Director of Development - Priority Initiatives

Iowa State University Foundation•Ames, IA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a development officer on the priority initiatives team, you will visit frequently with current and potential donors, primarily through phone calls, email, and virtual meetings. You will have the occasional opportunities for face-to-face interaction in their home, office, at events, or hosting at a restaurant or coffee shop. Working each day to connect donors’ philanthropic interests with campus priorities, you will blend your professional knowledge, relationship management skills, and talent with philanthropic strategies. Development officers play a key role on the development team to help identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts to the university. Based on qualifications and experience, a selected candidate may hold one of these job titles: Associate Director of Development or Director of Development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
3+ years of professional experience in any of the following areas: major gift fundraising, non-profit work, higher education, sales, communications, wealth management, or another related field.
Ability to achieve ambitious goals. You should have a remarkable track record for leading successful initiatives with measurable results.
Savvy relationship-building and leadership skills and be an excellent communicator. You should be articulate and persuasive with diplomacy and tact to represent the foundation to multiple constituents, donors, and campus leadership. You must also have demonstrable skills in persuasive speaking and influencing others.
Problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. You can champion donor-centeredness by understanding the desires of the donors and creating simple solutions.
Ability to communicate complex gifting arrangements in a simple, but thorough manner.
Collaborative style, ability, and desire to work in a team-based environment, a dedicated work ethic, and a positive and professional attitude.
Ability to multi-task, manage and organize multiple initiatives.
Ability to use a variety of software applications.
Creativity, patience, a sense of humor and a belief in our organizational mission of: Aligning donor passion and generosity to advance Iowa State University’s land grant ideals.

Responsibilities

Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospective donors, focusing primarily on high-end, multi-year gifts, ranging from $2,500 to $99,999. Solicitation will occur via phone, email, or other digital options.
Portfolio could contain prospects from all units on campus—including all the colleges and non-collegiate programs.
Coordinate fundraising activities and prospect engagements with priority initiatives unit lead, collaborating with other units, development staff, and other campus partners when appropriate.
Occasional travel, primarily local, occasionally to various areas as determined necessary.
Keep up to date with units’ constituents and report back timely and effectively to unit lead with metrics analysis, daily activity habits, events, and fundraising activities.