Senior Director of Development, Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship - University Advancement

Texas Woman’s University•Denton, TX

47d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Development, Merrilee A. Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship and Planned Giving is a frontline fundraiser for the College and oversees the planned giving program for the Office of Institutional Advancement. The Senior Director of Development and Planned Giving (SrDoD) identifies, cultivates, and solicits gifts from individuals and foundations with a special focus on securing gifts of $25,000+. He or she is responsible for the creation and implementation of fundraising strategies, proposals and associated activities for the MAK College of Business. This position reports to the Vice President for University Advancement with a dotted line to the Executive Dean of the MAK College. The SrDoD also leads the university’s planned giving program, building long-term philanthropic support through estate and deferred gifts. The role focuses on donor engagement, legacy planning, and collaboration across Advancement to ensure sustainable future funding for the university. Work is performed under general supervision and performance is based upon completion of assignments and results obtained. The performance evaluation is conducted through the performance evaluation system and in accordance with the University Policies & Procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required.
Five years of successful progressively responsible experience in higher education or comparable non-profit fundraising.
Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regularly scheduled days and work hours is an essential function of this position.
Must be willing to travel and work weekends/evenings as necessary.
All employees share the responsibility of maintaining information security and privacy requirements within the university by adhering to Federal and State regulations, and TWU Policies & Procedures.
Skill in fundraising, development, sales, or other relationship-driven fields, supported by a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience, preferably within higher education or a complex nonprofit environment.
Skill in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors or clients, with proven success in securing gifts, sponsorships, or revenue-generating partnerships.
Skill in managing a portfolio of prospects by developing individualized engagement and solicitation strategies.
Ability to conduct effective in-person and virtual visits to qualify prospects, advance relationships, and secure philanthropic or financial commitments.
Ability to collaborate with academic leadership, faculty, and cross-functional advancement teams to align funding priorities with donor or funder interests.
Skill in working with corporate and foundation relations colleagues or external partners to develop grant proposals, sponsorship requests, or institutional funding submissions.
Knowledge of planned giving concepts and vehicles (such as bequests, beneficiary designations, and charitable gift annuities) and ability to identify opportunities and make appropriate referrals.
Knowledge of annual giving, donor stewardship, and alumni engagement programs.
Skill in using CRM or donor management systems (such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT or comparable platforms) to document activity, track progress, and support moves management.
Skill in written and verbal communication, including preparation of proposals, donor correspondence, and stewardship reports.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative, goal-oriented team.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Professional work experience in an academic/higher education setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of annual, major and planned gift prospects in support of College of Business priorities, with a focus on building long-term donor relationships.
Conduct a targeted number of in-person and virtual donor visits annually to qualify prospects, advance solicitations, and close outright and pledged gifts.
Manage a defined prospect portfolio, developing and implementing individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies aligned with institutional goals.
Collaborate closely with the Executive Dean, faculty, and advancement colleagues to identify funding priorities and match donor interests with institutional needs.
Support and contribute to annual giving initiatives, donor stewardship activities, and alumni engagement efforts for the College.
Assist in the preparation of gift proposals, stewardship reports, and donor communications.
Participate in College of Business and University Advancement events, including donor cultivation, recognition, and stewardship activities.
Work in partnership with Corporate and Foundation Relations colleagues to identify funding opportunities and assist with the development, coordination, and submission of grant proposals supporting College initiatives.
Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, moves management activity, and solicitation outcomes using university-wide systems such as Raiser’s Edge.
Stay informed about the College of Business’s academic programs, strategic initiatives, and philanthropic priorities to effectively communicate impact and opportunities to donors.
Develop and execute a comprehensive planned giving strategy aligned with institutional and campaign goals.
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of planned giving prospects.
Serve as the university’s subject-matter expert on planned giving vehicles, including bequests, charitable trusts, life-income gifts, and beneficiary designations.
Provide gift planning guidance in collaboration with donors and their professional advisors.
Grow and manage the university’s legacy society, including recognition, stewardship, and events.
Partner with major gift officers and other Advancement staff to integrate planned giving into donor strategies; conduct joint visits as appropriate.
Develop planned giving marketing and communications in coordination with Advancement and communications teams.
Ensure compliance with gift acceptance policies, legal requirements, and IRS regulations; coordinate with legal, finance, and foundation partners.
Track, document, and report planned gift commitments and realized gifts.
Performs other duties as requested.