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DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR PHILANTHROPY AND ENGAGEMENT

Employer
Ithaca College
Location
New York, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Date posted
May 24, 2021

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Position Type
Faculty Positions, Education, Education Administration & Leadership
Employment Level
Executive
Employment Type
Full Time

Job Details

The Division of Philanthropy and Engagement is seeking a director of strategic planning to collaborate with the vice president in planning and implementing the college’s strategic development efforts in prospect management and in execution of special projects. Providing strategic assistance in cultivating, managing, and stewarding the college’s most important friends and benefactors including top donors and trustees. Serving as liaison to the president’s office on all matters related to development, and alumni and donor relations. 

Job Summary

Collaborate with the vice president for philanthropy and engagement in planning and implementing the college’s strategic development efforts, in prospect management, and in execution of special projects. From an operational perspective provide strategic assistance in cultivating, managing, and stewarding the college’s most important friends and benefactors including top donors and trustees. Serve as liaison to the president’s office on all matters related to development, and alumni and donor relations. Capable of pulling and formatting reports from the CRM database. Strength in analytics, Microsoft Excel software (ability to build excel pivot tables), prospect research background, writing, and campaigns are needed for this position.

Supervision

This position reports to the vice president for philanthropy and engagement. This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Essential Duties

  1. Work closely with the vice president for philanthropy and engagement and the director of principal gifts to craft and implement strategies to cultivate, engage, solicit, and steward major gift and principal gift prospective donors. Lead the annual prospect review and goal setting for the division.
  2. Write and edit all manner of correspondence and reports from the office of the vice president and provide editorial assistance to other philanthropy and engagement staff as needed.
  3. As a strategic partner with giving officers and other philanthropy and engagement staff, organize and help draft briefing materials for the president, senior administrators, gift officers, trustees and other high-level volunteers, to prepare the president and vice president for meetings with prospective major donors, key volunteers, and other persons of interest to the college.
  4. In conjunction with the executive assistant to the vice president, serve as the central liaison to the office of the president for matters related to requests for the president’s time from the office of philanthropy, and the office of engagement. Work with the vice president to field, clear, prioritize, and implement all such requests. Coordinate and finalize the preparation and distribution of briefing materials to the president’s office, key volunteers and trustees for all philanthropy and engagement-related meetings.
  5. Serve as central liaison to the chair of the philanthropy and engagement board of trustees committee, and the board office for the governance committee and board of trustee’s leadership around philanthropy and strategic events on and off campus. Manage, document, and update the board of trustee committee responsibilities. Strategic liaison with the vice president in trustee leadership and accountability plus the trustee pathway and demographic matrix. Prepare strategic briefings for top level volunteers.
  6. Work with the offices of engagement and philanthropy to prepare and distribute briefing materials for any events involving the president, including but not limited to briefing covers, event agendas, guest lists, and remarks outlines. Serve as the main distribution point for philanthropy and engagement materials to deans, vice presidents, and other administrators on campus.
  7. Coordinate and maintain the agenda for bi-weekly meetings to review the vice president and president’s prospect pool and activities. In concert with the director of donor relations, coordinate the gift acknowledgement process for the vice president, including drafting all acknowledgement letters, and initiating and managing presidential gift acknowledgements to those in the president and vice president’s prospect pool.
  8. In concert with strategic research, and giving officers, prepare short and long-form biographies of major and principal gift prospects.
  9. Develop and demonstrate a multicultural awareness and contribute to cultivating an inclusive, diverse, and respectful College community. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students, and visitors to the College. Promote a flexible, collaborative, and inclusive work and living environment and engage in educational opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion.
  10. In conjunction with the offices of philanthropy and engagement, regularly provide logistical and tactical support for special events and key meetings on campus involving the president and vice-president. Assist with guest hospitality as needed.
  11. As a strategic partner with the vice president support presidential initiatives to advance the mission of the college.
  12. Manage special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred with a minimum of seven years’ experience in fundraising or related field; excellent interpersonal, organizational, and both written and verbal communication skills and the ability to effectively work and interact respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment; in-depth knowledge and facility with various databases, Excel spreadsheet knowledge (including pivot tables), and word processing software applications is required; previous event planning and organization experience preferred; experience working in prospect research and management would be well-suited for this position; ability to attend college functions during and after normal work hours is required; demonstrated ability to manage and maintain client confidentiality preferred.

Work Environment

Most of the work of the incumbent is carried out within a generally accessible, safe, indoor environment. Remote work or a flexible work arrangement is an option with the understanding, when the position requires, the incumbent will make arrangements to work in Ithaca, NY. The incumbent will be required to operate a personal computer and associated equipment as well as other office equipment used in the day-to-day operation. The incumbent may be required to travel to various offices on and off campus requiring the need to walk, drive, or make alternative arrangements for transportation. Some weekends and evening work are expected.

About Ithaca College

As an employee at Ithaca College, you’ll get much more than a competitive salary and the traditional advantages. We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees with the most comprehensive benefits possible, including work/life balance, generous paid time off policies, career-enhancing trainings, employee and dependent tuition assistance, and opportunities to give back to the community. Beyond benefits, you’ll enjoy the kind of uniquely rewarding work environment that can only be found in a vibrant college community.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants must apply online and attach a resume, cover letter, list of three professional references and a writing sample. Questions about online application should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at (607) 274-8000 or humanresources@ithaca.edu. Screening of applications will begin immediately.

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.

Company

Ithaca College

Ithaca College is a private residential campus where students find life-changing academic pathways, powerful career networks, and lifelong community.

Founded by a homesick violinist with a big vision, Ithaca College started out as the Ithaca Conservatory of Music — combining theory, practice, and performance from its inception. By the 1920s, academic programs expanded to include business, speech therapy, physical education, and the dramatic arts. IC was originally located in downtown Ithaca and moved to the present campus on South Hill overlooking Cayuga Lake in the 1960s.

Situated near 150 majestic waterfalls in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, the city of Ithaca, New York, has been ranked as the best college town in the United States — hosting tech startups, a “killer music scene,” Broadway-caliber theatre, and world-class restaurants as well as alumni-owned ice cream shops.  

Ithaca College offers more than 140 majors and minors through its five schools. Whether our alumni are winning Pulitzers, launching nonprofits, anchoring broadcast news, leading multibillion-dollar companies, or revolutionizing patient care (among many other pursuits and accomplishments), students at Ithaca College learn different and leave different. 

Join an innovative educational community, where faculty and staff learn, thrive, and collaborate. IC will make you ready to take your career to new heights, giving you the chance to create your own path to success while you contribute to growing the minds of future generations.

As an employee at Ithaca College, you’ll get much more than a competitive salary and the traditional advantages. We pride ourselves on providing our employees with the most comprehensive benefits possible.

Beyond benefits, you’ll enjoy the kind of uniquely rewarding work environment that can only be found in a vibrant college community. We encourage and contribute to the personal and professional development of our faculty and staff. We understand that it’s the people who work here that make Ithaca College special, and we strive to be an employer of choice in our region.

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