Director, Advancement And Donor Relations

Position Overview

Starting Salary Range is $76,001 -$87,404. The initial salary offer is commensurate with education and related work experience.

Responsible for implementing the major gift fundraising strategy for the Lee College Foundation to advance and deepen philanthropic relationships for the benefit of the College. The Director works closely with the Chief Advancement Officer for the college to secure individual and corporate major gifts and planned gifts, and drives the prospect management process through data-driven decisions.

Supervised by the Chief Advancement Officer, the Director partners with the College Advancement team to identify overall department goals and objectives and work to ensure department success. The Director curates and manages an active portfolio of donors and prospects to obtain private major and planned gifts while supporting the priorities identified by the College and guided by the strategic plans for the college and the foundation.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Utilize data in Raiser's Edge to develop strategies for increasing donor engagement, increasing philanthropic giving, and broadening the donor base to the college and the college foundation.
• Establish relationships with the philanthropic offices of our major corporate partners and develop individual giving strategies for each significant corporate partner.
• Work with the Chief Advancement Officer to develop an annual plan that defines the goals for individual giving, corporate giving, and broadening the donor base, establishes the resources to meet those goals, and defines measurable objectives.
• Develop marketing and communication strategies for individual and corporate donors and work with the Department of Marketing and Public Relations to implement them.
• Implements the individual and corporate fundraising strategy for the Lee College Foundation, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities to build long-term relationships and maximize the philanthropic potential of all major donors.
• Determine fundraising focus areas, including major giving, principal giving, planned giving, capital campaign preparation, and annual giving functions in collaboration with alumni relations, grant, and scholarship team members.
• Develop a prospects management plan for the foundation to include appropriate donor research.
• Direct small and large-scale fundraising events, including an annual gala that cultivates and stewards major and planned giving prospects.
• Build and direct the event budgets, maximizing return on investment in all activities to ensure responsible and effective utilization of financial resources.
• Perform other development-related duties as assigned.

Additional Duties & Responsibilities

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Bachelor’s (or higher) degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, finance, or a related discipline.

One (1) year of supervisory experience in higher education, fundraising, or related field

Engaging, resilient, and positive

Critical thinker and creative problem solver who seeks win-win solutions

Ability to build bridges and relationships within and outside the organization

Exhibit discretion and professional judgment in dealing with highly confidential donor information

Ability to interact professionally and tactfully with people of different levels of education, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences and to exhibit adequate respect to fellow employees and the College community

Undertake all activities with the highest ethical standards

Advanced word processing, an intermediate spreadsheet application, and intermediate presentation application skills

Must be available to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred:

Experience with Blackbaud’s Raisers Edge constituent relationship management software and wealth screening processes

Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credentials are up-to-date

Master's Degree in a related field

Advanced experience in Microsoft Office applications

Lee College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by law.