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Executive Director of Individual Giving
Fort Worth, United States
Posting Details
Position Information
Job Title
Executive Director of Individual Giving
Position Summary
The Executive Director of Individual Giving is a senior fundraising leader responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive gift strategy that aligns with institutional priorities and supports long-term philanthropic growth. This individual will manage a personal portfolio of prospects ($25,000+) comprising up to 200 donors and prospects, while also overseeing the development team. They will provide strategic guidance, accountability, and mentorship to ensure successful donor engagement and revenue generation. The Executive Director serves as a key advisor to the Vice President of Advancement, playing a critical role in advancing the university’s mission through meaningful donor relationships. They lead fundraising efforts for scholarships, academic programs, and institutional priorities, while also facilitating cross-campus collaboration.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership and Strategy Development
- Develop and execute a comprehensive annual, major gift, and planned giving strategy, aligned with the university’s fundraising priorities and campaign goals.
- Provide day-to-day management, coaching, and support to a team of development professionals.
- Monitor team performance, set goals, and ensure adherence to fundraising best practices.
Portfolio Management and Solicitation
- Manage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 high-net-worth individuals with capacity for six- and seven-figure gifts, developing personalized engagement and solicitation strategies for major and planned giving prospects.
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through personal contact while meeting or exceeding established metrics for visits, proposals, and dollars raised.
Collaboration and Institutional Partnerships
- Collaborate with the Vice President of Advancement and the Advancement Leadership Team to identify prospects and develop effective strategies that align donors’ and prospects’ interests with the university’s priorities. Collaborate with the alumni relations, annual giving, and major gifts teams to ensure continuity in donor engagement and retention.
Prospect Pipeline and Portfolio Development
- By leading efforts to identify, qualify, and upgrade major gift prospects, guide the transition of high-potential donors from other portfolios (e.g., Annual Giving, Alumni Relations) into the major gifts pipeline.
- Use the University’s prospect management database and other institutional resources to appropriately identify and manage donor, prospect, alumni, and volunteer relationships.
Fundraising Campaign Strategy
- Participate in campaign planning and execution, helping to develop case statements, donor recognition strategies, and campaign events.
- Assist in the strategy and execution of fundraising campaigns, including capital campaigns, planned giving efforts, and restricted fund initiatives.
- Collaborate with faculty, deans, and university leadership to align fundraising efforts with institutional priorities and needs. Where appropriate, engage faculty and other campus partners in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects and donors.
- Coordinate and participate in donor engagement activities, such as special events, stewardship meetings, and recognition programs, to cultivate or solicit donors. Some activities are held on weekends, evenings, and out of town.
Reporting and Donor Systems Oversight
- Complete timely contact reports, file expense statements, and maintain accurate and relevant prospect management records within the database.
- Maintain accurate records of donor activity in Raiser’s Edge, ensuring effective moves management and stewardship plans.
- Analyze data to inform strategy and report on major gift progress to internal stakeholders.
- Other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Advancement.
Education, Certifications and/or Licenses
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or fundraising certification preferred.
Experience
- Minimum of 7 years of progressive fundraising experience, including demonstrated success in securing major gifts of $25,000+.
- Prior experience supervising development officers and managing a successful major gifts program. Hands-on experience in annual fund, major gifts, and planned giving programs is critical.
- Higher education or campaign experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and a proven ability to build relationships with donors, volunteers, and institutional leaders.
- Ability to adhere to University and divisional policies and procedures.
- Proven ability to solicit and secure gifts in the $25,000+ range.
- Strong strategic thinking, planning, and team leadership abilities.
- Superior written and oral communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling proposals and donor correspondence.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team-oriented advancement office and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
- Ability to plan and implement programs.
- Ability to solve practical problems and deal with various concrete variables in situations with limited standardization.
- Proficiency with fundraising databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and prospect research tools.
- Commitment to integrity, discretion, and donor confidentiality.
- Willingness to travel regionally across the DFW metroplex and work occasional evenings and weekends for donor engagement.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Number
2016AS1028P
Posting Open Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Posting Close Date
Special Instructions to Applicants
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