the University’s commitment to creating a respectful and collaborative work environment that values integrity, professionalism, and mutual respect in all interactions; demonstrated success collaborating with stakeholders; strong project management skills; experience in a data-driven environment; excellent organizational abilities; and the capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others are essential.
Proficient in the following areas: Windows operating systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access, as well as internet browsers and email platforms.
Familiarity with donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking systems is also highly preferred.
The ability and willingness to travel.
A valid driver license and good driving record are essential.

Responsibilities

Manage and strategically grow a portfolio of major gift prospects donors (rated from $100,000 and above).
Responsible for identifying and building relationships with prospects through face-to-face visits and developing cultivation strategies.
Develop and execute individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies aligned with college funding priorities.
Partner with faculty and college leadership to align donor interests with institutional initiatives.
Identify and develop relationships with private, family and corporate foundations whose philanthropic priorities align with college initiatives; coordinate strategy, proposal development, cultivation, stewardship, and reporting in partnerships with college leadership and UF Advancement.
Develop and execute a comprehensive engagement and programming strategy that advances the College’s priorities across its six key stakeholder audiences: alumni, donors, students, parents/families, faculty/staff, and corporate/community partners.
Partner with the College’s corporate relations leadership to identify, research, qualify, and prioritize corporations and corporate foundations whose philanthropic, workforce, talent, community engagement, or strategic priorities align with the College of Nursing.
Manage Dean’s Circle of Excellence, including solicitation and stewardship of members.
Coordinate major gift outreach activities, including stewardship.
Record and manage all donor activity within the Advance database; ensure accurate prospect tracking and pipeline management.
Analyze giving trends and prepare strategic reports and presentations for leadership.
Proactively identify new major gift and planned giving prospects through research and strategic engagement efforts.
Identify, develop, pilot and evaluate new approaches to alumni engagement and donor experience using constituent insights and data.
Establish new programs to engage alumni with faculty and students.
Track, measures and reports on all alumni engagement activities.
Partner with communications staff to oversee alumni-facing communications (website, social media, newsletters, email, and video content).
Plan and produces select alumni engagement events.
Work closely with UF Alumni Relations staff to coordinate alumni affairs efforts across UF.
Assist in identifying award recipients for annual donor recognition event and Dorothy M. Smith Leadership Awards.
Work with Senior Director on script and presentation for the Donor Recognition Event.
Support the strategic planning and execution of donor recognition and stewardship events, including the annual Donor Recognition Event and leadership award programs.
Serve as a host and advancement representative at college and university events.
Oversee pre- and post-event donor engagement and follow-up communications.
Collaborate on the design and development of event collateral, pledge materials, and stewardship communications.
Participate in university events and serve on volunteer committees as needed.
Work with Development Coordinator on scholarship Thank You notes for donors.
Connect alumni, cultivation, recognition, and stewardship events to broader advancement objectives through defined audiences, relationship goals, pre-event strategy, post-event follow up, and appropriate measures of success.
Ensure best practices in office systems, files and record keeping.
Ensure effective use of strategic tools and resources such as contact reports, prospect management, research and analysis, and the Advance database.
Plan and monitor the budget, using resources for best results in fundraising and planning activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty, and administration.