Director of Development
About The Position
UCF's Advancement & Partnerships seeks an experienced fundraiser to join their team as a Director of Development. The Director of Development for the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) is responsible for securing major gifts of $25,000+ by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, friends, and community partners. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing the college’s priorities and UCF's mission by building meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors. The Director will independently manage a portfolio of major gift donors, develop and implement fundraising strategies, and partner with the Dean, faculty, and leadership to drive philanthropic growth for CECS initiatives.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).
Nice To Haves
- Demonstrated experience identifying, cultivating, and closing major gifts of $25,000 or more from individual donors.
- Experience as a frontline fundraiser, gift officer, nonprofit development professional, or similar relationship-driven revenue generation role.
- Experience in higher education advancement, nonprofit fundraising, healthcare philanthropy, alumni engagement, or a related fundraising environment.
- Experience building and managing donor, prospect, client, or partner relationships through a portfolio-based engagement cycle.
- Experience developing donor-centered proposals, gift agreements, or persuasive fundraising materials.
- Proficiency with Blackbaud, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or comparable fundraising, donor management, or CRM platforms.
- Ability to travel in and out of state for meetings and events as needed.
- Strong communication, active listening, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a variety of donor and partner audiences.
- Demonstrated initiative, resilience, and self-motivation in a goal-oriented fundraising or revenue-generating environment.
- Strategic thinker with excellent organizational skills, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Familiarity with or interest in UCF, CECS, STEM-related fields, or university advancement.
Responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects/donors, with a focus on individuals, through discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Design and implement fundraising strategies that support the needs and priorities of CECS and UCF.
- Conduct face-to-face visits and develop donor-centered proposals to secure major gifts.
- Collaborate with the Dean and division leadership to expand the fundraising pipeline and strengthen engagement of advisory board members.
- Ensure effective use of prospect management tools, research, contact reports, and our CRM database.
- Acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and aligned with UCF’s strategic plan, vision, and values.
- Maintain best practices in office systems, records, acknowledgments, and stewardship activities.
- Perform related duties as required to advance the college's fundraising success.
Benefits
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- Flexible Spending
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid time off
- Annual and sick time off
- Paid holidays
- Retirement savings options
- Employee discounts
- Education assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
