Long Island University
Senior Director of Development LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY
Location: Long Island University - University Advancement
Reports To: Vice President for University Advancement
Long Island University (LIU) seeks an ambitious, collaborative, and results-oriented senior director of development (DOD) to serve as an important "second in command" of a successful and growing fundraising team. The senior development officer will be responsible for developing and executing strategies for successful principal and major gifts supporting the university's highest institutional priorities. This individual will also be responsible for leading and guiding comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the development officers; reviewing and analyzing the prospect pool; guiding the proposal development process and developing relationships with colleagues to stay informed of emerging institutional needs. This individual will report to the vice president for university advancement and partner closely with key stakeholders at all levels across the university.
This position is based locally with quarterly opportunities for national travel to meet donors.
Major Gifts Officer
Following are the responsibilities and objectives for the major gifts officer:
• Essential leader of a small, dynamic team that is charged with raising $40 million annually for the university.
• Maintain a portfolio of 80-100 prospects for principal and major individual gifts; maintain an active calendar of calls, visits and solicitations with top prospects with the goal of 20 per month; align with performance metrics designed to ensure fundraising results and success with the goal of individually raising at least $10M+ annually.
• Work daily to identify, engage and cultivate alumni and non-alumni high net worth prospects for major gifts and oversee the stewardship of current donors and their gifts.
• Ensure integration with the overall campus strategic plan, coordinate with campus colleagues and partners to locate and use resources to meet identified development goals and objectives.
• Develop proposals, presentations and promotion collaterals to advance university needs and priorities and educate the donor community about the LIU upward trajectory.
• Identify, participate in and help implement select strategic cultivation events for high-net-worth individuals using campus assets and influential friends and leaders of LIU.
• Serve as spokesperson regarding the university's funding needs, strategic priorities and naming opportunities in and around the community.
• Meet with deans, directors, faculty members, students, and staff members to define fundraising needs within the campus, and to plan and develop projects. • Provide leadership and hands-on participation in evaluating, analyzing and prioritizing fund raising goals, engagement and solicitation activity.
• Recommend and implement innovative and creative ways to achieve fund raising goals.
• Advise campus partners on fundraising sources and administrative requirements for requests.
• Keep university development administration informed of pipeline activity and proposal status.
• Participate in university task forces and special projects as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
The major gifts officer will demonstrate many, if not all, of the following skills, competencies, and qualifications:
• Minimum ten years of demonstrated success and increased responsibility as a major gifts and principal gifts officer of a higher education or nonprofit institution, or relevant sales experience.
• Knowledge of individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising techniques and program development to include all aspects of proposal development, prospect identification, solicitation, stewardship, and donor tracking.
• Ability to provide strong leadership in the development and implementation of program policies, needs assessment, procedures related to the full range of private fundraising for a university.
• Ability to rapidly become familiar with campus program areas, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships on and off campus.
• Ability to grasp quickly the specifics and the implications of various plans and proposals.
• Ability to communicate effectively using a high level of written and oral communication skills, persuasiveness, imagination, and insight into developing relationships with individuals and sponsors.
• Knowledge of and technically familiar with traditional and innovative fundraising programs; skill and ability to work with faculty and staff members in funding needs assessment and supportability consistent with the vision of the campus.
• Ability to develop solutions to complex problems that require the use of ingenuity and creativity.
• Ability to present the mission, aims, and objectives of LIU in a manner that effectively informs and persuades others.
• Bachelor's degree required.
