Senior Director of Development

PSU Foundation • Portland, OR

9d • $97,500 - $115,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Development leads the strategy and execution of fundraising efforts for designated units/Colleges/Schools/campaign priorities and manages an individual portfolio of prospects to advance major and principal gift opportunities in alignment with Portland State University’s mission, strategic goals, and the upcoming campaign for PSU. This position is responsible for meeting gift revenue goals, expanding the donor pipeline, and developing and executing comprehensive strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors while maintaining a high-performing, mission-driven team culture through mentorship, accountability, and professional development. This position regularly works with PSU stakeholders, faculty, and Foundation colleagues to align fundraising strategy with academic initiatives.

Requirements

• 7+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including proven success in securing six- and/or seven-figure gifts.
• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.
• Expertise in managing donor pipelines and gift officer portfolios using CRM systems (e.g., Blackbaud, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge) to guide strategy and forecasting.
• Working knowledge of Asana or similar project management tools.
• Familiarity with planned giving vehicles, IRS charitable giving regulations, and donor stewardship best practices.
• Ability to work across departments with academic leaders, trustees, and volunteers to align fundraising with institutional priorities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling proposals and represent the institution externally.
• Understanding of fundraising ethics, donor confidentiality, and compliance with CASE standards.
• Proficiency with commonly used workplace technologies, including Microsoft Office, SharePoint, CRM platforms, and other cloud-based collaboration and document management tools; demonstrated ability to leverage emerging technologies to enhance productivity, accuracy, and overall work quality.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in an inclusive, equitable, and respectful environment, collaborating with individuals from diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
• Commitment to fostering a positive and collaborative workplace culture through active engagement with colleagues, open communication, and alignment with organizational values and culture initiatives.
• Demonstrate reliable, regular, and predictable work attendance.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in higher education or for a large complex non-profit organization.
• Demonstrated success fundraising in higher education for a large public institution with complex matrixed environment.
• Working knowledge of Portland’s donor community.

Responsibilities

• Manages a High-Impact Portfolio: Leads a dynamic portfolio of major and principal gift donors and prospects, ensuring strategic qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. Maintains accountability for achieving fundraising goals while fostering trust and collaboration across teams.
• Drives Strategic, Cross-Functional Collaboration: Leads and contributes to complex, cross-organizational initiatives—including annual planning and goal-setting—by promoting open communication, shared ownership, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Serves as a Strategic Partner to Academic Leadership: Acts as the primary development liaison for academic leaders and/or deans for the assigned college/unit, providing guidance and ensuring alignment between philanthropic opportunities and institutional priorities.
• Engages Faculty to Advance Philanthropic Priorities: Builds strong, respectful partnerships with faculty to identify and elevate funding priorities that support the Foundation and University priorities.
• Prioritizes Transformational Impact: Identifies and advances high-value opportunities that inspire donors to make meaningful investments in students, faculty, programs, and learning environments—emphasizing long-term impact and shared success.
• Leads with Future in Focus: Participates in and leads planning efforts that enhance fundraising effectiveness, encourage innovation, and promotes a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
• Represents PSUF at Events: Actively participates in and supports development-related events, serving as a positive ambassador for the university and fostering a sense of community and belonging among stakeholders.
• Leads with Values + Intention: Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and values-aligned leadership as a member of the Supervisor Team, serving as a champion of organizational mission, strategy, and culture; fostering cross-functional collaboration; and promoting organizational change initiatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 4-Day Workweek, with business operations closed on Fridays.
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage on our base plan
• 95% employer-paid dental and vision coverage
• Up to 27 days of paid time off plus 10 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
• Up to 12% employer contribution to eligible 401(k) plans after applicable waiting periods
• Employer-paid Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
• Portland State University affiliated employee benefits, including tuition discount

What This Job Offers

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