Nature of Work

The Chadron State Foundation supports Chadron State College by securing and stewarding private support that advances student success, academic excellence, and institutional strength in western Nebraska and beyond.
The Director of Major Gifts supports the Chadron State Foundation's work to enhance Chadron State College's ability to meet its primary educational mission in western Nebraska through fundraising activities that provide resources vital to the mission of Chadron State College in the areas of instruction, research, service, and scholarship programs.
Increase major gift revenue by transforming interest into investment. Lead a focused portfolio and a steady rhythm of small, purposeful gatherings that surface prospects, deepen relationships, and move proposals to "yes," while keeping the CEO focused on the very top prospects.
Salary is commensurate with experience. The Chadron State Foundation may hire this position at the Associate Director, Director, or Senior Director level based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.

Examples of Work Performed

Essential Duties:

Proactively build, manage, and own a major gifts and leadership annual giving portfolio, ensuring regular, meaningful interactions and up-to-date information in the Foundation's donor database.
Personalize the Foundation's story by sharing clear, tailored cases for support that match each donor's interests and the College's priorities.
Strategically plan and travel regionally around donor potential and alumni hotspots, including occasional nights and weekends.
Establish clear funding priorities each semester with academic partners, athletic partners, and College Relations.
Surface planned giving intent for bequests and beneficiaries, document soft commitments, and tee up technical follow-through with the CEO and Finance team.
Accurately document gift activities by preparing proposals and intent notes while collaborating with Stewardship to coordinate donor naming, benefits, and recognition.
Partner with Finance to assess and document the value of athletic and corporate donor benefits, ensuring compliance with sponsorship regulations and tax guidelines.
Facilitate meaningful donor engagement activities that lead to new connections and giving opportunities.
Prepare clear handoffs to the CEO for top prospects, including donor background, strategy, next steps, and follow-through.
Provide timely, accurate reporting that helps leadership track progress and plan strategically.
Complete additional duties as assigned.

Secondary Duties:

Support donor-driven outreach that prioritizes meaningful connections and makes giving simple, clear, and rewarding.
Work as part of a collaborative team by sharing knowledge, aligning efforts, and celebrating success.
Ensure donor meetings, events, and follow-up actions lead to clear next steps.
Test new ideas, improve donor engagement practices, and help scale what works.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Strong communication skills in a variety of settings.
Strong relationship-building skills and comfort engaging donors, alumni, community members, or other external partners.
Strong time management and organizational skills.
Ability to support or coordinate donor meetings, small gatherings, outreach, events, communications, or other relationship-based work.
Ability to learn fundraising systems, donor communications tools, and donor reporting processes.
Sound judgment in handling confidential donor information, internal coordination, and public-facing communications.
Ability to travel regionally to meet with prospective donors.
Comfort working in a small-shop environment where fundraising, communications, events, and operations are closely connected.
Comfort working in both strategy and execution.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience managing donor relationships and personal solicitations.
Experience supporting, coordinating, or leading major gifts, leadership annual giving, donor relations, alumni engagement, nonprofit fundraising, community outreach, sponsorships, events, or related advancement work.
Experience facilitating small-group donor, alumni, community, or volunteer gatherings.
Experience with a fundraising CRM.
Experience with online giving platforms or community outreach tools.
Experience with proposal preparation, donor documentation, planned giving conversations, sponsorships, or donor benefit tracking.
Experience working in higher education, nonprofit fundraising, alumni relations, communications, marketing, events, or advancement services.

Other Requirements

Successful background records check.
Valid driver's license.
Satisfactory evaluation of driving record.

Salary Information: - Salary is commensurate with experience. The Chadron State Foundation may hire this position at the Associate Director, Director, or Senior Director level based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.

FTE: 1.000

FLSA: Exempt

Union Status: Non-Union

Number of Vacancies: 1

Posting Number: PS1666P

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to foundation@csc.edu. Please use "CSF Director of Major Gifts" in the subject line.

General Information

About The Chadron State Foundation

The Chadron State Foundation is dedicated to enhancing Chadron State College's ability to meet its primary educational mission in western Nebraska through undertaking fundraising activities that provide resources vital to the mission of Chadron State College in the areas of instruction, research, service, and scholarship programs.

EEO Statement

The Chadron State Foundation is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. This means that the company will extend equal opportunity without discrimination or harassment to all individuals without regard for race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, handicaps, veteran's status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy affirms CSF's commitment to the principles of fair employment and to eliminating all vestiges of discriminatory practices. CSF encourages all employees to take advantage of opportunities for promotion as they occur. CSF prohibits any such discrimination or harassment

Chadron State College

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