Director of Development

University of Central Florida•Orlando, FL

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Advancement & Partnerships: Join our dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as we work together to power partnerships and transform lives through philanthropy. Together, we can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on our team will help us to build the University for the Future. The Opportunity : 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).
All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

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.