Company Description:
Founded in 1819, Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the country and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC). Today we are a diversified academic institution that offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and professional certificates to adult learners online and to Corps and civilian lifestyle students on campus. Norwich faculty and staff challenge all of our students to push themselves academically, socially, and as leaders. Our graduates build upon their Norwich educations to launch or grow careers and make outsized contributions to their communities, the nation, and the world.
Norwich University is located in the beautiful Green Mountains of Vermont, only 20 minutes from the state capital, Montpelier, and three hours from Boston or Montreal. It is a private institution nestled in a rural setting with a campus size of 1,200 acres.
Our excellent benefit package includes medical, dental, vision, group life, and disability insurances, flexible-spending accounts for health and dependent care, a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, an employee assistance program, paid time off, use of the University pool and fitness center, and tuition scholarships for eligible employees and their family members. Some employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program on their Federal Student Aid Direct Loan balance. For more information about our benefits, visit https://norwich.trgportal.com.
Job Description:
Fulfills the mission of Norwich University by advancing a comprehensive major gifts program that secures philanthropic support aligned with the University's strategic priorities. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Senior Director will oversee the Major Gifts team, providing strategic direction, coaching, and performance oversight to drive fundraising success.
The Senior Director of Major Gifts plays a dual role as both a frontline fundraiser and team leader, managing a portfolio of high-level prospects while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and donor-centricity within the team.
Hybrid work schedule may be authorized for this position.
Essential Functions
- Manages a personal portfolio of approximately 150+/- major gift prospects with the capacity to contribute $25K to $1 million or more. The assigned territory will include five to six regional areas/states.
- Develops and executes comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to advance donor engagement and philanthropic investment in Norwich University.
- Provides oversight of the Major Gifts team's portfolios to ensure timely movement through the gift cycle, balanced pipelines, and alignment with institutional fundraising priorities.
- Leads, mentors, and manages a high-performing Major Gifts Officers by establishing performance goals, conducting regular evaluations, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Ensures direct reports are effectively trained, coached, and supported to perform at a high level, while fostering a professional, accountable, and mission-driven team culture.
- Oversees the Major Gifts team budget, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and maximizing return on investment.
- Fosters a culture of cross-functional collaboration and transparency across the Development and Alumni Relations teams.
- Promotes shared ownership of donor strategies to deliver a seamless, donor-centered fundraising experience and support university-wide campaign efforts.
- Builds and sustains meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of the University, serving as a resource and ambassador for Norwich, its mission, and fundraising priorities.
- Partners closely with University leadership to strategically engage prospects and donors in the vision, mission, and fundraising priorities of Norwich University.
- Develops compelling proposals and gift agreements, including complex and planned gifts.
- Maintains up-to-date knowledge of Norwich's academic programs, strategic initiatives, and campaign priorities.
- Ensures the timely documentation of all donor contacts, strategies, and proposals within the University's CRM system.
- Maintains the highest standards of discretion, professionalism, and confidentiality in all aspects of donor and University relations.
- Serves as a liaison to one of the University's academic programs, ensuring alignment between philanthropic opportunities and academic priorities.
Other Functions
- Assesses the performance of direct reports and provides frequent feedback to optimize their performance.
- Maintains confidentiality of sensitive or private information.
- Communicates with employees, students, and others in a respectful and clear manner.
- Serves on University committees, councils, workgroups, or other designated bodies as assigned.
- Achieves, maintains proficiency in, and utilizes computers, telephones, and other job-related equipment, including related systems and software.
- Speaks, reads, and writes in English.
- Communicates by telephone, email, letter, in person, or other means or device.
- Performs other tasks as assigned by supervisor.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree required, advanced degree or professional training in fundraising, nonprofit management, or a related field preferred.
- 7 years of progressive experience in major gift fundraising, with a strong track record of closing gifts of $25,000 or more; experience in higher education preferred. Comparable success in high-level sales or relationship-based revenue generation in another industry will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience leading and motivating high-performing teams; proven ability to set strategic direction, drive accountability, and foster a results-oriented, collaborative team culture.
- Valid driver's license
- Strong analytical, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive materials with discretion.
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment; prioritize, multitask, and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, Outlook); advanced Excel or database experience is helpful.
- Experience with fundraising CRMs.
- Ability to work cooperatively with diverse colleagues, students, and constituents in a professional and respectful manner.
- Demonstrates grace under pressure and adaptability in dynamic environments.
- Able to sit, squat, reach, push, pull, and manipulate related equipment; lift 15 pounds; travel outdoors to various parts of the campus
- Work some evening or weekend hours
- Travel as needed (public or private transportation) to visit prospects and represent Norwich at donor meetings and University events.
Environmental Conditions
- Indoor work at a computer workstation.
- Low level of exposure to noise, dust, fumes, vibrations, and temperature changes.
Additional Information:
Norwich University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a positive education and work environment that recognizes and respects the dignity of all students, faculty and staff. Reasonable accommodations will be made for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant. Please contact the Office of Human Resources at nuhr@norwich.edu for assistance.
All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring immigration sponsorship, including but not limited to non-immigrant visas such as H1B, STEM, or F1, now or in the future. A post offer, pre-employment background check will be required of the successful candidate.
Application Instructions:
Please provide a cover letter, resume, 3 references, and Norwich application.
Review of applications will begin immediately and open until filled.
