Director of Development I, Scholarships and University Initiatives

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, Scholarships and University Initiatives, the Director of Development I serves as the unit’s in-house expert on undergraduate scholarships. This position works closely with the university’s Scholarship Office and OSU Foundation’s scholarship task force to raise funds, design donor engagement strategies, and strengthen scholarship programs across the university. The role also partners with college-based development teams to support college-specific scholarship priorities and provides guidance to university units without assigned development staff.

The successful candidate will devote approximately 80% of their time to fundraising activities and 20% to administrative responsibilities.

Measures of Success:

• Raise $1M -$2.5 per year, including 12-16 gifts at $50,000 and above
• Open 20-40 new proposals per year at $50,000
or above
• Conduct 120-160 visits per year

Major Gift Fundraising 

• Serve as a development officer within the division of Scholarships & University Initiatives and work closely with the senior director of development, and university leadership to advance the philanthropic priorities of the division and to create an articulate and compelling case for support for the programs within it.
• Lead efforts to expand scholarship fundraising, with primary emphasis on new endowed scholarships ($50,000+), while also supporting select leadership ($1- $4.99M or principal gift ($5 million and above) opportunities as they arise in collaboration with the Senior Director of Development.

Potential Donor Discovery 

• Actively pursue highly rated potential major gift donors.

Engagement 

• Engage your portfolio in the life of the university

Leadership

• Provide visible leadership across the entire organization by engaging in organization-wide activities such as development management meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff events.
• Serve as our in-house expert on undergraduate scholarships.

Position Accountabilities  

• Raise $1M - $2.5M per year, including 12-16 gifts at $50,000 and above
• Open 20-40 new proposals per year at $50,000 or above
• Manage a portfolio of 100-125 relationships rated at $50,000 and above
• Conduct 120-160 visits per year
• Travel five to seven days per month making three to five visits per travel day
• Perform related administrative duties for the assigned areas including writing contact reports, budget management, case statement development, and events development
• Assist in increasing the overall productivity and efficiency of the division’s development staff in terms of numbers of potential donor visited, proposals opened, and major gifts closed
• Develop and support clearly-defined and strategic fundraising priorities and articulate compelling cases for support going forward to advance them
• Bring the foundation’s organizational values to life by modeling them at all times
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge/Skills:

• Proven track record of successful major gift cultivation and solicitation
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to articulate a strong and compelling case for support
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to create strong professional relationships with colleagues at the Foundation and university
• Ability to listen to donor and determine best engagement plan to support intersection of donor’s interests and university’s priorities
• Strategic, hardworking, and able to work with a high degree of flexibility in a highly-collaborative, fast-paced, goal-oriented environment
• Ability to apply creative and entrepreneurial thinking, while applying sound judgment and conducting oneself with integrity

Education/Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required and five years of progressive development experience working primarily with major gift donors. That said, experience equivalencies will be considered. This position requires the ability to travel frequently, at times requiring overnight stays, and by various modes of transportation.

Important Organizational Notes: 

The candidate must possess a valid driver’s license and be prepared to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends to support foundation events and donor-related activities. Adherence to a professional code of conduct is essential at all times, ensuring the highest standards of integrity, respect, and ethical behavior in all interactions and responsibilities.  Adherence to the Core Values is vital to success.

Classification: Exempt

Compensation: Starting annual salary $85,000