Director of Annual Giving and Major Gifts

Join Our Mission. Transform Lives Through Philanthropy.

Director of Annual Giving & Major Gifts

Are you a relationship-builder with a passion for higher education and a talent for inspiring generosity? Do you thrive on connecting donors with meaningful opportunities to make a lasting impact? If so, we invite you to join our Advancement team as the Director of Annual Giving & Major Gifts.

In this highly visible leadership role, you will lead a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances the University's Catholic liberal arts mission while directly supporting student success, academic excellence, and institutional growth. Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, you will drive annual giving initiatives, cultivate major donor relationships, and help foster a vibrant culture of philanthropy across our campus community.

What You'll Do

As the Director of Annual Giving & Major Gifts, you will:

Lead Strategic Fundraising Efforts

• Develop and execute a data-informed annual giving strategy that increases donor participation, retention, and philanthropic support.
• Establish fundraising goals aligned with institutional priorities and campaign initiatives.
• Analyze fundraising performance and implement strategies for continuous improvement.

Cultivate and Steward Major Donors

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 60-75 major gift prospects and donors.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward philanthropic investments that support the University's mission and priorities.
• Build authentic, long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, and community partners.

Collaborate Across Campus

• Partner with academic leaders, faculty, and administrators to align donor interests with institutional needs.
• Work closely with Marketing, Communications, Alumni Relations, and Advancement colleagues to develop compelling fundraising campaigns and donor engagement strategies.
• Communicate fundraising priorities, achievements, and impact to stakeholders both on and off campus.

Strengthen Donor Engagement

• Represent the University at donor meetings, alumni events, and community functions.
• Coordinate meaningful stewardship and recognition opportunities that deepen donor commitment.
• Help donors see the direct impact of their generosity on student success and campus initiatives.

Ensure Excellence and Accountability

• Monitor fundraising metrics and budget performance.
• Maintain accurate donor records and ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards and institutional policies.
• Protect donor confidentiality and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, sales, or a related relationship-focused field.
• Demonstrated success achieving ambitious goals and building strong professional relationships.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or nonprofit fundraising.
• Proven success with annual giving programs and/or major gift fundraising.
• Experience with donor management systems such as Jenzabar, Raiser's Edge, or similar CRM platforms.
• Commitment to, or appreciation for, the mission and values of Catholic higher education.

Why Join Us?

This is more than a fundraising role-it's an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and the future of our University. You'll join a dedicated team committed to educational excellence, faith-based values, and the transformative power of philanthropy.

If you're a strategic thinker, skilled relationship-builder, and passionate advocate for higher education, we encourage you to apply and help shape the future of our institution.

Apply today and help inspire the generosity that changes lives.