Director of Development, Technology Sector

San José State University•San Jose, CA

8d•$5,053 - $16,221

About The Position

The Director of Development for Technology Sector at San Jose State University is a frontline fundraiser within University Advancement. The Director develops relationships with technology executives, founders, investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders whose interests may span multiple areas of the university. The Director is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, friends, and other prospective donors with professional or philanthropic interests in technology, information systems, entrepreneurship, innovation, and related fields. This position operates within a university-wide advancement model and is not assigned exclusively to a particular college, school, or academic unit. Working collaboratively with advancement colleagues, university leadership, faculty, and program partners, the Director connects donors’ interests with institutional priorities and develops philanthropic opportunities that advance the university’s mission. The Director will manage a portfolio of major-gift prospects and donors, with an emphasis on securing significant commitments in support of university-wide priorities, interdisciplinary initiatives, student success, research, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology-enabled education, and other strategic opportunities. The Director of Development reports to the Associate Vice President for Development/Executive Director of the Campaign and works closely with central development, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, alumni engagement, research and prospect management, donor relations, and campaign operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in development, major-gift fundraising, constituent engagement, business development, external relations, or a related field.
Experience in building relationships with high-net-worth individuals and securing significant philanthropic or business commitments
Excellent written communication skills
Experience working with complex organizations and translating institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities
Proficiency with CRM systems
Ability to communicate with constituents in a professional and respectful manner
Working knowledge of, or the ability to develop proficiency in, the appropriate and ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in higher education and administrative contexts
Ability to apply emerging technologies to support operational effectiveness, data-informed decision-making, and service delivery to students, faculty, and staff
Demonstrated ability to support continuous improvement and organizational learning through the responsible application of technology within assigned areas of responsibility
Ability to evaluate potential applications, promote responsible, ethical, and equitable use, and ensure alignment with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and strategic priorities
Ability to identify donors and close gifts of six and seven figures
Ability to navigate the institution/assigned unit and make the appropriate match for donor interests
Ability to engage and support volunteer leadership with their efforts in fundraising, consultation, and advocacy
Skilled in networking and opening doors as well as developing donor-centric cultivation and solicitation strategies
Excellent oral and written communication skills
High level of initiative, attention to detail and organization skills
Skilled in successfully managing multiple projects on tight deadlines and under pressure in a dynamic and open environment
Ability to define problems, gather data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
Proficient in Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite and ability to utilize fundraising database programs, and learn new tech platforms for project management
Knowledge of clear, audience-appropriate communication practices for students, faculty, and staff, while maintaining a student-centered approach

Nice To Haves

Advanced Degree
Experience in higher education advancement or business development in private tech related fields
Experience cultivating and soliciting gifts of $100,000 or more
Experience with technology, information systems, venture capital, startup, or entrepreneurial sectors
Experience working with founders, executives, investors, or other high-capacity professional constituencies
Experience developing interdisciplinary or institution-wide philanthropic opportunities
Experience with planned giving, principal gifts, corporate engagement, or campaign fundraising

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of approximately [100–150] prospective donors, with primary responsibility for prospects capable of making major gifts of $50,000 or more
Develop and execute individualized strategies for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of assigned prospects
Conduct a significant number of substantive donor and prospective donor visits and interactions annually, in person and virtually, in accordance with established performance expectations
Prepare and present compelling philanthropic proposals aligned with donors’ interests and the university’s strategic priorities
Solicit outright, multi-year, planned, blended, and other complex gifts in partnership with appropriate advancement colleagues
Maintain a consistent pipeline of prospective donors at various stages of engagement and achieve annual fundraising, solicitation, qualification, and activity goals
Build and maintain relationships with alumni and friends of the university who are founders, entrepreneurs, technology executives, information systems professionals, venture capital and private equity leaders, investors, innovators, and industry partners
Develop a broad understanding of trends and philanthropic interests within technology, information systems, innovation, and entrepreneurial communities
Create engagement strategies that connect technology-oriented constituents to the university through leadership briefings, faculty interactions, student programs, industry discussions and other meaningful experiences
Identify emerging prospective donors within entrepreneurial and technology networks, including individuals whose university affiliation or philanthropic capacity may not yet be fully developed
Help expand the university’s visibility and relationships within key technology and entrepreneurial markets
Represent the full breadth of the university and develop philanthropic opportunities that may cross colleges, schools, departments, centers, institutes, and administrative units
Assist in developing a university-wide philanthropic strategy for engaging technology and information systems entrepreneurs and industry leaders
Ensure that donors receive timely, meaningful, and personalized stewardship
Document prospect contacts, strategies, proposals, and other relevant information accurately and promptly in the advancement database