Executive Director, Major and Principal Gifts

Nevada System of Higher Education • Reno, NV

52d

About The Position

The University of Nevada, Reno seeks an Executive Director of Major and Principal Gifts to lead the development and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances university-wide initiatives and institutional priorities outlined in the University’s strategic plan. This leadership role is responsible for cultivating relationships, securing transformational gifts, and fostering cross-campus collaboration to strengthen the University’s philanthropic impact. The Executive Director will ensure the University is well-positioned to compete for and secure major and principal gifts that directly support innovative academic programs, research, and key university initiatives. The Executive Director will build and manage a comprehensive principal gifts program to increase philanthropic support from high-net-worth individuals and family foundations. This position develops and implements strategies to enhance giving across the University’s 13 colleges, major academic programs, and institutional priorities. As a senior fundraising leader, this role serves as a key relationship manager and strategic partner, collaborating with faculty, deans, university leadership, and advancement colleagues to foster lifelong donor engagement and alignment with the University’s teaching and research mission. The position reports to the Associate Vice President for Development and works closely with Advancement staff and campus leadership to strengthen and sustain philanthropic growth across the institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and five (5) years of related professional work experience OR Master’s Degree and three (3) years of year of related professional work experience.
• Experience in fundraising and securing major and principal gifts from individuals, corporations and/or foundations preferably in higher education, healthcare or large national non-profit or related experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy
• Cultivate relationships with donors
• Secure transformational gifts
• Foster cross-campus collaboration
• Build and manage a comprehensive principal gifts program
• Develop and implement strategies to enhance giving across the University’s 13 colleges, major academic programs, and institutional priorities
• Serve as a key relationship manager and strategic partner
• Collaborate with faculty, deans, university leadership, and advancement colleagues

Benefits

• Remarkable Retirement! Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!
• Health insurance options including dental and vision
• Generous annual, sick leave, long term disability and life insurance
• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.
• Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
• No state income tax!
• Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner.
• Dual Career Assistance Program The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees