Senior Director, Philanthropy

Senior Director Of Philanthropy

The Senior Director of Philanthropy is responsible for the creation and execution of a strategic fundraising plan for selected units on the Belknap Campus at the University of Louisville. Strategic fundraising plans will be coordinated with the Executive Director of Philanthropy for Schools and Colleges (Belknap Campus), the Senior Associate Vice President of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, and Deans for the selected units. This position 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 Senior 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 Senior Director will manage select unit fundraising staff professionals on the Belknap Campus, establish objectives and priorities, set performance goals and productivity metrics, and evaluate performance in accordance with PAE staff measurables. The Senior Director will provide appropriate levels of training, mentoring, and professional development, assign and direct projects, and oversee the day-to-day operations of the team.

All job functions must be performed with a high degree of professionalism, including responsibility, initiative, creativity, dependability, cooperation, courtesy, and a sense of urgency. A high level of personal and professional integrity is a must, along with the ability to communicate effectively and frequently with colleagues across multiple units.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives to identify prospective major & / or principal gift donors to achieve or surpass an annual fundraising goal as determined by PAE leadership and no less than the performance standard of $3M.
• Manage unit fundraising staff professionals, establish objectives and priorities, set performance goals and productivity metrics, and evaluate performance in accordance with PAE staff measurables.
• Provide appropriate levels of training, mentoring, and professional development, assign and direct projects, and oversee the day-to-day operations of the team.
• Manage a portfolio of high-potential individual prospects capable of making 6-7 figure gifts through the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycles. Forge long-term relationships with these individuals to cultivate their interest in UofL.
• 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 deans, 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, as well as attending some evening and weekend events, is required.

Preferred Qualifications

A bachelor's degree in any rigorous academic field and a minimum of 5-7 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, and experience with capital fundraising campaigns 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. A deep understanding of and commitment to an integrated advancement program, and experience in a complex major research university environment. A keen understanding of the natural tension that exists when 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. Keen sense of requirements necessary to foster a team-centric culture and environment. 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 and exceptional negotiation skills, and proven ability to make independent decisions.

Competencies

Self-driven and goal-oriented, the individual will be adept in handling multiple priorities and act with a high degree of integrity, professionalism, creativity, and cooperation with internal and external constituents. The individual must be able to effectively develop and manage a successful giving program to the point of sustainability.

Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement encourages candidates to apply who have demonstrated the capacity to create supportive work environments, collaborate effectively on teams, and serve the students we admit and aim to attract.

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.

The University of Louisville is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University strives to provide equal employment opportunity on the basis of merit and without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or pregnancy. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act of 1974, the University prohibits job discrimination of individuals with disabilities, Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans. The University acknowledges its obligations to ensure affirmative steps are taken to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. It is the policy of the University that no employee or applicant for employment be subject to unlawful discrimination in terms of recruitment, hiring, promotion, contract, contract renewal, tenure, compensation, benefits, and / or working conditions. No employee or applicant for employment is required to endorse or condemn a specific ideology, political viewpoint, or social viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, or promotion.

Consistent with applicable law, demographic information is collected for aggregate reporting requirements. Demographic information provided through this application is not available to hiring managers / committees and is not considered in hiring or employment decisions.

Assistance and Accommodations

Computers are available for application submission at the Human Resources Department located at 215 Central Avenue, Ste 205 - Louisville, Kentucky 40208.

If you require assistance or accommodation with our online application process, please contact us by email at employment@louisville.edu or by phone 502-852-6258.