Director of Development

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, this employee will steward and grow a portfolio of mid-level donors, maintaining contact primarily by phone, email, video calls, and in-person meetings when advisable. This person will assume a leadership role in implementing the university’s fundraising activities. This employee will represent Mid-America Christian University in a manner that encourages donors to support its mission.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage a portfolio of 100 donors ($250 to $1,000 per year giving level) through the moves management process, maintaining personal contact with them via phone, mail, email, video calls, or in-person meetings, with a goal of maintaining approximately quarterly touchpoints.
• Make 200 substantial contacts with donors each year that develop relationships toward increased giving.
• Create a pipeline of annual giving donors, moving donors into major gifts and planned gifts.
• Help coordinate and lead special giving initiatives.
• Assist in the writing and implementation of appeal letters.
• Manage the Day of Giving, annual fund solicitation activities, and other aspects of developing support for the University.
• Assist in overseeing the maintenance and use of the donor database.
• Write giving proposals to foundations, churches, and corporations.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A qualified candidate will have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ and affirm and support the vision, mission, statement of faith, and community life covenant of Mid-America Christian University.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s degree required. Three years of relevant experience is preferred.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND TRAITS:

1. Ability to network and grow relationships, leading to philanthropic support.

2. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.

3. Ability to function well as a member of a team.

4. Work with and manage data, including manipulating and analyzing data to inform fundraising strategies.

5. Organizational skills and strong attention to detail.

6. Strong customer service skills.

7. Ability to learn and utilize advancement software.

8. A self-starter who identifies opportunities and takes initiative..

9. Excellent command of English as a spoken and written language, including spelling, grammar, and proofreading skills.

10. Project management and problem-solving skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and gain cooperation of others.

11. Ability to handle sensitive materials and conversations with confidentiality.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential function:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, storage shelves, office machinery, etc
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer)
• Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds across office for various needs

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment is characteristic of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Please review our Mission Statement and our Statement of Faith at https://www.macu.edu/about/