Director of Major Gifts

Shenandoah University•Winchester, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Shenandoah University’s Office of Advancement is hiring a full-time, benefited Director of Major Gifts in the Feltner Building in downtown Winchester, Virginia. The Director serves as the frontline fundraising unit’s lead gift closer and operational team manager. The position manages a high-capacity portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects while supervising, mentoring, and driving the performance of junior development officers across the university’s academic and athletic areas. The Director reports directly to the Associate Vice President for Advancement. The role manages a portfolio of 50–75 major and principal gift prospects and develops tailored solicitation strategies for gifts at the $50,000 to $100,000+ level, supporting capital initiatives, endowments, and comprehensive campaign priorities. It also advances partnerships between business and industry and the university, expands giving-circle programs and advisory-board engagement, prepares faculty to partner in donor visits, and coordinates prompt stewardship of gifts. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, 7–10 years of progressive direct fundraising experience, and at least 2–3 years of direct supervisory experience. The role requires fluency with fundraising databases such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT and wealth-screening tools such as DonorSearch, flexibility to work frequent evenings and weekends, and a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record. A comprehensive background check is required. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States; the university is not able to sponsor international visas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
7–10 years of progressive, direct fundraising experience with a documented record of cultivating and closing individual major gifts, corporate contracts, or foundation investments at the $100,000+ level.
At least 2–3 years of direct supervisory experience managing frontline employees or complex, multi-stakeholder project teams.
Demonstrated fluency with fundraising databases, including Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT, and wealth-screening analytics such as DonorSearch.
Willingness and flexibility to work frequent evenings and weekends.
Must pass a comprehensive state and federal background check.
Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record; a satisfactory driving record may be required as a condition of hire.
Must be authorized to work in the United States; international visa sponsorship is not available.
Strategic thinking and execution: ability to connect business and industry needs with academic strengths and create donor-facing narratives that inspire philanthropic investment.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders with tact, diplomacy, and professionalism.
Integrity, discretion, understanding of advancement ethics, donor privacy, and confidentiality.
Commitment to the university’s strategic vision and values.

Nice To Haves

A degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of 50–75 major and principal gift prospects, including individuals, families, corporate partners, and foundations.
Develop and execute tailored solicitation strategies to close major gifts at the $50,000 to $100,000+ level in support of capital initiatives, endowments, and comprehensive campaign priorities.
Use business, industry, and regional partnerships to develop philanthropic investments connected to workforce pathways, applied learning environments, and clinical collaborations.
Directly manage, mentor, and coach frontline development officers, including officers focused on Athletics & Health Sciences and Parent Council & Health Sciences.
Establish, monitor, and enforce quantifiable activity metrics for direct reports, including donor discovery visits, face-to-face asks, proposal submissions, and real-time data tracking in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT.
Standardize the university-wide Giving Circle playbook and oversee its expansion, beginning with the Health Sciences Healing Circle.
Expand and cultivate the Business Advisory Board to engage Engineering and Technology alumni and develop corporate and individual fundraising pipelines.
Design, launch, and manage training for the Development Disciples program; identify and prepare faculty across all six schools to partner in donor visits and share academic stories.
Coordinate with the Pipeline & Research Coordinator and Executive Assistant to ensure prompt, high-touch stewardship by Advancement Student Ambassadors following major gifts.