Senior Director of Development

Fisk University•Nashville, TN

36d

About The Position

Position Summary The Senior Director of Development plays a pivotal leadership role within the University's Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, providing strategic support and day-to-day management of all fundraising programs. Reporting to the Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs, the Senior Director oversees a dynamic team responsible for major and planned giving, annual giving, institutional giving, and development operations. As a senior member of the team, the Senior Director partners closely with university leadership, faculty, alumni, and friends to advance philanthropic priorities that sustain scholarships, academic excellence, and institutional growth. The ideal candidate will be both a strategic thinker and an active fundraiser-someone who leads by example, mentors others, and builds meaningful, long-term relationships with donors and partners.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
5+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, ideally in higher education.
Proven success leading a team and achieving measurable fundraising results.
Demonstrated ability to secure major gifts and manage complex donor relationships.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with a collaborative and collegial management style.
Experience with donor database systems (preferably with Raiser's Edge or a Blackbaud product) and data-driven fundraising strategies.
Very strong written and verbal communications skills.

Responsibilities

In partnership with the Vice President, develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that supports the university's strategic plan and annual revenue goals.
Oversee the planning and execution of all major giving, annual giving, and institutional giving initiatives, ensuring integration and alignment across programs.
Manage a personal portfolio of individual giving major gift prospects, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts at the $25,000+ level.
Partner with the Vice President to plan and execute capital campaigns, special initiatives, and endowed fund efforts.
Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to identify fundraising priorities and create compelling cases for support.
Supervise and support a team of four direct reports and their respective teams, providing clear direction, accountability, and professional development.
Foster a collaborative, goal-oriented culture that values transparency, innovation, and teamwork.
Work with the Development Operations team to ensure accurate data management, donor research, and reporting systems that inform decision-making.
Partner closely with the Office of Alumni Affairs to integrate engagement strategies that inspire lifelong giving.
Serve as a senior representative of the Development Office at campus events, donor visits, and university functions.
Engage alumni, parents, corporations, and foundations in meaningful ways to strengthen philanthropic relationships.
Ensure best practices in donor cultivation, acknowledgment, and stewardship across all giving levels.
Collaborate with communications staff to produce compelling fundraising materials and donor impact stories.