Long Island University was founded in 1926. The university is committed to providing a high-quality education through teaching excellence and impactful research opportunities. LIU offers over 275 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs, educating over 15,000 students each year. The university cultivates academic, professional, artistic, and co-curricular opportunities. LIU Brooklyn offers more professional programs in health care than any other campus in the New York metropolitan area, including the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy & Health Science, The Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing, and LIU's Health Professions. The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment provides dynamic instruction and interaction with top artists and industry leaders in the classroom. The Polk School of Communications is aligned with the nearly 75-year history of the university's Polks awards for investigative journalism. LIU Post is a scenic, historic, and scholarly campus that offers a small-school environment with the access and resources of a major metropolitan university. The university's 334-acre campus is located on the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 27 miles east of New York City on Long Island's Gold Coast. The campus houses the College of Veterinary Medicine - one of only four in the northeast - the nation's first professional School of Accountancy, an AACSB-accredited Business School, recognized by Princeton Review as a top business school for 15 consecutive years, and a theater program ranked in the top 30 in the nation and a recipient of 20 Kennedy Center Awards. LIU is home to the world-renowned Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, featuring top artists and providing master class instruction for students. LIU Global offers a one-of-a-kind bachelor's degree around the globe. It spans eight countries on five continents, preparing students for careers as global leaders in international business, entrepreneurship, and communications. LIU's unwavering commitment to providing students a high-quality, affordable education is demonstrated through the in-demand programs, world-class faculty, and state-of-the art academic and campus facilities the university provides to their exceptional students. Long Island University has a tradition of excelling in athletics. The Division I Sharks compete in 39 NCAA sports at the Bethpage Federal Credit Stadium and the Barclay's Center LIU's financial position is the strongest it has been in its long history, and the university's recognition as a national teaching and research university is solidified through this strength - more than tripling of the endowment from $79 million in 2012 to over $500 million as of June, 2025, and strengthening investments per student to over $26,000 in 2025. Since 2014, LIU has continued to honor its pledge of affordable tuition with annual tuition rate increases of two percent or less. Average national and regional tuition rate increases were roughly double that during this timeframe. As a result, LIU tuition and fees are as much as 47 percent less than its regional peers. From the shores of Long Island to the epicenter of business and tech innovation in Brooklyn, and to the far corners of the world, LIU offers a unique college experience for every student seeking academic enrichment and professional opportunity. Upon graduation, LIU students join a community of more than 221,000 alumni in 118 countries to become global leaders in fields that include the arts, health sciences, media, education, pharmacy, business, technology, public service, and professional sports.
More information about Long Island University can be found at https://www.liu.edu/Home.
Leadership
Kimberly R. Cline became the 10th president of Long Island University in July 2013 and assumed leadership of one of the largest and most comprehensive private universities in the country. Dr. Cline has led the nearly century old institution through a transformational process to provide students with an exceptional education that emphasizes experiential learning and excellence in teaching and research. Dr. Cline's tenure has seen dynamic new schools, centers, and career-ready programs launched at LIU to increase retention and graduation, attract high achieving applicants, and improve philanthropy, while exposing students to high-demand academic programs led by innovative leadership. LIU was the first private college in the region to be selected to participate in the START-UP NY initiative, with a newly renovated business incubator designated for use by fledgling high-tech businesses. Dr. Cline has also spearheaded an exciting collaboration with RXR Realty, allowing historic investments in the LIU Brooklyn campus. These initiatives reinforce LIU's prominent role in the renaissance of Downtown Brooklyn, providing unique opportunities for the entire LIU community in all areas of study. A recognized leader in education, Dr. Cline has been named to the Long Island Press Power List of the 50 most influential people on Long Island, was named to the inaugural Long Island Power 50 by City and State, and was named one of Brooklyn's Women of Distinction. Dr. Cline is a past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and a past member of the board of the Center for Creative Leadership. She currently serves as Chair of the Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education (LIRACHE) and as a board member of the Long Island Association. Along with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Relations, Dr. Cline also holds a Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, and Doctor of Educational Administration. She previously served as Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the State University of New York system.
Kerry Kruckel joined LIU as Vice President for University Advancement in September 2022. Kerry comes to LIU after leading the Florida Atlantic University's northern campuses as Assistant Vice President for Advancement for five years, including a role as Interim Vice President for University Advancement and the FAU Foundation for 10 months in 2021. Prior to FAU, Kerry served as Chief Advancement Officer of The New School, Chief Development Officer of WNET Public Media and Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at NYU Stern School of Businesses from 2000 through 2014.
