JOB TITLE: Director of Development - Major Gifts

DEPARTMENT: Development & Alumni Relations

REPORTS TO: VP Development and Alumni Relations

UNIVERSITY MISSION: Rochester Christian University prepares students for professional and personal success as they serve in God’s world.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Director of Development - Major Gifts is responsible for cultivating and securing significant philanthropic support for Rochester Christian University. This role manages a portfolio of high-capacity prospects, prepares and delivers compelling proposals, and builds lasting relationships with donors to secure gifts of $10K and above.

Education And/Or Experience Required

Bachelor’s degree in communications, business, nonprofit management, or a related field.
7+ years of major gift fundraising in a nonprofit or educational setting.
Track record of closing six figure gifts and meeting and exceeding fundraising goals.

Preferred Qualifications

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and engage diverse audiences.
Ability to meet deadlines, work effectively under pressure, handle competing priorities, with a team and independently.
Strong interpersonal, networking, and relationship building skills.
Proficiency in CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred), Microsoft Office, and social media platforms.
A passion for private higher education and commitment to the mission of Rochester Christian University.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Establish multi-year contributions, identifying new funding sources and management of current donors.
Prepare 20-25 meaningful solicitations/proposals qualifying prospects including 120 face to face visits/meaningful engagement consisting of individual giving, corporations, private and community foundations and existing donors.
Track fundraising metrics, prepare donor reports, and analyze data to inform strategies.
Collaborate with the development team to manage and grow a portfolio of 150 prospects for gifts of $10K and above for capital, endowment, restricted, and unrestricted support and tracking progress against fundraising goals.
Lead in building a pipeline for long-term sustainability.
Conduct regular communication and outreach to donors, including personalized thank-you notes, impact reports, and updates on university initiatives.
Cultivate and steward relationships with donors and community members to become engaged members of the university. Implement comprehensive stewardship plans to acknowledge gifts, provide updates on impact of donations, and maintain ongoing engagement with donors.
Collaborate with the Director of Development Operations to identify prospects for major gifts and planned giving opportunities.
Cultivate relationships with alumni through outreach, networking events, and volunteer opportunities in the local community.
Promote an inclusive Rochester through demonstration of our Diversity Statement. Participate in developmental activities to increase understanding and awareness of issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion both individually and as related to my field of work, profession or discipline.
Willing to work standard office hours with after-hours commitments and events.

Required Skills And Abilities

Highly effective storyteller and relationship builder who can bring to life the strategic priorities of Rochester Christian University and capture the hearts and minds of potential donors and inspires them to support RCU
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build rapport with major giving prospects.
Strong understanding of fundraising best practices.
Exceptional organizational skills.
Self-starter that can work individually or in a team environment.
Knowledge of CRM database (Raiser’s Edge NXT) and/or other software to retrieve data and perform comprehensive analysis related to all aspects of the annual fund.
Experience with various software systems including Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
Supportive of the University mission. Indicators of this support include a demonstrated personal faith in Jesus Christ and being active in a local church.

Rochester Christian University

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