Senior Director of Development (Chase Center)

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at The Ohio State University is seeking a Senior Director of Development. This role is crucial for building the Center into a flourishing academic community, as envisioned in ORC § 3335.39. The Senior Director will lead the development of a comprehensive fundraising plan, leveraging the Center's resources, including its faculty, alumni, and the University's development program. The position requires understanding and embracing the Center's mission, needs, and value proposition. The primary responsibility is building relationships with prospective donors (alumni, friends, mission-aligned individuals and groups) to increase philanthropic support, focusing on identifying opportunities to align donor interests with the Center's needs. The role involves actively managing a portfolio of prospective donors for major gifts of $100,000 and above, preparing for solicitations through strategic resource utilization, and assessing donor capacity, interest, and engagement. Success will be measured by annual metrics such as monthly meetings, gift commitments, and dollars raised. The position is supported by central resources like a donor database and reporting tools, and includes managing an allocated budget. The Senior Director dually reports to the Executive Director of the Chase Center and Advancement leadership, operating with a high degree of independence. Goals are set collaboratively, and performance management is conducted jointly. Expectations include excellent communication, collaboration across departments, diplomacy, and discretion. Frequent travel, including overnight trips, and occasional evening/weekend work are required. The position is expected to be worked in person, onsite.

Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to the Chase Center’s mission of citizenship education.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience.
• Six (6) years of relevant experience with at least four (4) years of professional fundraising experience (building relationships towards philanthropic end through making calls, conducting face-to-face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, closing gifts).
• Two (2) years of related experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, account management or related field with emphasis on donor cultivation, solicitation and relationship cultivation of individuals/businesses.
• Ability to travel throughout the United States to visit prospects and donors.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office suite and quickly assimilate to new technology.
• Experience in writing successful proposals and meeting goals.
• Demonstrated poise, professionalism, good judgment, and ability to take the extra step to meet customer needs.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or higher preferred.
• Ambition to strategically grow an individual philanthropy team.
• At least six (6) years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably six figures and above).
• At least six (6) years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital/health care environment.
• Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and/or alumni relations.
• Experience with a comprehensive campaign in a complex educational setting.
• Fundraising experience for strategic or multidisciplinary initiatives.
• Success working with both individual donors and corporate, foundation and other institutional donors.
• Prior experience staffing academic administrators in a development setting.

Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, and cultivate a portfolio of prospective major gift donors and organizations in support of the Chase Center, in collaboration with the Center Director.
• Participate in the crafting and creation of robust and proactive major giving programs, leveraging central resources, with measurable progress.
• Establish and communicate fundraising goals in partnership with the Center Director and Advancement leadership.
• Provide leadership on major gift cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Work with faculty and Chase Center leadership to build relationships.
• Collaborate and work proactively with Advancement to further the fundraising efforts of the Chase Center.
• Identify appropriate funding opportunities and potential donors from the Ohio State alumni base, other individuals, corporate and foundation partners, and others interested in supporting the Center’s mission.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 75-100 major ($100,000 or more) gift prospects with the capacity and interest to support the Center’s mission.
• Cultivate, solicit, and close major and principal gifts, including endowment and unrestricted support, documentation of estate plans, and annual fund commitments.
• Deliver on quantifiable goals, excelling in successful major and principal gift solicitations.
• Oversee the implementation and management of all development activities, including timelines and budget.
• Conduct executive prospect strategy meetings with the Executive Director to maximize time with donors.
• Pursue connections and discover donor values, capacity, interests, and passions.
• Assist in the development of growth plans to facilitate engagement and establish a pipeline of prospective financial supporters.
• Build context for gift proposals, develop and implement strategic gift solicitations.
• Maximize stewardship opportunities by strengthening donor relationships, providing strategic support across fund management, acknowledgements, reporting, and development officer travel, and delivering prompt, effective solutions to donor relations issues.
• Monitor and report on data, sharing monthly fund balance updates.
• Assist with stewardship events on an as-needed basis and partner closely with donor experience and alumni relations colleagues.
• Collaborate with Advancement on the planning and execution of targeted events.
• Partner with development officers, engagement and marketing/communications staff to create briefings, talking points, remarks, and background materials for targeted events.
• Curate stories and needs for annual giving appeals in collaboration with Advancement Annual Giving.
• Assist with messaging, packaging, and creating online/social engagement content.
• Create and nurture a culture of philanthropy within the Center and its constituencies.
• Travel throughout the United States and around the globe representing the Center and building relationships with its donors, prospects, and alumni.
• Complete special projects and perform other duties as assigned, focusing on fundraising efforts connected to the Chase Center.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost.
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays.
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions.

What This Job Offers

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