As the fundraising unit lead for a central major gifts team, you will plan fundraising strategy for a team of fundraising professionals whose focus is interdisciplinary/institutional major gifts in conjunction with the ISU Foundation’s fundraising growth strategy. This role will collaborate with other fundraising team unit leads to leverage opportunities to support university-wide and collegiate unit-based fundraising priorities. Onboarding, training, and coaching development officers on this team is a critical responsibility.
Based on qualifications and experience, a selected candidate may hold one of these job titles: Senior Director of Development or Executive Director of Development.
Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Establish a vision and create an appropriate business plan for the central major gifts team as it relates to fundraising success. Coordinate fundraising activities with appropriate university or foundation partners, such as donor strategy sessions, travel, solicitations, stewardship events, etc.
- Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in a unique pool of 50-75 prospects who have the ability, interest, and affinity to give $100,000 or more.
- Travel extensively (up to 50%) to establish and nurture long-lasting, strong donor relationships to propose and close major gift donations.
- Collaborate with ISU Foundation marketplace leaders to manage current prospects and to grow the fundraising pipeline and engagement strategies for the future.
- Build and manage a team of major gift fundraisers. Handle personnel matters: hire, train, coach/mentor, supervise and evaluate, providing formal written feedback twice a year and conducting regular check-ins with staff focused both on current projects and tasks, as well as career growth and leadership development.
- Participate in developing and implementing donor strategies of major gift prospects who have an interest in and support Iowa State University.
Qualifications
Education & Work Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree or professional certification preferred.
- 6+ years of professional experience related to employment area, including years of professional fundraising experience. Experience in higher education fundraising preferred.
- Experience managing and coaching multiple professional staff. Experience in budget management.
Desired Skills & Experience
- Ability to achieve ambitious goals. You should have a remarkable track record for leading successful initiatives with measurable results.
- Savvy relationship-building and leadership skills and be an excellent communicator. You should be articulate and persuasive with diplomacy and tact to represent the foundation to multiple constituents, donors, and campus leadership. You must also have demonstrable skills in persuasive speaking and influencing others.
- Excellent coaching and performance management skills.
- Problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. You can champion donor-centeredness by understanding the desires of the donors and creating simple solutions.
- Strong team orientation, a dedicated work ethic, and a positive and professional attitude.
- Ability to multi-task and manage multiple initiatives.
- Ability to use a variety of software applications.
- Knowledge of university system is preferred.
- Creativity, patience, a sense of humor and a belief in our organizational mission of: Aligning donor passion and generosity to advance Iowa State University’s land grant ideals
Travel: Travel required
FLSA Status: Exempt
Location: Ames, IA; potentially hybrid
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