Director of Development

Join to apply for the Director of Development role at Trinity Washington University

Salary range: $120,000-$135,000 (Salary determination is based on experience.)

Trinity Washington University seeks a mission‑driven, strategic, and experienced Director of Development to provide leadership across key advancement functions—including the Annual Fund, Class and Reunion Giving, Stewardship, and Records and Research—while managing a major gifts portfolio. This senior role ensures cohesive, data‑informed, and donor‑centered fundraising strategies that strengthen philanthropic support for Trinity’s institutional priorities.

Trinity is the nation’s oldest Catholic women’s college, now a university with several co‑educational units but sustaining its full‑time daytime women’s college. Trinity today enrolls a majority of Black and Hispanic students in undergraduate, graduate, certificate and dual enrollment programs. 95% of the students are female; 50% are residents of the District of Columbia, and most Trinity graduates reside in the greater Washington region.

The successful candidate must demonstrate clear expertise and enthusiasm for promoting Trinity’s historic commitments to women and a broadly diverse population of students and graduates.

The Director will supervise staff and programs in annual giving, class giving, stewardship and donor relations, and advancement services (records and research), while also actively managing major donor relationships. This full‑time, on‑site position requires exceptional leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.

• Provide strategic and managerial oversight of the Annual Fund, Class and Reunion Giving, Stewardship, and Records and Research teams.
• Align annual, leadership, and major giving strategies to support institutional priorities and campaign goals.
• Establish and monitor departmental goals, performance metrics, and reporting structures.
• Manage a portfolio of 75–125 major gift prospects capable of making gifts of $10,000+.
• Conduct regular donor visits, cultivation meetings, and solicitations to meet annual and campaign fundraising goals.
• Develop individualized donor cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Prepare compelling proposals, briefings, and donor communications.
• Oversee development and execution of a comprehensive multi‑channel annual giving plan.
• Ensure effective strategies and segmentation for direct mail, digital campaigns, phone outreach, and annual leadership gifts.
• Collaborate with Creative Services team on messaging, appeals, and branding for annual fund initiatives.

• Lead class‑based philanthropy, including reunion campaigns and volunteer class agent programs.
• Recruit, train, and support alumnae/i volunteers.
• Set class‑based fundraising goals and monitor progress.

• Supervise the stewardship program, including donor recognition, acknowledgment processes, and donor impact reporting.
• Ensure consistent, timely, and accurate stewardship for all donor segments.
• Support development of giving societies and recognition events.

• Oversee advancement services, including donor records, gift processing, data integrity, and research.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting, prospect research, and data analytics.
• Establish policies and best practices for data management and confidentiality.
• Support design, execution, and reporting for special campaigns, including capital and endowment initiatives.
• Work with the Vice President for Development to drive overall fundraising strategy.
• Collaborate with campus partners on priority‑setting and fundraising alignment.
• Engage volunteer leaders, trustees, and class committees in fundraising activities.
• Represent Trinity at events, receptions, and donor programs.

• On‑campus, office‑based position with regular donor travel in the region.
• Evening and weekend work required for donor meetings, campus events, and campaign activities.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in higher education advancement or a closely related…