Executive Director of Development, Principal and Leadership Gifts

Iowa State University Foundation • Ames, IA

14h

About The Position

The executive director of development on the principal and leadership gifts team works collaboratively across units and with development colleagues to lead strategy discussions and provide support and organizational resources as staff navigate conversations involving gifts greater than $1 million. The role coordinates strategies involving university and foundation leadership, engages directly with donors, and manages a small portfolio in the principal and leadership gifts marketplace segment.

The executive director enhances development officer activity and solicitations, increases the number of $1 million gifts, and collaborates with development staff to coach, lead, and develop donor-interaction strategies and comprehensive leadership-level pipelines. The role also focuses on key deliverables, reporting, and analysis to support growth in the leadership gifts segment, ensures data accuracy, interprets information to guide decisions, and personally fundraises for high-priority projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Eight years of professional fundraising experience.
• Strong collaboration, relationship development, and relationship management skills, with the ability to adapt to changing or urgent situations.
• Strong program-building skills and the ability to develop and execute plans using available resources.
• Ability to coach and mentor fundraising professionals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts from a business perspective.
• Ability to interpret financial information and manage data.
• Competency in making face-to-face solicitations.
• Strong understanding of the development process and donor cycle, strategic thinking, the higher education landscape and governance, and university challenges and opportunities, especially as they relate to the university president.
• Coaching and leadership skills.
• Self-motivated, innovative, and able to work independently within a team environment and network of relationships.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn new software.
• Ability to handle several activities simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail, deadlines, and accuracy.
• Ability to adhere to strict confidentiality standards.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree or professional certification.
• Experience working with a collegiate dean, director, or another organizational leader within the fundraising process.
• Experience developing and leading complex fundraising strategies and solicitations in collaboration with many internal and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy discussions and provide support and organizational resources for development staff handling conversations involving gifts greater than $1 million.
• Coordinate strategies involving university and foundation leadership.
• Enhance development officer activity and solicitations and increase the number of $1 million gifts.
• Collaborate with development staff on coaching, donor interactions, and comprehensive pipeline development at the leadership level.
• Work with development leadership to determine how to guide and lead strategies for gifts of $1 million or more.
• Focus on key deliverables, reporting, and analysis to grow the leadership gifts segment.
• Ensure data accuracy and interpret data and reporting to guide decisions.
• Serve as a resource for development leadership regarding donor interactions.
• Personally fundraise for high-priority projects and manage relationships with a portfolio of donors.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive