Senior Director of Development, Planned Giving

Overview

ABOUT UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT

Georgia State University Advancement works to further Georgia State’s status as a national leader in student success, research and innovation, and cultural impact. By connecting with alumni, engaging donors, and increasing philanthropic support for students and scholars, we’re helping to transform lives and build our global community. The University Advancement Division furthers the university and its mission through several departments, including Development, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Alumni Relations, and the Georgia State University Foundation.

These are exciting times at the University Advancement. We are growing, and we are thrilled that you are interested in being a part of our team. We are surrounded by individuals empowered to use their expertise and talents to achieve our mission to identify, cultivate, and steward donors.

Are you ready for us? Are you seeking an opportunity with purpose and direction? If you are, we have the perfect opportunity for you! We hire great people from a wide variety of educational, career, and personal backgrounds, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it makes us a stronger team.

University Advancement is seeking (1) Senior Director of Development, Planned Giving to join the already incredible team taking Georgia State University to the next level of excellence!

Location:

Atlanta Campus | College/Business Unit:
University Advancement | Job Posting: 02/04/26

Job Summary

Under the leadership of the Associate Vice President for University Advancement, the Senior Director of Development will be a major gift front-line fundraiser, responsible for leading major gift strategies from identification through stewardship. The Senior Director of Development will manage a portfolio of prospects capable of giving gifts in excess of $100,000. Portfolios will range in size from 120-150 individuals, with 10-15 face-to-face visits per month, and fundraising goals at a minimum of $1-2M annually.

The Senior Director is expected to have a comprehensive understanding of university priorities, regularly meeting with prospects, donors, advancement colleagues, and academic leaders; preparing briefing materials and gift proposals; attending events; and staffing and/or supervising projects as assigned.

Job Duties

Fundraising:

• Serves as an expert or lead development professional in major / principal gifts, gift planning, corporate / foundation relations, or a specific academic discipline. Develops, coordinates, and implements a comprehensive fundraising and donor relations program for current funding priorities and ongoing needs, seeking outright and planned major and principal gifts. Leads and manages activities in coordination with Advancement and campus policies.
  
  Oversees recruitment and training of volunteers to assist in the fundraising program. Steward and expand fundraising from alumni, community members, foundations, and corporations. Collaborates with fellow development officers to identify gift designations reflective of donor intent and university priorities.
• Manages a portfolio of donor prospects including highly influential donors. Personally identifies, cultivates, solicits, negotiates, and provides stewardship for individuals, corporations, and foundations capable of contributing major and principal gifts in excess of $100,000 to $1M+. Maintains portfolios for personal solicitation and oversees the design and execution of strategies for solicitation/negotiation and successful closure. Develops and/or reviews fundraising proposals. Prepares feasibility studies.
  
  Helps departments plan and market initiatives to prospective funding sources. Develops and writes leadership briefings, talking points, gift proposals, white papers, and informal descriptions for gift ideas. Meets with faculty and administrators to identify needs and develop proposals and solicitation methods. Ensures proposals align with prospect interests.