Reports To: Vice President for University Advancement
Long Island University (LIU) seeks an ambitious, collaborative, and results-oriented senior director of development (DOD) to serve as an important "second in command" of a successful and growing fundraising team. The senior development officer will be responsible for developing and executing strategies for successful principal and major gifts supporting the university's highest institutional priorities. This individual will also be responsible for leading and guiding comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for the development officers; reviewing and analyzing the prospect pool; guiding the proposal development process and developing relationships with colleagues to stay informed of emerging institutional needs. This individual will report to the vice president for university advancement and partner closely with key stakeholders at all levels across the university.
This position is based locally with quarterly opportunities for national travel to meet donors.
Major Gifts Officer
Following are the responsibilities and objectives for the major gifts officer:
• Essential leader of a small, dynamic team that is charged with raising $40 million annually for the university.
• Maintain a portfolio of 80-100 prospects for principal and major individual gifts; maintain an active calendar of calls, visits and solicitations with top prospects with the goal of 20 per month; align with performance metrics designed to ensure fundraising results and success with the goal of individually raising at least $10M+ annually.
• Work daily to identify, engage and cultivate alumni and non-alumni high net worth prospects for major gifts and oversee the stewardship of current donors and their gifts.
• Ensure integration with the overall campus strategic plan, coordinate with campus colleagues and partners to locate and use resources to meet identified development goals and objectives.
• Develop proposals, presentations and promotion collaterals to advance university needs and priorities and educate the donor community about the LIU upward trajectory.
• Identify, participate in and help implement select strategic cultivation events for high-net-worth individuals using campus assets and influential friends and leaders of LIU.
• Serve as spokesperson regarding the university's funding needs, strategic priorities and naming opportunities in and around the community.
• Meet with deans, directors, faculty members, students, and staff members to define fundraising needs within the campus, and to plan and develop projects. • Provide leadership and hands-on participation in evaluating, analyzing and prioritizing fund raising goals, engagement and solicitation activity.
• Recommend and implement innovative and creative ways to achieve fund raising goals.
• Advise campus partners on fundraising sources and administrative requirements for requests.
• Keep university development administration informed of pipeline activity and proposal status.
• Participate in university task forces and special projects as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
The major gifts officer will demonstrate many, if not all, of the following skills, competencies, and qualifications:
• Minimum ten years of demonstrated success and increased responsibility as a major gifts and principal gifts officer of a higher education or nonprofit institution, or relevant sales experience.
• Knowledge of individual, corporate, and foundation fundraising techniques and program development to include all aspects of proposal development, prospect identification, solicitation, stewardship, and donor tracking.
• Ability to provide strong leadership in the development and implementation of program policies, needs assessment, procedures related to the full range of private fundraising for a university.
• Ability to rapidly become familiar with campus program areas, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships on and off campus.
• Ability to grasp quickly the specifics and the implications of various plans and proposals.
• Ability to communicate effectively using a high level of written and oral communication skills, persuasiveness, imagination, and insight into developing relationships with individuals and sponsors.
• Knowledge of and technically familiar with traditional and innovative fundraising programs; skill and ability to work with faculty and staff members in funding needs assessment and supportability consistent with the vision of the campus.
• Ability to develop solutions to complex problems that require the use of ingenuity and creativity.
• Ability to present the mission, aims, and objectives of LIU in a manner that effectively informs and persuades others.
• Bachelor's degree required.
