Southern Methodist University
Director, Leadership Annual Giving
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75215
Job Description - Director, Leadership Annual Giving (DEA00000416)Salary Range:
Salary commensurate with experience and qualificationsAbout SMU:SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence. Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact. SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.About the Department:Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body. SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.About the Position:This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Director is responsible for leadership and management of a team tasked with cultivation and solicitation activity of highly-rated alumni, parents and friends identified as development prospects, with a goal to secure leadership gifts between $5,000 and $99,999 primarily for current-use funds. This role generates, manages and executes strategies for pipeline development, donor retention and donor upgrades for leadership level donors and prospects, working in conjunction with DEA colleagues. In conjunction with DEA school and unit colleagues, the Director also oversees specific initiatives that have a targeted need for current-use support that can be fulfilled through leadership level giving, incorporating the use of online tools and platforms to facilitate donor solicitations, as appropriate. The Director also spearheads leadership-level giving stewardship initiatives for key giving societies, including Presidents' & Hilltop Society.Essential Functions:Optimize & lead DEA's strategy for the personal solicitation of leadership-level rated fundraising prospects (alumni, parents, friends). Supporting the $500M campaign goal for current use funds, spearhead efforts of the team to secure gifts ($5K - $99K) for funding priorities across all areas of SMU, execute prospect qualification, & fuel donor pipeline development. Deliver regular updates to DEA fundraising staff & AVPs on fundraising goals and success.Lead and manage four professional staff (Leadership Gift Officers, Digital Gift Officers, stewardship coordinator). Refine & enforce policies & procedures that guide their comprehensive solicitation activity towards visits, asks & closures. Ensure accurate & timely reporting by staff of all plan activity, interactions & results.Develop, guide, execute and manage a university-wide Giving Day solicitation strategy for leadership level gifts. Spearhead the matching gift solicitation process that supports specific projects requiring funding at the leadership-level (under $99K).Help achieve alumni participation/engagement goals by directing staff in activity that influences retention & reactivation of consistent participation-level donors.Manage potential expansion of Giving Day platform as a tool to engage fundraising project managers in effective solicitation strategies for their approved, targeted fundraising initiatives that rely on leadership-level gifts for annual support.Other duties as assigned, including active participation in planning and execution of all annual giving and alumni relations signature events and activities.Qualifications:Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s is required. Master's preferred. A minimum of seven years of work experience is required. A minimum of one year of work experience managing a professional staff is also required. Direct fundraising experience personally making leadership or major gift level solicitations is highly preferred.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.Physical and Environmental Demands:Sit for long periods of time, squat, stand, push/pull, walk for distances, carry/lift 25 lbs., handle objects (dexterity).Deadline to Apply:
Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by March 18, 2024. The position is open until filled.EEO Statement:
SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.
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Salary commensurate with experience and qualificationsAbout SMU:SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence. Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact. SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.About the Department:Development and External Affairs (DEA) supports SMU by securing funding for University priorities; by promoting meaningful involvement in the life and work of the University; by heightening international, national, state and local awareness of SMU; and by supporting the enrollment of a diverse and able student body. SMU continues to leverage the benefits from the largest fund-raising campaign in its history to achieve dramatic increases in academic quality and impact.About the Position:This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Director is responsible for leadership and management of a team tasked with cultivation and solicitation activity of highly-rated alumni, parents and friends identified as development prospects, with a goal to secure leadership gifts between $5,000 and $99,999 primarily for current-use funds. This role generates, manages and executes strategies for pipeline development, donor retention and donor upgrades for leadership level donors and prospects, working in conjunction with DEA colleagues. In conjunction with DEA school and unit colleagues, the Director also oversees specific initiatives that have a targeted need for current-use support that can be fulfilled through leadership level giving, incorporating the use of online tools and platforms to facilitate donor solicitations, as appropriate. The Director also spearheads leadership-level giving stewardship initiatives for key giving societies, including Presidents' & Hilltop Society.Essential Functions:Optimize & lead DEA's strategy for the personal solicitation of leadership-level rated fundraising prospects (alumni, parents, friends). Supporting the $500M campaign goal for current use funds, spearhead efforts of the team to secure gifts ($5K - $99K) for funding priorities across all areas of SMU, execute prospect qualification, & fuel donor pipeline development. Deliver regular updates to DEA fundraising staff & AVPs on fundraising goals and success.Lead and manage four professional staff (Leadership Gift Officers, Digital Gift Officers, stewardship coordinator). Refine & enforce policies & procedures that guide their comprehensive solicitation activity towards visits, asks & closures. Ensure accurate & timely reporting by staff of all plan activity, interactions & results.Develop, guide, execute and manage a university-wide Giving Day solicitation strategy for leadership level gifts. Spearhead the matching gift solicitation process that supports specific projects requiring funding at the leadership-level (under $99K).Help achieve alumni participation/engagement goals by directing staff in activity that influences retention & reactivation of consistent participation-level donors.Manage potential expansion of Giving Day platform as a tool to engage fundraising project managers in effective solicitation strategies for their approved, targeted fundraising initiatives that rely on leadership-level gifts for annual support.Other duties as assigned, including active participation in planning and execution of all annual giving and alumni relations signature events and activities.Qualifications:Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s is required. Master's preferred. A minimum of seven years of work experience is required. A minimum of one year of work experience managing a professional staff is also required. Direct fundraising experience personally making leadership or major gift level solicitations is highly preferred.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential.Physical and Environmental Demands:Sit for long periods of time, squat, stand, push/pull, walk for distances, carry/lift 25 lbs., handle objects (dexterity).Deadline to Apply:
Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by March 18, 2024. The position is open until filled.EEO Statement:
SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.
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