Senior Director for Development, Schools & Centers
About The Position
The Senior Director for Development, Schools & Centers supports Santa Clara University’s strategic funding priorities and strengthens relationships with alumni and donors. Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Development, Schools & Centers, this position manages a portfolio of 125 major gift prospects and leads the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospects targeted for gifts between $100,000 and $1,999,999. The Senior Director works with senior university administrators and an assigned School or Center to develop meaningful, donor-centered development strategies. The role is eligible for a flexible hybrid schedule, working from the office and home with a 3:2 ratio. The position may provide work direction to a shared administrative assistant and/or student worker. It requires frequent travel to meetings with external constituents, including work on the road and potentially at odd hours and on weekends.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree.
- At least 8 years of related professional experience.
- At least 3 years of direct major gift fundraising experience.
- Verifiable track record of raising $1,500,000 or more annually.
- Valid driver's license and personal vehicle available for frequent travel to business meetings; mileage is reimbursed under federal guidelines.
- Knowledge of higher education, major giving, annual giving, planned giving, scholarship and financial aid programs, and budget development, implementation, and tracking.
- Strong interpersonal, collaboration, relationship-building, listening, negotiation, time-management, multitasking, and organizational skills.
- Ability to develop solicitation strategies supporting strategic initiatives and to solicit individuals or organizations for financial investments while articulating a strong case for support.
- Ability to communicate effectively with executives, community leaders, and university leadership, and build and maintain relationships with internal and external constituents.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, use sound judgment and discretion, meet deadlines, and contribute to a collaborative, ethical, and professional environment.
- Ability to work on the road and/or at odd hours and on weekends.
- Proficiency with fundraising databases or similar systems.
- Understanding and appreciation of Santa Clara University's mission and the vision and values of a Jesuit Catholic educational institution.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships in a diverse multicultural environment.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree.
- University fundraising experience and broad knowledge of major gift fundraising principles and practices.
- Verifiable record of securing gifts of $100,000 or more.
Responsibilities
- Lead qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 125 high-net-worth prospects, ensuring regular strategic contact through face-to-face visits, phone, and email, and meet annual metrics established with the Senior Executive Director of Development.
- Collaborate with academic leaders and development officers to develop multi-interest proposals and coordinate strategic donor outreach.
- Prepare accurate and timely proposals, budgets, contact reports, letters, emails, reports, and briefings to support prospect cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Incorporate planned giving alternatives when appropriate and coordinate planned giving requests.
- Work with deans, directors, and university administrators on fundraising strategies, meetings, events, written briefings, and prospect development.
- Track and record prospect-related activities in Blackbaud CRM.
- Regularly report personal fundraising performance and future projections to the Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving.
- Contribute to strategic planning, decision-making, and goal setting with the Assistant Vice President of Individual Giving to advance University Relations priorities.
- Participate actively in the Office of Development, sharing information and collaborating professionally to support a healthy and positive work environment.
- Perform other duties as assigned in support of Santa Clara University's mission.
- May provide work direction to a shared administrative assistant and/or student worker.
Benefits
- Mileage reimbursement for business travel under federal guidelines.
- Flexible hybrid work schedule.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
