Assoc. Director of Development, Graduate School of Oceanography

Title:

Associate Director of Development, Graduate School of Oceanography

Department:

Development

Reports to:

Barb Palmer, Senior Director of Development, CELS/GSO

Employment Type:

Full-Time, Exempt, Hybrid

The URI Foundation (URIF) is looking for an enthusiastic, energetic individual to serve as the Associate Director of Development for the Graduate School of Oceanography.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Associate Director of Development will contribute to a strategic, comprehensive, and proactive fundraising program primarily for the Graduate School of Oceanography that reflects industry best practices and maximizes charitable contributions via comprehensive gifts. This position requires an entrepreneurial, creative, and robust approach to identify potential donors, cultivate relationships, and capitalize on opportunities for advancing College interests.

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and collaborative professional to contribute to the growth and maturation of URI’s development organization, and to optimize the philanthropic potential of the University’s alumni, parents’, and friends’ support of URI. The ideal candidate is passionate about education, self-motivated, driven, highly organized, technologically savvy, and entrepreneurial. They are an experienced relationship builder, effective sales professional, and familiar with higher-education fundraising.

• Identifies, qualifies, cultivates, and manages a portfolio of 125+ donors and prospective donors with the inclination and capacity to make gifts at the $100,000 level and higher.
• Major gift discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and closure: 75% effort.
• Reviews and analyzes the currently identified prospect pool and portfolio.
• Devises individual involvement/engagement strategies for all prospects using a “top- down” approach to ensure that highest-rated prospects receive the most attention.
• Implements comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned prospects. Works independently and in concert with senior officers, other colleagues, and volunteers to execute strategies to close leadership and major gifts.

In conjunction with a broader strategy and collaboratively with URIF colleagues, assists in elevating sustained current-use support and raises awareness of URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography- related initiatives.

Becomes a subject-matter specialist within URI’s School of Oceanography.

Collaborate with the College of the Environment and Life Sciences and College of Engineering as needed.

Regional discovery is a key element of this position.

Plans and executes donor outreach and travel to initiate and qualify potential donors, including trip planning and follow-up.

Schedules meetings and helps coordinate the preparation of necessary materials, including funding proposals, briefings for senior officers and board members when necessary, and stewardship reports for all assigned prospects. Identifies prospects to participate in specific events, committees, and other programs that promote the cultivation process.

Assists and participates with signature activities including but not limited to Day of Giving, Homecoming Weekend, Dean’s Basketball Suites, and assorted URIFand College-based events to increase donor involvement.

Actively pursues Rhody Now (annual fund) gifts.

Participates and supports meetings and activities, for all Graduate School of Oceanography Area Advisory Councils and Boards.

Partners with the URIF Gift Planning Office, Corporate & Foundations Office, Principal Gifts, Annual Initiatives…