Director of Development - Campaign

Role

Join the UF Advancement team as a Director of Development and take advantage of a unique opportunity to combine strategic fundraising leadership, meaningful relationship building, and mission-driven impact within a leading research university environment. Professionals considered for these roles will support:

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors capable of making gifts of $100,000+ through strategic relationship development and personalized engagement.
• Develop and implement individualized strategies for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors aligned with college/unit priorities.
• Lead donor solicitations and philanthropic conversations that result in significant charitable investments and long-term partnerships.
• Achieve annual fundraising and performance goals, including philanthropic production targets, donor visits, proposals submitted, and total dollars raised.

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with donors, prospects, alumni, volunteers, and university stakeholders through meaningful, in-person engagement.
• Steward donors through thoughtful recognition, communication, and ongoing engagement aligned with UF Advancement’s mission, values, and standards.
• Create tailored communication and engagement strategies that keep donors informed about institutional priorities, opportunities, and philanthropic impact.
• Represent the college/unit at events and engagement activities designed to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising objectives.

• Collaborate with faculty, administrators, and program leaders to identify funding priorities and translate institutional needs into compelling philanthropic opportunities.
• Partner with faculty and staff to coordinate comprehensive donor engagement and fundraising strategies.
• Build and sustain strong internal partnerships through consistent, proactive communication with leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues.
• Develop efficient travel and engagement strategies to maximize donor outreach and fundraising productivity across priority regions.

• Prepare persuasive written materials including gift proposals, concept papers, donor correspondence, and case statements that inspire philanthropic investment.
• Communicate institutional priorities and impact effectively through exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Tailor messaging and solicitation approaches to diverse donor audiences and philanthropic interests.

• Operate effectively in a goal-driven, metrics-based advancement environment with strong accountability for fundraising outcomes.
• Demonstrate strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills while managing multiple projects and donor relationships simultaneously.
• Utilize donor databases, contact management systems, and tracking tools to document activity, manage pipelines, and support strategic decision-making.
• Maintain technical proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other advancement-related technologies.

Master's degree in appropriate area of specialization and three years of appropriate experience in Development or a related field; or a bachelor's degree in appropriate areas of specialization and five years of experience in Development or a related field; and a valid driver’s license.

• Fundraising Expertise:
  Demonstrated success securing major gifts, ideally at the $100,000+ level, and cultivating long-term donor relationships; and strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor strategy development, and advancement best practices.
• Higher Education & Mission Alignment:
  Experience working within higher education or a similarly complex organization; and enthusiasm for advancing the mission of a large, comprehensive research university through philanthropy.
• Relationship Management &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Ability to work independently while contributing as a…