Director of Development, College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Florida • Gainesville, FL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Development, College of Veterinary Medicine, is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gift prospects, as well as grateful clients. This role involves building and managing a portfolio of fundraising prospects at the major gift level ($100,000+) and strategically managing relationships to bring gift solicitations to closure. The focus is on individual prospects with a capacity of $100,000 or above. The Director will assess and refine the portfolio by identifying new high-net-worth individuals and families who have the capacity and affinity to support college priorities. They will develop and implement tailored fundraising strategies for grateful client donors, aligning philanthropic interests with the College's priorities in research, education, patient care, and capital initiatives. Collaboration with the Office of Estate & Gift Planning team is expected to develop and implement a gifting strategy for qualified donor portfolios at the planned giving level. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of the college mission, strategy, and goals as they relate to fundraising. The Director will partner with college leadership and unit/program directors to create and execute tailored, multi-year engagement and solicitation strategies for each assigned prospect, using a moves management framework. Each plan should be rooted in the donor's philanthropic interests and aligned with university strategic priorities. The role involves developing and presenting concept papers and gift proposals, organizing and facilitating high-level engagement experiences (e.g., campus visits, personalized briefings), and attending/supporting volunteer and prospect events. Thoughtful, personalized donor stewardship is crucial, including recognizing gifts, providing customized reporting, facilitating naming opportunities, managing long-term relationships, and ensuring donors are appropriately engaged and recognized. The Director will also develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan to inform constituents about the unit's mission, vision, values, funding priorities, and gift opportunities. Building and maintaining effective relationships with college administration and faculty through regular communication is key. Collaboration with marketing and communications for collateral design and production is also part of the role. Administrative duties include ensuring best practices in office systems, files, and record keeping, providing research and prospect information for the integrated database, and handling confidential prospect information ethically. Budget planning and monitoring, and using resources effectively for fundraising and planning activities are also required. The expected salary is $85,000-95,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in Development or a related field; or a bachelor’s degree in appropriate areas of specialization and five years of experience in Development or a related field.
• Ability and willingness to travel.
• A valid driver license and good driving record are essential.
• Ability to pay for expenses using your own personal credit card or funds and have them reimbursed is essential.

Nice To Haves

• At least 4-6 years of major gift fundraising experience with documented success in cultivating and soliciting major gifts of $100,000 and above from individual prospects with campaign experience.
• Prior experience in a college or university setting.
• Enthusiasm for fundraising in a comprehensive research university.
• Desire to work collegially within a goal-oriented fundraising organization.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles, methods, and standards.
• Expertise in developing solicitation strategies.
• Ability to work strategically, develop and implement constituency programs and activities.
• Talent for motivating volunteers.
• Ability to work collaboratively and a team player.
• Competency in problem solving.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal abilities.
• Capacity to engage effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of individuals.
• 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.
• Capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others.
• Proficient in 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.

Responsibilities

• Identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift prospects and grateful clients.
• Build and manage a portfolio of fundraising prospects at the major gift levels ($100,000+).
• Strategically manage relationships through face-to-face visits to bring gift solicitations to closure.
• Focus on individual prospects rated at a capacity of $100,000 or above.
• Assess and refine the portfolio by identifying new high-net-worth individuals and families with the capacity and affinity to support college priorities.
• Develop and implement tailored fundraising strategies for grateful client donors, aligning philanthropic interests with the College's priorities in research, education, patient care, and capital initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Office of Estate & Gift Planning team to develop and implement a gifting strategy for qualified donor portfolios at the planned giving level.
• Develop comprehensive understanding of the college mission, strategy, and goals as they relate to fundraising.
• Partner with college leadership and unit/program directors to create and execute tailored, multi-year engagement and solicitation strategies for each assigned prospect, leveraging a moves management framework.
• Develop and present concept papers and gift proposals to donors.
• Organize and facilitate high-level engagement experiences, including campus visits, personalized briefings and engagement opportunities to deepen prospect relationships.
• Attend and support activities and events involving volunteers and prospects.
• Deliver thoughtful, personalized donor stewardship by recognizing gifts in meaningful ways, providing customized reporting, facilitating naming opportunities, managing long-term relationships, and ensuring donors are appropriately engaged and recognized.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive communications plan to inform constituents about the mission, vision, and values of the unit, its funding priorities, and gift opportunities.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with college administration and faculty through regular, consistent, and relevant communication.
• Work with marketing and communications to design and produce collateral or promotional materials that relate to events.
• Ensure best practices in office systems, files and record keeping.
• Provide research, market, and prospect information for UFA’s integrated database, and handle confidential prospect information in a sensitive, ethical manner.
• Contribute to the planning and monitoring of the budget, using resources for best results in fundraising and planning activities involving volunteers, prospects, faculty and administration.

Benefits

• Affordable State Health Plans: Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Comprehensive Coverage: Life and Disability Insurance
• Secure Retirement Options: Generous plans to safeguard your future
• Paid Time Off: Including 11 paid holidays, as well as family, sick, and vacation leave
• Professional and Personal Growth: Opportunities through UF Training & Organization Development, leadership development, LinkedIn learning, and more
• Tuition Assistance: Benefit from the UF Employee Education Program
• PSLF Eligibility: We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Eligible Employer
• The University of Florida offers a competitive benefits package.

What This Job Offers

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