Long Island University was founded in 1926. The university is committed to providing a high-quality education through teaching excellence and impactful research opportunities. LIU offers over 275 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs, educating over 15,000 students each year. The university cultivates academic, professional, artistic, and co-curricular opportunities. LIU Brooklyn offers more professional programs in health care than any other campus in the New York metropolitan area, including the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy & Health Science, The Harriet Rothkopf Heilbrunn School of Nursing, and LIU's Health Professions. The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment provides dynamic instruction and interaction with top artists and industry leaders in the classroom. The Polk School of Communications is aligned with the nearly 75-year history of the university's Polks awards for investigative journalism. LIU Post is a scenic, historic, and scholarly campus that offers a small-school environment with the access and resources of a major metropolitan university. The university's 334-acre campus is located on the estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 27 miles east of New York City on Long Island's Gold Coast. The campus houses the College of Veterinary Medicine - one of only four in the northeast - the nation's first professional School of Accountancy, an AACSB-accredited Business School, recognized by Princeton Review as a top business school for 15 consecutive years, and a theater program ranked in the top 30 in the nation and a recipient of 20 Kennedy Center Awards. LIU is home to the world-renowned Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, featuring top artists and providing master class instruction for students. LIU Global offers a one-of-a-kind bachelor's degree around the globe. It spans eight countries on five continents, preparing students for careers as global leaders in international business, entrepreneurship, and communications. LIU's unwavering commitment to providing students a high-quality, affordable education is demonstrated through the in-demand programs, world-class faculty, and state-of-the art academic and campus facilities the university provides to their exceptional students. Long Island University has a tradition of excelling in athletics. The Division I Sharks compete in 39 NCAA sports at the Bethpage Federal Credit Stadium and the Barclay's Center LIU's financial position is the strongest it has been in its long history, and the university's recognition as a national teaching and research university is solidified through this strength - more than tripling of the endowment from $79 million in 2012 to over $500 million as of June, 2025, and strengthening investments per student to over $26,000 in 2025. Since 2014, LIU has continued to honor its pledge of affordable tuition with annual tuition rate increases of two percent or less. Average national and regional tuition rate increases were roughly double that during this timeframe. As a result, LIU tuition and fees are as much as 47 percent less than its regional peers. From the shores of Long Island to the epicenter of business and tech innovation in Brooklyn, and to the far corners of the world, LIU offers a unique college experience for every student seeking academic enrichment and professional opportunity. Upon graduation, LIU students join a community of more than 221,000 alumni in 118 countries to become global leaders in fields that include the arts, health sciences, media, education, pharmacy, business, technology, public service, and professional sports.
More information about Long Island University can be found at https://www.liu.edu/Home.
Leadership
Kimberly R. Cline became the 10th president of Long Island University in July 2013 and assumed leadership of one of the largest and most comprehensive private universities in the country. Dr. Cline has led the nearly century old institution through a transformational process to provide students with an exceptional education that emphasizes experiential learning and excellence in teaching and research. Dr. Cline's tenure has seen dynamic new schools, centers, and career-ready programs launched at LIU to increase retention and graduation, attract high achieving applicants, and improve philanthropy, while exposing students to high-demand academic programs led by innovative leadership. LIU was the first private college in the region to be selected to participate in the START-UP NY initiative, with a newly renovated business incubator designated for use by fledgling high-tech businesses. Dr. Cline has also spearheaded an exciting collaboration with RXR Realty, allowing historic investments in the LIU Brooklyn campus. These initiatives reinforce LIU's prominent role in the renaissance of Downtown Brooklyn, providing unique opportunities for the entire LIU community in all areas of study. A recognized leader in education, Dr. Cline has been named to the Long Island Press Power List of the 50 most influential people on Long Island, was named to the inaugural Long Island Power 50 by City and State, and was named one of Brooklyn's Women of Distinction. Dr. Cline is a past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and a past member of the board of the Center for Creative Leadership. She currently serves as Chair of the Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education (LIRACHE) and as a board member of the Long Island Association. Along with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Relations, Dr. Cline also holds a Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, and Doctor of Educational Administration. She previously served as Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the State University of New York system.
Kerry Kruckel joined LIU as Vice President for University Advancement in September 2022. Kerry comes to LIU after leading the Florida Atlantic University's northern campuses as Assistant Vice President for Advancement for five years, including a role as Interim Vice President for University Advancement and the FAU Foundation for 10 months in 2021. Prior to FAU, Kerry served as Chief Advancement Officer of The New School, Chief Development Officer of WNET Public Media and Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations at NYU Stern School of Businesses from 2000 through 2014.