Director of Major Gifts
Job Description
WHY RIDER UNIVERSITY?? – We take pride in our progress and the positive impact it has on our students and the University.
Position Overview
Rider University invites applications for the position of Director of Major Gifts within the Division of University Advancement. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Advancement, this individual will directly manage a portfolio of prospects and donors (qualified at $25,000+). The Director will be an instrumental part of the Advancement team as it aims to successfully complete the Transforming Students, Transforming Lives Campaign. This position will manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects and donors; develop and implement strategies for cultivating and soliciting prospects; spend significant amount of time building relationships while finding unique ways to connect prospects’ personal passions with the University; personally, steward donors in their portfolio; and assist in organizing and implementing special projects.
Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum of five years of successful, face-to-face relationship-building experience.
- Demonstrated exceptional skills in interpersonal relations and communications (both verbal and writing ability).
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with department colleagues and with other members of the faculty and staff while handling multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline-oriented environment.
- A proven ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Demonstrated experience presenting a case for support so that individuals "buy into" the vision, mission, and goals of the organization.
- Demonstrated success or ability to achieve ambitious goals with a track record of measurable results.
- Demonstrated effective relationship-building and experience in soliciting and closing gifts
- Demonstrated ability to understand and integrate the objectives of the unit into strategic portfolio management plans: annual giving, engagement, stewardship, advancement services, and planned giving.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and resourcefulness.
- Demonstrated attention to detail.
- Demonstrated experience with discretion and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated understanding of diverse audiences and communities.
- Must be flexible to travel locally, regionally and nationally.
- Must have a valid driver's license with a satisfactory DMV background check.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite, Google applications, Zoom.
- Satisfactory background and/or DMV checks required.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Prefer, but not required, experience in higher education or direct sales.
- Prefer, but not required, planned giving experience.
- Familiarity with fundraising database systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred).
Rider University is consistently highly ranked as a best college by U.S. News and World Report and The Princeton Review for student success, academic programs, veteran friendliness, and its sustainability efforts.
Rider University is committed to fostering an inclusive, vibrant living and learning community that embraces students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds and enables them to achieve success.Rider University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to excellence through diversity.
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