Director, Philanthropy (Student Success)

Director Of Philanthropy For Student Success

The Director of Philanthropy for Student Success will play a key role individually and collectively in cultivating long-term relationships with donors who have the capacity to make transformative gifts, while leveraging the relationships and vision of university leaders to secure support for strategic university priorities and initiatives. The Director of Philanthropy will be a seasoned and exceptional team-oriented fundraising professional with a demonstrated successful track record in securing high-dollar philanthropic gifts.

The Director of Philanthropy reports to the Executive Director of Philanthropy for Schools and Colleges and works closely with the Vice President for Student Affairs to advance fundraising efforts that support a vibrant student experience. The individual will provide creative and visionary leadership and coordination of fundraising endeavors for university-wide programs that benefit students, including student belonging, wellness, scholarships, student success, and student groups. In collaboration with campus partners, they will advise on the development of coordinated strategies aimed to maximize the lifetime engagement and support of a portfolio of high-net-worth prospects. They will help assemble key university members together with prospects around strategic funding priorities. The Director will cultivate, solicit, and steward donors who are passionate about enhancing the student experience while advising senior leadership on strategies to strengthen alumni and donor engagement around key student-centered priorities.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of high-potential individual prospects capable of making 5-7 figure gifts through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UofL.
• Solicit and secure major gifts to reach a minimum annual goal as determined by PAE leadership and no less than the performance standard of $2M.
• Actively maintain a portfolio of major gift-level prospects, particularly where there are multiple complex university relationships and the opportunity exists to have university-wide impact that requires thoughtful, experienced, prospect management
• Work closely with Prospect Management and Development, faculty, alumni, and volunteers to identify and create cultivation strategies for new high-wealth prospects.
• Meet annual metrics by managing the process & prospects through qualifying visits, cultivation initiatives, and the solicitation process that aligns with their financial capacity, securing the commitment and stewarding current donors.
• Interface regularly with the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, faculty, program directors, and other University leaders to prepare for prospect meetings and other solicitations.
• Record moves management into the CRM database to track engagement with donors.
• Oversee the preparation of funding proposals, talking points and scripts, assessments of potential support, briefings, gift agreements, endowments, and stewardship reports for assigned prospects. Ensure that all interested parties are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Promote deferred giving and have an understanding and expertise in deferred vehicles and the role they can play in supporting visionary gifts.
• Advise key university leaders on opportunities for their involvement with specific fundraising and engagement events and initiatives with top prospects
• Provide assistance to university leaders, including the President, Provost, Deans, and other academic leadership in solicitations and interactions with donor prospects as appropriate.
• Travel to meet with donors/prospects and execute strategic moves management.
• Overnight and local travel will be required, as well as evening and weekend work to attend events.

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in any rigorous academic field and a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience as a proven fundraising leader in a complex, decentralized, comprehensive university environment is preferred. An advanced degree or professional fundraising certification is valued.
• Experience with high-net-worth individuals, capital project fundraising, planned giving, or wealth management, and/or work in CFR is highly valued.
• Experience managing a major gift portfolio utilizing metrics, systems, and relationship-building skills to maximize strategic cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of 6-figure-plus donors and transformational gifts, preferably with a focus on student success or student affairs.
• A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program, and experience in a complex major research university environment.
• An understanding of the dynamics of working with a multitude of colleges, departments, and programs with varying priorities is essential.
• Experience working to sustain strong working relationships with staff, donors, faculty, volunteers, and academic leadership is imperative.
• A strong ability to develop sincere, productive relationships and to build trust both with internal colleagues and external constituencies is a must.
• Proven success at developing and implementing creative solicitation strategies for transformational philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
• Superior interpersonal and listening skills, exceptional negotiation skills, and proven ability to make independent decisions.

Competencies

• Clear and effective written and oral communication and presentation skills, including individual and large groups.
• Ability to assess risk combined with a willingness to take calculated risks
• A tolerance for the inevitable ambiguity that typifies a large university
• Proven ability to drive performance and execute for results; strategic and agile thinker to develop opportunities and strategies for organizational success toward objectives
• Ability to lead peers and collaborate with staff in a manner that instills confidence and empowers staff to achieve through challenges and tough decisions, and situations, helping them to achieve full potential and attain high individual and team performance and goals
• High integrity, judgement, and courage of convictions
• Maintain self-awareness, understanding the impact of self on others
• Strong evidence of the ability to function in an environment of complexity, uncertainty, and change management
• Natural sense of curiosity regarding individuals and industry, with a skill to uncover connections, networks, and interests.