Development Unit Lead For Priority Initiatives

As a development unit lead, you will manage the fundraising operation for the priority initiatives team. This will include leading a team of fundraising professionals, frequently visit with current and potential donors, primarily through phone calls, email, and Zoom. You will have the occasional opportunities for face-to-face interaction in their home, office, at events, or hosting at a restaurant or coffee shop. Working each day to connect donors' philanthropic interests with campus priorities, you will blend your professional knowledge, relationship building, developing programs and talent with philanthropic strategies.

Based on qualifications and experience, a selected candidate may hold one of these job titles: Director of Development or Senior Director of Development.

Core responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Hire, train, and supervise development officers with a focus on securing expendable cash gifts in the mid-level marketplace.

• Ensure goals and metrics are being met with individual team members and ensure that team goals and metrics are met and/or exceeded. Be aware of team's workload, portfolios, challenges, and opportunities, etc., and meet regularly to give and receive feedback and provide guidance.

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospective donors, focusing primarily on high-end annual gifts ranging from $2,500 to $99,999, with an emphasis on closing expendable cash gifts. Portfolio could contain prospects from all units on campus - including all the colleges and non-collegiate programs.

• Travel, primarily via car and occasionally via air, to assigned geographic areas.

• Coordinate fundraising and prospect engagements with direct supervisor, collaborating with unit leads, development staff and other ISU Foundation and campus partners when appropriate.

• Proactively engage in benchmarking with industry partners, vendors, and peer/aspirant institutions, with the intent of developing and maintaining an understanding of current and emerging trends related to solicitation at the mid-level. This can involve but is not limited to championing and utilizing emerging technologies, techniques, strategies, and methodology.

Qualifications

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor's degree. Advanced degree or professional certification preferred.

• 4+ years of experience in any of the following areas: major gift fundraising, annual and special gift fundraising, non-profit work, higher education, sales, communications, or another related field. Education may be substituted for years of experience.

• Experience managing staff and budget management.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Ability to achieve ambitious goals. You should have a remarkable track record for leading successful initiatives with measurable results.

• Savvy relationship-building and leadership skills and be an excellent communicator. You should be articulate and persuasive with diplomacy and tact to represent the foundation to multiple constituents, donors, and campus leadership. You must also have demonstrable skills in persuasive speaking and influencing others.

• Problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. You can champion donor-centeredness by understanding the desires of the donors and creating simple solutions.

• Strong team orientation, a dedicated work ethic, and a positive and professional attitude.

• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple initiatives.

• Ability to use a variety of software applications.

• Knowledge of university system preferred.

• Creativity, patience, a sense of humor and a belief in our organizational mission of: Aligning donor passion and generosity to advance Iowa State University's land grant ideals.

Travel: Frequent day trips (travel by car) and occasional overnight travel.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Ames, IA; potentially hybrid

For additional information, visit the following pages:

• Iowa State University Foundation

• Benefits Package Information

• Iowa State University