Assistant Director, Leadership Giving - Florida Gulf Coast University : Job Details

Job Summary

At FGCU Foundation, we excel in fundraising through unwavering focus on building meaningful relationships, providing exceptional stewardship, and creating opportunities for donor involvement and engagement. The Assistant Director, Leadership Giving reports to the Director of Annual and Leadership Giving and is responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donors with the capacity to give $1,000 - $24,999 annually. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, metrics-driven frontline fundraising professional responsible for engaging prospects and soliciting financial support via a variety of methods including virtual visits, phone, email, social media, and text. Candidates should demonstrate a strong understanding of fundraising best practices and have strong interpersonal, customer service, and communications skills. This position's focus will ensure not only that we will keep donors active and more deeply connected with FGCU, but these donors will be challenged to lift their giving as we learn more about them and align passions with offerings of interest. Donor retention rate should meet or exceed 70% each year.

Job Description

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

* Meets defined donor engagement and solicitation goals via virtual visits, phone, email, social media, and text while working to grow FGCU Foundation's caseload of donors and prospects who have given or could give $1,000 to $24,999 annually. Plans and develops innovative strategies for both renewing and increasing their support.

* Develops and implements a management system for identifying, evaluating, and engaging prospects and current Leadership Giving donors to accomplish retention and upgrade goals.

* Provides prompt follow-up to all donor interactions in Blackbaud CRM to track all appeals and communications touchpoints.

* Collaborates with development directors and FGCU Foundation's prospect / portfolio management team to proactively generate referrals for major gifts, volunteer leadership, and planned gifts in accordance with their interests, capacity, and propensity. Leads the transition of donors from a Leadership Giving caseload to a major gift portfolio.

* Prepares gift proposals, impact reporting, invitations to engage, and other communication vehicles for Leadership Giving prospects and donors.

* Collaborates with Annual Giving team and development directors to develop strategies, goals, and objectives for Leadership level donor qualification and solicitation.

* Participates in the development and coordination of special events and on-campus programs (such as FGCU athletic events and Eagle X) for donors and prospects.

* Collaborates with FGCU Foundation's Director of Annual and Leadership Giving to develop and agree upon specific measurement targets on an annual basis to include high-volume donor solicitation goals, as well as cultivation and stewardship metrics.

* Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications:

* This position requires either ten years of directly related full-time experience or, as an alternative, a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization and six years of full-time experience directly related to the job functions.

* Professional full-time experience with Advancement, fundraising, or other relevant experience.

* Demonstrated success identifying new funding donor sources.

* Experience operating a personal computer and proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook).

* Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Fundraising experience in a higher education setting preferably in annual giving or mid-level leadership giving.

* Experience and proficiency with Raiser's Edge or similar fundraising applications.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

* Knowledge of the principles, best practices, trends, and legal constraints of fundraising and gift solicitation within higher education.

* Knowledge of or ability to learn Raiser's Edge.

* Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

* Demonstrated skill in soliciting for donations both in verbal and written communications.

* Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and complete simultaneous projects.

* Ability to interact in a professional manner with a diverse group of staff, faculty, students, and the community in a service-oriented environment.

* Ability to think critically and creatively, have a high standard of integrity, and be motivated to incorporate best practices into the organizational structure.

* Ability to take initiative to plan, organize, coordinate and perform work in various situations when numerous and diverse demands are involved.

* Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion at all times.

* Ability to anticipate problems and address them proactively.

* Ability to work evenings, nights, and weekends as necessary.

* Ability to thrive in an organization that values the diversity of its student body and workforce and actively promotes an equitable environment.

Pay Grade: 18

FGCU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity and Access Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, genetic predisposition, sexual orientation, gender identity/gender expression, veteran status, and any other protected class(es), as required by applicable state and federal law, as well as University regulations and policies.