Senior Director of Development, CALES

Position Summary:

The University of Arizona Foundation is seeking a motivated and goal-oriented fundraising professional to join the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement team as Senior Director of Development (Senior DOD) for College of Architecture, Life & Environmental Sciences (CALES). The Senior Director will lead efforts to secure major and principal gifts of $50,000 or more in support of the goals and objectives of the College, as well as design and implement fundraising strategies that will generate revenue and drive the growth of the College’s mission.

The Senior DOD will be accountable for providing strategic leadership and oversight, performance planning and evaluation, staff training and development, recruitment, and may contribute to recommending pay decisions for their direct reports. The Senior Director is expected to devote 70% of work time to major gift fundraising activities and 30% of work time to management and administrative responsibilities.

• Serve as the lead development professional for CALES.
• Partner with department heads, center directors, and other administrators on fundraising.
• Advise the Dean of the College and President of the University of Arizona Foundation or designee on all College development activities.
• Participate with the Dean and the College’s departments in the strategic planning of new projects and initiatives.
• Develop and sustain strong relationships with the College’s faculty, board members, alumni, volunteers, donors, and financial professionals and other relevant stakeholders.
• Build and manage a portfolio of 50–70 qualified prospects, including individuals, foundations, and select corporations with 40-50 in cultivation/solicitation; 40% of those in cultivation/solicitation capacity are rated at $250K+ and 15% are rated at $1M+.
• After an initial 6-month onboarding period, execute an agreed-upon metric of at least 100 current or prospect donor visits and the successful closure of 15+ major/principal gift proposals per year, with an expectation of $3M+ raised after the initial onboarding period (with incremental increases after the first year).
• Plan, coordinate, and schedule weekly personal visits with prospects and donors utilizing UAF software, introductory letters, emails/texts, and phone calls to set appointments.
• Direct and manage the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal gift level individuals, corporate and foundation prospects to support all department capital and program goals.
• Develop personalized strategies for all assigned donors and prospects which builds, maintains, and enhances relationships while furthering donors’ philanthropic objectives.
• Within 6 weeks of hire deliver a strategic development plan to VP and Dean.
• Assist PAE leadership in determining staffing needs, making hiring decisions, and working to onboard new development team members.
• Supervise development staff, including hiring, mentoring, and performance management.
• Oversee an annual giving program with a national outreach to support college goals.
• In partnership with PAE, provide a high level of support in stewardship and recognition efforts for annual giving donors.
• Provide input and direction for development-focused newsletters, invitations, brochures, and other publications/communications, as needed.
• Design and manage solicitation and stewardship plans in Lynx to support fundraising initiatives.
• Maintain current and accurate records of donor prospects recorded in UAF software. On a weekly basis, enter contact reports of all visits, significant telephone conversations, letters and correspondence, gift solicitations, and other communications with donors. Maintain…