Director, Advancement I

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JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Director, Advancement I

Department: Advancement and Communications

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status: Exempt

Starting Salary: $ 52,185.00

Reports To: Assistant Vice President, Advancement

Positions Supervised: N/A

Job Summary

The director of advancement I is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with individual donors, alumni, foundations, corporations and friends of the university to secure major gifts. The individual in this role will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of athletic department and university priorities. The director of advancement I will develop and implement fundraising strategies for a portfolio of annual and major giving prospects.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities

• Ensures Advancement and Communications serves the university in a full range of development functions, including prospect research and solicitation and donor stewardship, with a focus on gifts of $10,000 and above
• Works with the assistant vice president of advancement to develop and execute an annual fundraising structure for the athletics department, with a primary emphasis on increasing the number of annual donors and dollars raised to Lindenwood Athletics
• Manages a portfolio of 150 or more major gift level prospects with a focus on soliciting gifts in support of Lindenwood Athletics
• Completes a minimum of 36 major solicitations per year, including revocable intentions and five new face-to-face meetings weekly
• Assists with fundraising initiatives established by department leaders and the board of trustees
• Attends university and university-sponsored events, athletics contests, and volunteer meetings, acting as a representative of the Lindenwood advancement team
• Manages the solicitation process, including recommending proposal ask amounts
• Prepares reports, proposals and special events as related to fundraising
• Participates in the supervision of the charitable contributions program, including coordinating the approval process, screening requests for financial support and directing the disbursement of funds

Service Orientation

• Plans programs that promote goodwill and foster relationships with community leaders
• Cultivates strong relationships with individual donors, alumni, foundations, corporations and friends of the university for the purpose of securing major gifts

Communication, Collaboration and Teamwork

• Advises the assistant vice president on internal and external constituency relations
• Provides leadership to campus constituents on the most current and effective fundraising techniques for their fundraising efforts
• Leads major gift initiative planning meetings

Planning, Organizing and Accountability

• Represents the university on committees and boards and at events
• Implements a thorough donor acknowledgement and stewardship system and maintains consistent contact with major donors

Initiative, Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Develops strategic and structural plans to position the university’s growth and development
• Establishes short- and long-term goals for development efforts
• Utilizes appropriate development reporting processes

University Mission

• Supports the mission of the university and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Articulates the vision, mission, goals and core values of the university

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum of 1 year in a development or sales environment; sales preferred
• Experience in a higher education environment, preferably within athletics; participation in a comprehensive campaign preferred
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Knowledge of researching, writing and facilitating grant and private foundation funding
• Knowledge of the field’s best and current concepts, practices and procedures
• Ability to cultivate, solicit and steward major gifts of $25,000 and above
• Knowledge of planned giving techniques and vehicles
• Detail oriented
• Empathetic listener with corresponding excellence in verbal and written communication
• Ability to multi-task accurately under deadlines
• Ability to use discretion with confidential information

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions.

• General office setting
• Some night and weekend work and travel required

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.