Director of Advancement & Strategic Fundraising

Job Description

Job Description

Ready to shape the future of Heidelberg University?

The Director of Advancement & Strategic Fundraising will develop innovative programs and strategies to identify, engage, cultivate, track, and inspire gifts from our vibrant community of alumni, parents, foundations, corporations, and friends of Heidelberg for gifts to fund institutional priorities. This position will manage a dedicated portfolio of up to 150 key prospects and utilize knowledgeable in estate and planned giving to drive high-impact strategic initiatives and secure ongoing financial resources for the University.

Supervision Received:

Reports directly to the Vice President for Advancement, Marketing, Alumni, and Community Relations (AMACR). Works closely with the University President as needed.

Supervision Exercised:

The Director of Advancement and Strategic Fundraising is responsible for identifying, cultivating, and successfully soliciting prospects to support key institutional objectives. Collaborates with AMACR staff as needed for successful outcomes on specific projects.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Represents Heidelberg University in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key major, legacy, and estate gift prospects by helping donors accomplish their philanthropic goals while supporting the strategic needs of the institution.

• Works with AMACR team members and other campus partners in the overall success of Heidelberg University fundraising.

• Acts as primary manager for a portfolio of up to 150 prospects, to move potential donors in an appropriate and timely fashion toward solicitation and closure, maintaining a balance between discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Identifies, educates, and recruits key volunteers for reunion-year fundraising.

• Works on special initiatives in support of the Heidelberg Strategic Growth and Action Plan Campaign, in addition to future campaigns.

• Develops solicitation strategies to meet short- and long-term major gift program objectives.

• Develops marketing strategies with a focus on planned giving.

• Completes appropriate stewardship activities.

• Utilizes systems and software (Ellucian Banner and Crescendo) to track and cultivate donors and prospects.

• Monitors weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual activity to achieve individual performance measures (e.g. meetings, proposals, major gift revenue).

• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Vice President for Advancement, Marketing, Alumni, and Community Relations.

Core Values & Personal Attributes:

• Core values – models leadership values of integrity, honesty, humility, transparency, respectfulness, diversity, caring, loyalty, and accountability in all work.

• Intellectual dynamism – demonstrates mental sharpness, capability, and agility.

• Self-knowledge – gains insight from successes and mistakes.

• Personal learning – seeks feedback and counsel to improve managerial behavior.

• Peer relationships – encourage collaboration and cooperation across the organization.

• Teamwork – performs most effectively as a hard-working member of a team.

• Constituency focus – completes work to meet constituencies’ expectations and requirements.

• Community focus – brings a spirit of enthusiasm and energy to the campus and town.

Desired Attributes & Qualifications:

Required Education & Professional Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5-7 years of successful experience with demonstrated fundraising success.

Preferred Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree
• 8+ years of successful experience of demonstrated major gift success ($ 25,000+) in a higher education setting or compatible experience in a related field

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of fundraising.

• Outstanding oral and written communication skills.

• Skill in cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gifts with a high degree of integrity and diplomacy.

• Exceptional motivation and creativity.

• Ability to engender confidence, enthusiasm, and promote support of Heidelberg University constituencies.

• Ability to develop and present well-developed strategies, proposals, and implement effective courses of action in prospect solicitation.

• Ability to travel as needed or required, work evenings and/or weekends as needed.

• Ability to relate to diverse cross-sections of individuals.

• Ability to work independently and with a team.

Tools & Equipment: Knowledge of operation and use of various office equipment including, but not limited to: computer, copier and fax machine, scanner, phone, and processing software systems such as Microsoft Office and integrated database software.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use arms, hands and fingers to operate and manipulate equipment generally found in an office setting. The employee may be frequently required to be mobile, communicate, and hear. The employee may occasionally be subject to a variety of outdoor environmental conditions including heat, cold, and precipitation.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Mental demands include occasional varied degrees of occasional stress while performing job duties.

The Director of Advancement and Strategic Fundraising is expected to complete 150 personal visits annually, which requires extensive travel and the ability to work from remote locations.

Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in an office setting, and educational facilities including sports and entertainment venues, all of which may be indoor or outdoor. The noise level in the work environment will range from moderately quiet to occasionally loud.