Director of Development

Research Foundation of The City University of New York•New York, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is seeking a Director of Development for the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS). CUNY SPS is a leading online school in New York, offering numerous online bachelor's and master's degree options and serving as the University's first undergraduate all-transfer college. The school focuses on meeting the needs of adults seeking to complete degrees, advance in their careers, or change careers, and is consistently ranked highly for its online offerings. The Director of Development reports to the Executive Director of Development and provides strategic and operational leadership for day-to-day operations, strategic planning, donor stewardship, and direct management of Alumni Relations. This role is crucial for advancing the School’s fundraising and alumni engagement priorities, supporting the execution of fundraising strategy, managing alumni engagement, strengthening internal infrastructure, and ensuring operational excellence aligned with School and Foundation goals. The Director also serves as the operational lead in the absence of the Executive Director.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in development, advancement, or related leadership roles
At least five (5) years of experience supervising professional staff and managing performance, workflow, and accountability
Demonstrated experience overseeing fundraising operations, including CRM governance, gift administration, reporting, compliance, and data integrity
Proven ability to translate strategic priorities into operational execution and measurable outcomes
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a continuous basis

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or relevant professional fundraising certification
Experience in higher education advancement or a complex nonprofit environment
Experience contributing to advancement strategy development and institutional fundraising planning
Experience working with boards, advisory groups, or senior leadership stakeholders
Strong analytical and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of reports and leadership briefings
Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across internal and external stakeholders
Familiarity with Raiser's Edge Database view or comparable fundraising CRM systems
High level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to confidentiality

Responsibilities

Oversees daily development operations to ensure efficient, compliant, and effective fundraising infrastructure.
Directs and supervises development operations staff and related workflows, including CRM governance, gift processing, reporting, stewardship tracking, and financial documentation.
Ensures integrity, optimization, and strategic use of Raiser's Edge and related development platforms.
Develops and monitors fundraising performance dashboards and reporting tools for leadership and Foundation stakeholders.
Establishes and refines policies, procedures, and internal controls that support growth, accountability, and scalability.
Ensures all gift administration, documentation, and compliance requirements are met.
Aligns development operations with broader advancement strategy and institutional priorities.
Partners with the Executive Director to implement annual fundraising priorities and performance goals.
Contributes to, and helps implement advancement planning, prospect strategy discussions, and stewardship initiatives.
Prepares briefing materials, performance analyses, and strategic recommendations for senior leadership.
Represents ODAR in cross-functional planning efforts and institutional initiatives.
Serves as operational lead in the absence of the Executive Director to ensure continuity of fundraising and engagement efforts.
Supports coordination with Foundation leadership and external partners as appropriate.
Maintains essential alumni engagement functions necessary to sustain communication, participation, and stewardship integration.
Oversees core alumni communications, including newsletters and targeted outreach.
Supports planning and coordination of priority alumni engagement initiatives and events.
Leads events management for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, including oversight of planning, logistics, budgeting, and coordination of alumni, donor, and stewardship events.
Monitors alumni participation metrics and prepares engagement reports.
Coordinates alumni volunteer efforts aligned with fundraising priorities.
Serves as liaison for university-wide alumni coordination activities as needed.
Directly supervises development operations staff.
Provides coaching, performance management, and professional development support.
Fosters a collaborative, accountable, and results-oriented team culture.
Other duties as assigned.