What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Development position at Western Carolina University?
The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.
The Director of Development is an EHRA non-faculty, direct fundraising position that reports to the Senior Director of Development. This position serves as the principal development office contact for the College of Education and Allied Professions and is responsible for the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for an assigned group of prospects, including individuals and corporations/foundations, with a focus on major gift activity for gifts at $25,000 and above; the identification and qualification of new prospects; and the management and implementation of assigned fundraising projects and achieving the goals of WCU’s comprehensive fundraising campaign.
The Director of Development is an EHRA non-faculty, direct fundraising position that reports to the Senior Director of Development. This position serves as the principal development office contact for the College of Education and Allied Professions and is responsible for the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for an assigned group of prospects, including individuals and corporations/foundations, with a focus on major gift activity for gifts at $25,000 and above; the identification and qualification of new prospects; and the management and implementation of assigned fundraising projects and achieving the goals of WCU’s comprehensive fundraising campaign.
In collaboration and coordination with the Division of Advancement staff, this position is responsible for providing leadership, management, and strategic direction for the development efforts within the college. Under the direction of the Senior Director of Development, this position will assist in providing overall development leadership and counsel to the Dean(s) and faculty/staff leaders of the assigned college(s) as they develop and execute unit- specific fundraising plans. The position will undertake other duties as may be assigned from time to time.
The Director of Development will be an accomplished fundraising professional who has a demonstrated knowledge of the nature and purpose of public higher education and who has: extensive, successful experience in fundraising at progressively higher levels; strong interpersonal, organizational, and time-management skills reflected in an ability to work effectively and collegially with senior management personnel, professional colleagues, and prospects in a team- oriented environment; a high energy level and commitment to professional growth and responsibilities, unquestioned integrity and fiscal accountability, and ability to plan and achieve long and short-term fundraising goals with database documentation of fundraising activity; and exceptional written and oral communication skills.
The Director of Development will be an accomplished fundraising professional who has a demonstrated knowledge of the nature and purpose of public higher education and who has: extensive, successful experience in fundraising at progressively higher levels; strong interpersonal, organizational, and time-management skills reflected in an ability to work effectively and collegially with senior management personnel, professional colleagues, and prospects in a team- oriented environment; a high energy level and commitment to professional growth and responsibilities, unquestioned integrity and fiscal accountability, and ability to plan and achieve long and short-term fundraising goals with database documentation of fundraising activity; and exceptional written and oral communication skills.
A working knowledge of the fundamentals of stewardship, planned giving, communications strategy, and annual giving is preferred. The Director of Development will conduct themselves in a professional and appropriate manner at all times. Additionally, the Director of Development may be called upon to provide assistance to the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Assistant Vice Chancellor and other staff members of Western Carolina University.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
- Along with the Dean, develop and lead an annual comprehensive development plan for the college. This plan should include, but is not limited to; fundraising initiatives, alumni engagement strategies, communications, events, stewardship efforts and other activities which will advance the interests of the college. These initiatives will be accomplished through leveraging expertise and resources within the division of advancement.
- Actively manage a portfolio of annual, major, and principal-gift level prospects and donors by developing, documenting, and implementing comprehensive strategies for assigned major gift prospects.
- Serve as the primary development office liaison for assigned college(s) and work with the Deans on efforts to identify and cultivate major gift prospects and to develop and execute purposeful solicitation strategies to secure support for priority initiatives and needs.
- Develop targeted relationships with key faculty and staff within the Colleges as part of prospect cultivation and donor stewardship efforts.
- Meet and/or exceed established metrics including overall fiscal year fundraising results for both Colleges, the monthly target of 12 face-to-face visits, and other categories of meaningful contacts with assigned prospects.
- Prepare donor proposals and gift agreements, as necessary.
- Create and file digital contact reports through the Raiser’s Edge database, in accordance with office policy, to track and document contacts with assigned prospects.
- Attend departmental, campaign, college, and university alumni and development functions as appropriate.
- Work evenings and weekends on occasion, staff Alumni and other campus events, which may directly impact fundraising. The candidate will be expected to travel frequently and be fluent in the various options needed to schedule efficient, safe, and cost effective travel.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
WCU’s Prospect Management Guidelines can be found here – https://www.wcu.edu/WebFiles/WCU_Prospect_Management_Guidelines.pdf
Minimum Qualifications
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship from the employer
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- 1-3 years experience in a fundraising environment. Other account-based revenue generating experience will be considered such as sales, nonprofit management, grant-writing, investment management, etc.
Preferred Qualifications
- 3-5 Years experience in higher education fundraising
- Experience working with the Raiser’s Edge NXT relationship management system
- Experience working within a capital campaign environment
Position Type
Permanent Full-Time
Number of Hours Per Week
40
Number of Months Per Year
12
Posting Text
Open Date
03/28/2025
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.
Please include a cover letter, current resume and a list of three professional references with complete contact information.
For questions or additional information please contact Ben Kees at bkees@wcu.edu
Background/E-Verify
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks.
Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.
Western Carolina University uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Proper documentation of identity and employability are required at the time of employment.
Credential Verification
All new employees are required to have listed credentials/degrees verified within 30 days of employment. All new employees who will be teaching are required to provide official transcripts within 30 days of employment. Transcripts should be provided for the highest earned degree and/or the degree which is being used to satisfy credential/qualification requirements.
EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.
University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.
Salary : $25,000
