Director of Development, Major Gifts

Role Overview

We have 2 positions within Major Gifts available. With this application, you will be considered for both roles. Each role has a different academic area focus, which will be reviewed if you are contacted for a phone interview.

The Director of Development, Major Gifts leads comprehensive fundraising strategies in support of key academic and university-wide philanthropic priorities at DePaul University. This role advances major gift efforts for assigned academic and institutional units, including the College of Education (COE), the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS), the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media (CDM), the College of Communication (CMN), Student Affairs, Mission and Ministry, Global Engagement, University Libraries, or other strategic university initiatives.

The Director is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors, including alumni, parents, and friends of the University. This position manages a dynamic portfolio of prospects and plays a critical role in strengthening philanthropic support for institutional priorities through relationship-driven fundraising and strategic donor engagement. The Director will also contribute to fundraising strategy development for assigned colleges and units and will be responsible for meeting specific metrics designed to ensure a disciplined and successful major gift program.

• Develop, plan, organize, and execute comprehensive major gift fundraising strategies aligned with university priorities and campaign goals.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects and donors, including alumni, parents, and friends of the University.
• Build and manage a portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects, including top-rated current parents.
• Develop and implement strategies to engage parents with major and leadership gift potential as philanthropic partners.
• Create and implement annual and long-range solicitation plans with measurable fundraising metrics and financial goals.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor engagement, solicitation activity, and prospect strategy within the university's relationship management platform.
• Partner collaboratively with academic and university leadership to support donor engagement opportunities, campaign initiatives, and strategic outreach efforts.
• Provide strategic project support, fundraising counsel, and outreach coordination for assigned colleges, university units, and Advancement leadership.
• Participate in university-wide initiatives, committees, task forces, events, and donor engagement activities as appropriate.
• Manage fundraising-related expenses and budgets for assigned areas.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to professional development and best practices in Advancement and philanthropy.
• Support occasional evening and weekend events, donor meetings, and travel as required.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, with a strong emphasis on major gift cultivation and solicitation.
• Experience working with parent philanthropy and leadership-level donors preferred.
• Demonstrated success building relationships with high-net-worth individuals and achieving fundraising goals.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to develop long-term strategies and execute effectively.
• Ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Professional presence, sound judgment, and the ability to engage confidently with university leadership, donors, and volunteers.
• Willingness to build collaborative relationships across Advancement and throughout the University community.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and fundraising CRM platforms;
  Salesforce experience preferred.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a creative and strategic approach to fundraising partnerships.
• Enthusiasm, initiative, and a commitment to excellence in donor engagement and relationship management.
• Willingness to travel…