Senior Director of Development, Lam Family College of Business (Administrator II) - Development Office

Position Summary

Reporting to one of two Executive Directors of Development, the Senior Director of Development of the College of Business supervises the Associate Director of Development and plans, organizes, and implements the College’s major and principal gifts fundraising program.

The Senior Director works closely with the Executive Director, the Associate Vice President for Development, and the Dean of the College to increase philanthropic support for key fundraising priorities in both undergraduate and graduate programs and affiliated centers and institutes.

S / He builds relationships with prominent alumni and other potential funders to secure gifts of $25,000 to $1 million and above.

The Senior Director will have the opportunity to secure support for scholarships, endowed chairs, and programmatic initiatives, including the Lam-Larsen Initiatives and Centers, an innovative set of programs, research projects, workshops, speaker events, and other activities designed to have a transformational impact on the thousands of students, faculty, and staff of the Lam Family College of Business and across San Francisco State University.

Many of these activities are interdisciplinary and are developed in partnership with businesses, industry / professional associations, nonprofits, and local, state, or federal government organizations.

The Senior Director will be a motivated, self-directed individual with 7 or more years of experience in successful fundraising, preferably in a university setting.

S / He will have a demonstrated track record of success in personal face-to-face solicitations, cultivation, and closing of major gifts and will work without close supervision to successfully meet the fundraising goals of the College.

S / He will collaborate with stakeholders to develop a strategy to expand the current donor base and increase private support.

The Senior Director qualifies and engages individuals as potential major gift donors and moves them through the cultivation cycle.

Another major focus of the Senior Director will be to steward donors and strengthen the donor’s relationship to the College and the University.

The Lam Family College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the country with a proud history and great tradition;

it is also one of the most diverse. Since 1964, it has been accredited by AACSB International and is a leading institution of business education in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an emphasis on preparing students to succeed in an economy that is global in nature.

Located in one of the world’s most vibrant and beautiful cities, San Francisco State University is a recognized leader in addressing issues both global and close to home.

It is composed of six colleges, which are comprised of more than seventy-five schools and departments offering over two hundred academic programs, majors, minors, concentrations, and credential and certificate programs.

As home to the nation’s first and only College of Ethnic Studies, SF State is ranked among the top ten most diverse universities by U.

S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges. With its unwavering commitment to social justice that is central to the work of the University, SF State prepares its students to become productive, ethical, active citizens with a global perspective.

It is important to stress that fundraising skills or experience in similar frontline facing areas such as sales or service are key, and the candidate does not need to have a degree in business or accounting to be the fundraiser for the college.

Position Information

Structuring Work

• Defines and communicates specific needs and develops priorities for private support in coordination with the College Dean and Executive Director of Fundraising.
• Develops and implements an annual business plan based on development office and priorities in coordination with the College Dean and Executive Director of Fundraising & AVP of Development.
• Develops appropriate fundraising strategies including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for major and leadership gifts to the College.
• Effectively manage follow-up and reporting requirements in an appropriate manner while maintaining confidentiality.
• Maintains a major gift portfolio of 100-125 prospects and donors to meet agreed upon philanthropic goals. Maintains an active schedule of meaningful visits and contacts, solicitations, closing gifts and stewardship.

Personally identifies, cultivates, and solicits prospective donors for major and principal gifts.

• Discover and qualify new prospects for support of the College with emphasis on prospects capable of contributing $25,000 and more.
• Plans development-oriented campus visits for current and potential donors.

Inspiring Performance

• Secures private support from alumni and other potential Individual funders to secure gifts of $25,000 - $1M and above.
• Provides effective stewardship and involvement opportunities for major gift and principal donors and high-level volunteers.
• Works collaboratively with other fundraisers, volunteers, and the executive and academic leadership of the campus.
• Supports donor relations and stewardship programs as appropriate.

Collaboration

Prepares written strategies and proposals for individuals. Encourages and facilitates proposals from faculty as appropriate for foundations and corporations in coordination with the Corporate and Foundation Relations team.

Coordinates with the Planned Giving team to encourage and facilitate the cultivation and solicitation of potential estate donors.

• Communicates and collaborates with other development officers and alumni relations and annual fund divisions to ensure coordination efforts with donors and prospects.
• Attends and provides support to college or university related special events, and other community activities as required.
• Partners effectively with on-campus colleagues including those in University Advancement to foster a team approach to achieve the external relations goals of the College.
• Represent LFCoB and the University by outreaching to alumni, friends, parents, key volunteers, industry partners.

Facilitating Change

• Achieves fundraising goals set in coordination by the Dean, Vice President for Advancement, and University leadership.
• Maintains an active, current understanding of priorities and programs relative to the College, SF State and the region.

Managing Talent

As a senior Director, manages, mentors and provides support to the associate Director of Development at the college. Leads by example and where needed provides guidance to less experienced development staff in Development.

Professional Behavior

• Demonstrate behaviors that are in line with the User-Friendly Principles (P530C) and Principles of Conduct for a Multi-Cultural University (P30D)
• Demonstrate safe work practices for oneself, others, and the office environment.

Other Duties as Assigned

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven or more years of proven experience in successful fundraising, preferably in a university setting.
• Demonstrated track record of success in personal face-to-face solicitations, cultivation, and closing of major gifts.
• Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in prospect identification and outreach, and an ability to build relationships with major gift prospects and donors.
• Proven experience in successfully developing and implementing cultivation and solicitation strategies for major gifts, including the preparation of proposals and related materials.
• Ability to handle fundraising and stewardship activities simultaneously and to do so with creativity and independence.
• Ability to manage time and priorities to respond to and meet deadlines, as well as to adapt to changing priorities.
• Outstanding organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral, presentation, writing, and editing skills.
• Ability to communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community.
• Ability to interact effectively with a broad range of constituents, inspiring donors, faculty, and others to take action and ensure a rewarding experience.
• Deep appreciation and understanding of SF State and passion for its mission.
• Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree preferred.

Environmental / Physical / Special

• May have to work on weekends and holidays to attend alumni events and visit with donors.
• Automobile travel required for visits to donors, training and alumni events. Must possess a valid driver’s license and comply with Defensive Driver’s Training Program requirements if a vehicle is used to travel on official business.
• Periodic air travel may be required.
• Must pass Live Scan background check.

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