Description: Job Description Summary: Reporting to the Sr. Director of Philanthropy and Gift Planning (SDPGP), the Development Director (DD), Podiatric Medicine and Health Sciences is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts in the $25,000 to six-figure range from the College of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Health Sciences alumni and friends. The DD will work closely with the SDPGP, as well as the Deans and faculty of the College of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Health Sciences, to advance funding opportunities and donor engagement activities on behalf of Podiatry and Health Sciences and SMU. The DD will also play a key role in driving success for SMU's first-ever comprehensive campaign.
Duties and Responsibilities:- Manage a portfolio of 100 major gift prospects and major donors through all phases of the giving cycle, from qualification through stewardship, with the purpose of deepening engagement among existing major donors, increasing giving among donors, growing annual revenue, and increasing the number of major donors to the SMU College of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Health Sciences.
- Develop goals in partnership with the SDPGP and the Vice President of Advancement and conduct visits, make asks, and meet established goals and expectations annually.
- Organize strategic prospect visits and include key SMU faculty, staff, leadership, and/or regents as appropriate in order to build relationships and secure gifts. Communicate with all parties via briefings, cultivation and solicitation and stewardship plans/updates, and donor correspondence.
- Manage all communications and follow-up with assigned prospects and donors, including maintaining detailed contact reports in SMU's database of record (Raiser's Edge NXT).
- Work closely with the Deans and faculty to facilitate a positive relationship with the Colleges and to develop and articulate fundraising priorities and gift opportunities that align with both the Colleges and the University overall.
- Collaborate with Advancement colleagues in the planning and execution of cultivation and solicitation events associated with the major gift program, including reunions, events, meetings, and workshops.
- Identify alumni and other constituents for volunteer leadership roles including reunion and class leaders, Board and committee positions.
- Attend special events representing Advancement as a means of engaging donors and prospects.
- Work with Advancement Services on donor and prospect record updates.
- Actively maintain an in-depth knowledge of SMU, its funding priorities, and giving opportunities in order to articulate a compelling case for support to all constituents.
Requirements:Education and/or Experience- Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of training and/or experience.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in fundraising or equivalent; experience in higher education preferred.
- Demonstrated experience as a successful fundraiser in a complex and dynamic environment such as a higher education institution or healthcare and hospital system.
- Previous campaign experience and/or experience cultivating, soliciting, and securing five-figure gifts and above.
- Experience developing, managing, and adhering to budgets and quantifiable fundraising metrics.
- Demonstrated database management experience; previous experience with Blackbaud products such as Raiser's Edge, Raiser's Edge NXT preferred.
- Demonstrated competence in applications such as Microsoft Office, Monday.com, Teams, Thankview, and Workday.
Skills and Abilities- Demonstrated excellent communication skills - written, verbal, and aural.
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
- Ability to communicate with and work collaboratively with many different internal and external project stakeholders.
- Excellent organizational skills, keen attention to detail, and a demonstrated team player.
- Ability to meet in-person with SMU donors and prospects.
- Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends and to travel periodically (principally in California).
- Knowledge of the mission of SMU, and connection to SMU communities: Bay Area, Sacramento, and/or Fresno.
