| Location | Milledgeville, GA |
| Salary | $76,282–$85,000 Per Year |
About Us
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the states designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.
As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.
Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.
The universitys beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery OConnor, 45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at OConnors former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.
Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgias Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, the Senior Director of Principal, Planned, and Estate Giving holds primary responsibility for Georgia College & State Universitys (GCSU) planned giving program. This position collaborates closely with all development officers across the university to build and sustain a robust estate giving plan, and assists the Vice President in identifying principal giving opportunities and prospective donors across campus. The Senior Director also identifies, cultivates, and stewards principal giving donors from the Lake Oconee Region and represents GCSU at events throughout that region.
Responsibilities
Major Gifts Fundraising & Portfolio Management - 60%
Develops, implements, and manages a sophisticated major and principal gifts fundraising program focused on cultivating and soliciting transformational contributions from alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends of the university.
Maintains a personal portfolio of high-capacity major and principal gift prospects, executing consistent, meaningful engagement strategies that advance relationships through all stages of the gift cycle toward solicitation and closure.
Creates and drives a strategic annual fundraising plan with ambitious dollar goals, defined prospect strategies, moves management timelines, and clear accountability metrics.
Collaborates with the Office of Alumni Engagement on engaging and recognizing alumni in designated units and supporting alumni efforts at the institutional level. Coordinate unit-level alumni engagement efforts with GCSU Alumni Engagement.
Partners with the Prospect Research team to identify, qualify, and prioritize a robust pipeline of major and principal donor prospects, ensuring a healthy and actively managed portfolio.
Designs and executes sophisticated long- and short-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies tailored to individual donor interests, capacity, and philanthropic motivations.
Coordinates State and Foundation resources to ensure all funds are utilized effectively and in full alignment with donor intent as outlined in gift and endowment agreements.
Collaborates with the broader advancement team on prospect management, corporate and foundation proposals, planned giving solicitations, and campaign initiatives.
Travels regularly - locally, regionally, and nationally - to cultivate and solicit major and principal donors and prospects in support of assigned college or unit priorities.
Staff Leadership & Mentorship - 10%
Provides direct supervision, coaching, and professional development support to assigned development officers and advancement staff.
Sets performance expectations, conducts regular check-ins, and evaluates staff progress toward fundraising goals and professional growth benchmarks.
Models best practices in major gifts fundraising, donor engagement, and advancement operations for junior staff.
Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing team culture within University Advancement.
Strategic Leadership & Campaign Engagement - 15%
Serves as a senior fundraising strategist for the assigned college or unit, providing vision and direction for long-range development planning and campaign goal-setting.
Plays a leadership role in comprehensive campaign planning and execution, including participation in silent phase strategy, case for support development, and volunteer engagement.
Partners with academic leadership, including Deans and faculty, to identify and articulate compelling philanthropic priorities that align donor interests with institutional needs.
Represents University Advancement at college-level events, leadership meetings, and donor-facing occasions as a senior ambassador for the institutions philanthropic mission.
Volunteer & Board Engagement - 5%
Provides strategic leadership to volunteer advisory and fundraising boards associated with assigned areas, ensuring members are meaningfully engaged in stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation activities.
Develops agendas, prepares briefing materials, and provides strategic direction to maximize volunteer board effectiveness and philanthropic impact.
Identifies, recruits, and cultivates new volunteer leaders to sustain and grow board capacity over time.
Stewardship & Donor Relations - 5%
Leads and participates in stewardship activities designed to recognize, engage, and retain major donors, including organizing high-level development events, impact reporting, and personalized recognition experiences.
Contributes to and oversees the development of donor communications including gift proposals, case statements, newsletters, and giving website content.
Ensures timely and meaningful acknowledgment of major gifts in coordination with the advancement services and stewardship teams.
Other - 5%
Performs other duties as assigned in support of the divisions fundraising and advancement objectives.
Required Qualifications
Educational Requirements
Bachelors degree from an accredited institution.
Other Required Qualifications
Demonstrated, verifiable track record of personally soliciting and closing major gifts at the six-figure level or above.
Experience managing a large, active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects through all stages of the gift cycle.
Experience developing and executing strategic fundraising plans with measurable goals and outcomes.
Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing leadership to development staff or advancement teams.
Proficiency with CRM/advancement database systems such as Raisers Edge, Salesforce, or similar platforms.
Valid drivers license and ability to travel regularly.
Required Experience
Minimum of 7 years of progressive fundraising experience, with a significant portion focused on major gifts, preferably in higher education or a complex non-profit environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional Preferred Qualifications
Experience working directly with academic deans, provosts, or senior institutional leadership to align fundraising strategy with academic priorities.
Demonstrated success leading or participating in a comprehensive fundraising campaign, including silent and public phases.
Experience managing and growing a volunteer fundraising board or advisory council.
Familiarity with planned giving vehicles and their integration into a comprehensive major gifts strategy.
CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential or active pursuit of same.
Preferred Educational Qualifications
Masters degree or advanced degree in a related field.
Preferred Experience
10+ years of major and principal gifts fundraising experience in higher education.
Proposed Salary
This position is a pay grade 12. The available salary range is $76,282 to $85,000. Starting salary within this range is based on relevant years of experience.
For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay-grade-structure.
Relocation is negotiable.
Required Documents to Attach
Cover Letter
Resume
List of References
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
ABILITIES
Ability to provide senior-level fundraising leadership and strategic vision while remaining personally active in frontline major gift work
Ability to engage credibly and build trust with high-net-worth donors, university executives, academic deans, and community stakeholders
Ability to lead, inspire, and develop a team of advancement professionals in a collaborative and goal-oriented environment
Ability to handle sensitive donor, personnel, and institutional information with the highest level of discretion and confidentiality
Ability to travel extensively, including evenings and weekends as required by donor schedules and university events
Ability to represent the university with professionalism, enthusiasm, and a genuine commitment to its philanthropic mission
KNOWLEDGE
Comprehensive knowledge of major and principal gifts fundraising principles, moves management methodology, and the full gift cycle
In-depth knowledge of planned giving vehicles - including bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts - and their strategic role in a comprehensive development program
Thorough understanding of higher education advancement structures, including the relationship between institutional foundations, academic units, and central advancement operations
Deep familiarity with CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) standards, ethical fundraising guidelines, and industry best practices
Working knowledge of gift processing, fund accounting, and endowment stewardship principles
Understanding of comprehensive campaign structures, including goal-setting, silent phase strategy, and volunteer engagement frameworks
Understanding of FERPA and other applicable privacy regulations in a higher education context
SKILLS
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling six- and seven-figure gift proposals, case statements, and high-stakes donor correspondence
Advanced relationship-building skills with the ability to engage authentically and strategically with high-net-worth donors, corporate and foundation partners, and senior institutional leaders
Strong leadership and staff development skills, including the ability to coach, motivate, and evaluate development professionals toward ambitious fundraising goals
Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage complex, concurrent priorities across a large and active donor portfolio
Analytical skills to assess prospect capacity, evaluate portfolio and program performance, and present data-informed fundraising reports to senior leadership
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and advancement CRM platforms
Skill in developing and delivering persuasive, polished presentations to individuals, boards, and senior leadership audiences
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individuals age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individuals protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individuals protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.
Other Information
This is a supervisory position.
This position has financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is not considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 50% - 74% of the time
This position does not require security clearance.
Background Check