American University
Director of Development, University Strategic Initiatives
American University, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022
Overview
Director of Development, University Strategic Initiatives is a member of the University Strategic Initiatives Advancement team responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the Library, Arboretum, and Department of Student Affairs, with primary responsibility for targeted programs including the University’s Scholarship program, the Civic Life Initiative, and Women’s Philanthropy Initiative. The role reports to the Senior Director, University Strategic Initiatives, and involves collaboration with faculty, staff, and senior administration to design and implement major gift plans, advance the donor base, and build long-range engagement pipelines. The position requires managing a high-level prospect portfolio of 100+ donors with capacity of $100,000 to $1,000,000, traveling up to 50% of the time and working occasional evenings and weekends to coordinate events and cultivate donors. The Director will also coordinate travel, events, and staffing, and ensure donor information and strategies are properly recorded in the institutional database. Responsibilities
Major Gift Prospect Cultivation, and Solicitation Develop programs and strategies to identify, prioritize, cultivate, and solicit key prospects with capacity of $100,000+ to $1,000,000. Meet annual personal performance goals in conjunction with management based on the pipeline and divisional objectives. Manage a portfolio of 100+ major gift prospects, including alumni, foundations, corporations, parents, and friends. Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to cultivate and close gifts. Document and steward gifts in accordance with established standards; record all contacts, strategies, and proposals in the database. Major Gift Prospect Identification, Strategy, and Management Define key markets, use data-driven prioritization, and develop strategies to discover, qualify, and engage prospects. Collaborate with Advancement colleagues, including Planned Giving, Parents Team, Leadership Annual Giving, and Prospect Research to identify and engage prospects. Maintain timely reports, action items, donor records, and reconciliations as required. Planning and Development Programs Support Conceive, develop, implement, and manage fundraising strategies to meet university priorities in collaboration with the Senior Director. Partner with on-campus leaders and faculty to move donors through the pipeline and close gifts. Other duties as assigned in support of university advancement objectives. Coordinate development-related travel and events, including briefing, staffing, and follow-up correspondence. Record strategic moves for assigned prospects in the institutional database. Qualifications
Essential Functions/Competencies Major Gift Prospect Cultivation and Solicitation Strategic planning and data-driven prioritization Excellent communication and relationship-building Ability to manage a large prospect portfolio and meet targets Collaborative work across departments and teams Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; 5–8 years of relevant major gifts experience Progressively responsible major gifts development experience with a focus on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts from individuals and organizations Preferred experience working in higher education, alumni relations, and/or volunteer management Experience engaging with C-suite donors; strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills Familiarity with fundraising databases and MS Office; writing sample may be requested Travel Travel up to 50% of the time Benefits AU offers a competitive benefits package including a generous retirement match, tuition benefits for staff and families, leadership development certificates, and other options. More information is available on American University’s benefits pages. Employment Details Full-time; 35 hours per week; occasional evening/weekend work for events Hybrid work modality (On Campus 3–4 days/week) Exempt; Eligible for AU’s EEO programs; background check required Note: This description reflects the current job responsibilities and does not imply a complete list of duties. Responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
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Director of Development, University Strategic Initiatives is a member of the University Strategic Initiatives Advancement team responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the Library, Arboretum, and Department of Student Affairs, with primary responsibility for targeted programs including the University’s Scholarship program, the Civic Life Initiative, and Women’s Philanthropy Initiative. The role reports to the Senior Director, University Strategic Initiatives, and involves collaboration with faculty, staff, and senior administration to design and implement major gift plans, advance the donor base, and build long-range engagement pipelines. The position requires managing a high-level prospect portfolio of 100+ donors with capacity of $100,000 to $1,000,000, traveling up to 50% of the time and working occasional evenings and weekends to coordinate events and cultivate donors. The Director will also coordinate travel, events, and staffing, and ensure donor information and strategies are properly recorded in the institutional database. Responsibilities
Major Gift Prospect Cultivation, and Solicitation Develop programs and strategies to identify, prioritize, cultivate, and solicit key prospects with capacity of $100,000+ to $1,000,000. Meet annual personal performance goals in conjunction with management based on the pipeline and divisional objectives. Manage a portfolio of 100+ major gift prospects, including alumni, foundations, corporations, parents, and friends. Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to cultivate and close gifts. Document and steward gifts in accordance with established standards; record all contacts, strategies, and proposals in the database. Major Gift Prospect Identification, Strategy, and Management Define key markets, use data-driven prioritization, and develop strategies to discover, qualify, and engage prospects. Collaborate with Advancement colleagues, including Planned Giving, Parents Team, Leadership Annual Giving, and Prospect Research to identify and engage prospects. Maintain timely reports, action items, donor records, and reconciliations as required. Planning and Development Programs Support Conceive, develop, implement, and manage fundraising strategies to meet university priorities in collaboration with the Senior Director. Partner with on-campus leaders and faculty to move donors through the pipeline and close gifts. Other duties as assigned in support of university advancement objectives. Coordinate development-related travel and events, including briefing, staffing, and follow-up correspondence. Record strategic moves for assigned prospects in the institutional database. Qualifications
Essential Functions/Competencies Major Gift Prospect Cultivation and Solicitation Strategic planning and data-driven prioritization Excellent communication and relationship-building Ability to manage a large prospect portfolio and meet targets Collaborative work across departments and teams Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; 5–8 years of relevant major gifts experience Progressively responsible major gifts development experience with a focus on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding gifts from individuals and organizations Preferred experience working in higher education, alumni relations, and/or volunteer management Experience engaging with C-suite donors; strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills Familiarity with fundraising databases and MS Office; writing sample may be requested Travel Travel up to 50% of the time Benefits AU offers a competitive benefits package including a generous retirement match, tuition benefits for staff and families, leadership development certificates, and other options. More information is available on American University’s benefits pages. Employment Details Full-time; 35 hours per week; occasional evening/weekend work for events Hybrid work modality (On Campus 3–4 days/week) Exempt; Eligible for AU’s EEO programs; background check required Note: This description reflects the current job responsibilities and does not imply a complete list of duties. Responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
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