Senior Director of Principal Gifts

University of Georgia•Athens, GA

58d

About The Position

The Senior Director of Principal Gifts reports to the Senior Executive Director of Development and is a key member of the Principal Gifts team within the Office of Development & Alumni Relations (DAR). This role provides strategic leadership in the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of principal gift prospects university-wide. The Senior Director partners with fundraisers and university leadership to develop and implement donor-centric strategies that align institutional priorities with donor passions. The position also supports and mentors fundraisers across campus, helping advance principal gift conversations and providing guidance on proposals, engagement strategies, and stewardship. The role also requires donor-facing work, focusing on a strategic portfolio of prospects and ensuring the division's fundraising efforts are effective, coordinated, and impactful.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent and 5 years of professional experience
Strong people management skills and time management skills
Ability to cultivate and solicit private gifts from high-level prospects
Knowledge of IRS rules and regulations regarding charitable gifts and non-profit organizations
Initiative-taker and highly motivated
Collaborative style combined with the ability and desire to work in a team-based environment
Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail and confident, strong verbal communication
Problem solver who can take initiative and set priorities while being flexible
Collaborative strategist able to effectively manage complex situations
Highly organized and able to manage multiple projects
Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines
Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities
Ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university business and confidential donor and prospect information
Skilled using Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Creative thinker with ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas
Ability to respond to donors needs and concerns in a kind and professional way
Ability to work effectively in both leadership and support roles, adapting to team and organizational needs

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred or bachelor's degree and 7 years of related higher education experience; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience related to sales, marketing, development, business administration, higher education, project management, or relationship management
Experience with comprehensive campaigns is a plus
Knowledge of private funding landscape in higher education
Ability to establish the trust of colleagues and build strong relationships with key faculty/staff

Responsibilities

Engage in donor-facing development efforts for a strategic, small portfolio of prospects not necessarily limited by territory, primarily in a mentoring/support capacity; portfolio size may fluctuate with team needs.
Participate in prospect visits and donor meetings on campus and off-site as appropriate.
Collaborate with fundraisers and university leadership to identify, prioritize, and solicit principal gift prospects.
Identify donors that have potential for increased giving to a principal gift level.
Maintain in-depth awareness of strategies, engagements, and next steps for prospects in the university's principal gift pipeline.
Work with fundraisers and the DAR Prospect Management team to ensure prospect strategies and activity are clearly documented and progressing in the giving and alumni database (GAIL) CRM system.
Proactively monitor the division's principal gift pipeline health, flagging areas where action is needed and help troubleshoot stalled progress.
Partner with fundraisers across campus to develop and implement donor-centric strategies for principal gift prospects, helping coordinate support from university partners for proposals and donor engagement.
Lead prospect strategy sessions, mentor fundraisers, and deliver training workshops on topics such as, but not limited to identifying high-potential prospects, starting blended gift conversations, crafting proposals for key priorities, and leveraging gift vehicles like IRAs and donor-advised funds.
Provide direct support for proposals, funding menus, donor presentations, and other materials to advance gift conversations.
Identify and recommend events, engagement opportunities, and recognition moments to advance donor conversations.
Model and encourage best practices in CRM usage (e.g., logging interactions, tracking progress, entering meeting notes and next steps).
Partner with DAR Donor Relations and unit teams to guide effective stewardship strategies; monitor principal gift stewardship for quality and timeliness.
Assess development resources and expertise across schools/colleges/units and identify areas for additional support.
Collaborate with university leadership and unit development teams to understand institutional fundraising priorities.
Help identify current and potential principal gift prospects aligned with those priorities.
Work with fundraisers to craft and execute effective, donor-centered fundraising plans for these opportunities.
Complete managerial processes critical to travel, scheduled meetings, and fundraising performance.
Complete telephone/correspondence/preparation/follow-up; record meetings, interactions, and plans in GAIL in a thorough and timely manner after the completion of individual meetings and/or trips.
Prepare timely, accurate, and relevant proposals, presentations, and other fund-raising materials as needed for solicitation.
Develop a strategy or plan for each prospect assigned with a written solicitation strategy in place for each person.
Attend university events and development staff meetings as required.
Participate in university events and programs, as well as continuing education as needed.