Regional Director of Development, Southern California

Regional Director of Development, Southern California

Job no: 536925
Work type: Officer of Administration
Location: Eugene, OR, Portland, OR
Categories: Development
Department: University Advancement

Hybrid eligible - located in Eugene or Portland

The University of Oregon is one of the nation's leading public research universities, recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student success. Located in Eugene with a growing presence in Portland and throughout the West Coast, the university brings together world‑class faculty, dedicated alumni, and passionate supporters to create meaningful impact through teaching, research, and public service.

University Advancement plays a vital role in advancing the university's mission by connecting alumni, parents, and friends with opportunities to invest in the future of Oregon. Through strategic philanthropy and relationship‑building, the division supports transformative initiatives that expand access to education, fuel groundbreaking research, and strengthen the university's impact around the world.

As the Director of Development, Regional Philanthropy for Southern California, you will serve as a frontline major gift fundraiser responsible for building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and friends throughout the California and Hawaii region. Reporting to the Senior Director of Regional Philanthropy, you'll manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and develop strategies that inspire philanthropic investments supporting the University of Oregon's highest priorities.

This highly collaborative position partners closely with development colleagues across schools, colleges, central advancement, annual philanthropy, principal gifts, and advancement analytics to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making transformational gifts. Success in this role is measured by meaningful donor engagement, portfolio growth, and philanthropic support that advances the university's mission.

Your contribution will likely include:

• Manage an active portfolio of major gift prospects through all phases of identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Personally solicit major and planned gifts while supporting donor strategies led by university leadership and development colleagues.
• Build thoughtful cultivation and stewardship plans that strengthen long‑term donor relationships.
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects throughout the California and Hawaii region.
• Travel extensively throughout the assigned territory to meet with donors and prospects.
• Partner with development colleagues across schools, colleges, and central advancement to coordinate fundraising strategies and maximize donor engagement.
• Build productive relationships with faculty, administrators, alumni volunteers, and university leadership.
• Collaborate with Annual Philanthropy, Gift Planning, Principal Gifts, Prospect Development, and Advancement Analytics to strengthen fundraising outcomes and maintain accurate donor records.
• Partner with advancement leadership to establish fundraising goals and regional strategies.
• Help develop and manage regional budgets and fundraising initiatives.
• Collaborate with university and alumni association partners to maximize donor engagement opportunities.
• Recognize and steward gifts in partnership with donor relations colleagues.
• Participate in development meetings, strategic planning, and regional initiatives.
• Maintain sound fiscal oversight while ensuring compliance with university policies.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and service‑oriented culture with colleagues, alumni, volunteers, and donors.
• Support additional advancement initiatives as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years of professional fundraising experience or five years combined experience in development and in a closely related field such as corporate sales.

• Working with donors and prospects:
  Extensive experience in prospect identification, cultivation, and solicitation with a demonstrated ability to build relationships with donors and prospects, including those who are hard‑to‑engage…