POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Major Gifts is responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive gift program with the goal of securing $20,000.00+ gifts. This position plays a vital role in securing philanthropic support from individuals, corporations and foundations to advance the University’s fundraising goals and priorities to secure private support from alumni and friends of the University, focusing on both unrestricted support as well as restricted capital projects.
This position is primarily responsible for acquiring, cultivating, and soliciting assigned individual donors and prospects with potential to give $5,000.00 or more annually, with a heightened focus on individual giving and upgrading donors to Major Donor levels ($20,000+). The Director of Major Gifts will proactively and strategically manage a portfolio of prospects, generate a high level of activity and prospect contact, formulate gift strategies for these individuals and organizations, and write plans directed at achieving maximum gifts in support of Avila University approved funding needs.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of three years fundraising and philanthropic experience required.
• 5+ years’ experience in gift solicitation, donor recognition and stewardship, and corporate and foundation relations required.
• Proven ability to plan and lead fundraising initiatives; including the ability to: cultivate, solicit, and close major gifts, including five and sixfigure major gifts; develop strategies and implement successful major gift, planned giving, alumni fundraising, and annual fund strategies; and articulate the University’s strategic needs, opportunities, and vision with clarity and enthusiasm
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a dynamic team.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed, some travel also required.
• Superior communication skills including highly developed writing skills and interpersonal communications as well as unwavering ethics and adherence to the values of Avila and the Sisters of St. Joseph is of the utmost importance.
• Independent judgment; attention to detail; ability to manage complex tasks and meet deadlines
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Multilingual skills highly preferred
• Ability to contribute to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves firstgeneration college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.
  Successful candidates should be committed to contributing to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.

• Conduct an active gift solicitation program with alumni and friends for restricted and unrestricted gifts.
• Identify and qualify major gift prospects through research, relationship building and networking to develop, coordinate and submit proposals to potential donors, especially for gifts of $20,000.00 and greater.
• Assist with the coordination and implementation of the comprehensive major gift fundraising program of Avila, including major gifts campaigns, general annual fund campaigns, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, capital and equipment campaigns, and targeted annual appeals to employees, donors, industry partners, and alumni.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of midlevel donors (100200 donors and prospects). Move donors from four to five figure gifts ($5,000.00 $10,000.00) in the major gift management system creating a pipeline of highly engaged donors for Avila.
• Manage a portfolio of 100150 active major gift prospects and donors, while monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of major gift fundraising, tracking interactions and progress toward fundraising goals in the donor database and assessing next steps.
• Develop and implement personalized stewardship plans to recognize and retain major gift donors, including acknowledgement, reporting and recognition opportunities in coordination with Director of Donora Relations, Director of Stewardship and entire Advancement Team.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues in the Advancement/Development department, including annual giving and alumni relations to insure and execution of a comprehensive planned giving plan.
• Work with the University’s communications and marketing team to develop compelling materials, proposals and case statements for major gift solicitations.
• May include some travel regionally to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual donors.
• Assist with sponsorship and auction efforts related to the annual Steer Dinner in the following ways: o Assist with yearround efforts to build sponsorship for the dinner.
• Assist with logistics/event planning activities associated with the event. oAssist with coordinating volunteer committees.
• Assist with the completion of follow-up activities.
• Serve as a project coordinator for miscellaneous projects.
• Complete followup activities such as naming opportunities, signage, etc.
• Assist in web site development related to giving opportunities.
• Maintain a visible presence on campus.
• Assist with recognition societies and other stewardship activities related to major gifts.
• Develop program plan and a system of dashboards to track major gifts and assist with the annual giving section.
• Champion diversity, build an inclusive culture and learning experience, and maintain an equitable learning environment.
• Performs other jobrelated duties as assigned.