Director of Development for Student Success

UNC-Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Development for Student Success is a frontline major gift fundraiser for the Division of Student Success, reporting to the Senior Director of Development. The position identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals capable of giving $100,000 or more. The Director manages a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and donors, building personalized engagement and solicitation strategies that foster relationships with Carolina and encourage philanthropic investment.

The Director develops and maintains an active pipeline of major gift opportunities and meets established goals for donor engagement, solicitations, and philanthropic commitments. In collaboration with the Senior Director of Development, Division of Student Success leadership, the University Development Office, and development colleagues across campus, the Director connects donors’ interests and philanthropic goals with opportunities throughout the division. Priorities may include scholarships and financial aid, student well-being, career development, experiential learning, belonging and engagement, and other programs that help students access, thrive at, and successfully transition from Carolina.

As part of the Division of Student Success Development team, the Director contributes to a collaborative, donor-centered fundraising operation and advances the division’s philanthropic goals. The successful candidate is entrepreneurial and relationship-driven, builds trust with donors, translates institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities, and guides relationships from initial engagement through significant investment and long-term stewardship. The position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement under UNC System Office policy. UNC-Chapel Hill employees are generally required to live within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Requirements

• Understand the nature and purpose of public higher education.
• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with peers, university leaders, and staff.
• Develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships.
• Interact effectively in a comprehensive organization such as a research university.
• Exercise sensitivity and good judgment when dealing with staff and the public.
• Set strategies for and accomplish business objectives.
• Interpret data and use it to set strategies and forecast results.
• Cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts or significant large-dollar product sales.
• Have excellent software skills and proficiency in MS Office applications and CRM or fundraising database software.

Nice To Haves

• A minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible major gifts or account management experience.
• High energy, a strong work ethic, and a history of resolve and successful accomplishment, including leading substantive culture change and creating a support structure.
• An employment history showing increasing levels of responsibility.
• Development experience in a complex university setting; preference will be given to candidates with this experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals capable of making gifts of $100,000 or more.
• Manage a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and donors.
• Develop personalized donor engagement and solicitation strategies.
• Develop and maintain an active pipeline of major gift opportunities.
• Meet established goals for donor engagement, solicitations, and philanthropic commitments.
• Work with division leadership and development colleagues to connect donor interests and philanthropic goals with opportunities across the Division of Student Success.
• Contribute to a collaborative, donor-centered fundraising operation.
• Translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities and guide donor relationships through long-term stewardship.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed