SENIOR DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York

Job Description:

Job Summary: 

The Senior Director, Strategic Philanthropy will create, build, and develop an effective and sustainable identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship process for the College's prospects. The Senior Director collaborates with units across campus to facilitate major and principal prospect identification, strategy development, and coordination for multi-interest and single interest prospects, and for prospect visibility for college leadership. The Senior Director will collaborate with Advancement leadership to support campaign planning around major and principal gift prospects, capital projects, and school/unit fundraising priorities.

The Senior Director is a frontline fundraising professional responsible for the management of a portfolio of prospects comprised of alumni, parents, family foundations, and friends with capacity and inclination to make major and principal gifts to Ithaca College.  The Senior Director will be responsible for working with the Vice President of Advancement, Associate Vice President of Development, Director of Principal Gifts, and senior leadership at Ithaca College to qualify, develop cultivation strategy and solicit major and principal gift prospects. The role will involve cultivating relationships with high-capacity, high net worth individual donors and prospects capable of making gifts and pledges of $100,000 to $1M+ to support Ithaca College's mission and priorities.

The successful candidate will be a seasoned fundraising professional with a demonstrated track record of managing a portfolio and soliciting/closing significant philanthropic gifts from individuals, families, and family foundations, including working in close partnership with the senior leaders and volunteers.

Job Responsibilities:

Portfolio Strategy and Management 

1. Manage an assigned portfolio of high net-worth prospects, including discovery, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. This includes extensive travel to ensure movement within the portfolio.
2. Qualifies cultivates, solicits, closes, and stewards individual donors and family foundations through in-person meetings, written solicitations/proposals, email, and other means tailored as specifically as possible to donor preferences and engagement strategies, often in close collaboration with the Vice President of Advancement
3.  Maintain a competent understanding in how deferred gift vehicles can support visionary gifts and promote gift planning where appropriate.
4. Leverage on and off-campus college events for portfolio development as appropriate.

IC Leadership 

1. With Advancement leadership, create and execute a thoughtful plan to ensure that the college can rely on an increasing and sustainable flow of philanthropic support from the highest level of donors/prospects 
2. Briefs, advises, and staffs executive leadership and other leaders and volunteers involved with major and principal donor relationships and solicitations.
3. Engage with trustees and other college leaders to strengthen prospect involvement. Assist in the recruitment, training, and management of volunteers with the intent to identify key leadership positions on boards and councils. 
4. The Senior Director collaborates with units across campus to facilitate major and principal prospect identification, strategy development, and strategic coordination for multi-interest and single interest prospects, and for prospect visibility for college leadership. 

Donor Relationships 

1.  Model a collaborative style to facilitate and guide creative donor relationship strategies.   
2.  Work with Donor Relations to identify and confirm individuals, families and foundations to highlight donors as appropriate; and to oversee preparation of proposals, gift agreements, endowment and stewardship reports for assigned prospects.  
3.  Develop, plan, and participate in strategic donor engagement opportunities, such as small events for targeted prospects and larger donor stewardship events. 

IC Division of Advancement  

1. Support the work of the Associate Vice President of Development and Vice President for Advancement. 
2. Develop and keep updated contact reports, opportunities, and solicitation efforts. Ensure the accuracy and timely entry of all information and records into the CRM database.  
3. Exhibit a strong ability to maintain confidentiality and set pace for moves management. 
4. Develop and demonstrate a multicultural awareness and contribute to cultivating an inclusive, diverse, and respectful college community.  
5. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students, and visitors to the college.  
6. Promote a flexible, collaborative, and inclusive work and living environment. 
7. Engage in educational opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion. 
8. Perform other duties as they arise and/or are assigned. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and ten years' extensive experience in educational fundraising or related field or an equivalent combination of related education and experience.
•  Strong negotiation and closing skills.
• Demonstrates a history of building relationships through fostering enthusiasm and mutual trust, candor, and respect. 
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication and presentation skills, including individual and large groups. 
• Proven success at developing and implementing creative solicitation strategies for philanthropic gifts in a team-oriented and collaborative environment.
•  Superior interpersonal and listening skills and exceptional negotiation skills and proven ability to make independent decisions. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Results -oriented, able to see concepts and ideas through to implementation.
• A strong work ethic with the ability to take initiative, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent critical thinking skills and use of sound judgment.
• Excellent tech skills with knowledge and experience with CRM. Adhere to the highest ethical standards.

This position is 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.

Application Instructions:

Interested applicants must apply online and attach a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional references. Questions about online applications should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at (607) 274-8000 or humanresources@ithaca.edu.  

Ithaca College is committed to building a diverse academic community and encourages members of underrepresented groups to apply. Experience that contributes to the diversity of the college is appreciated.

Visa sponsorship is not provided for this position.

Hiring Rate:

$130,000. 

We pride ourselves on providing our benefit-eligible employees with comprehensive benefits, including:

    * Healthcare including vision and dental
    * Generous Paid Time Off Policies
    * 403B Retirement Savings Plan with Matching Employer Contribution 
    * EAP
    * Flexible Work Plans
    * Educational Benefits
    * Career-Enhancing Trainings
    * For an overview of our benefit offerings, please visit https://www.ithaca.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits-wellness

In an effort to promote campus safety and the security of College resources, Ithaca College will, consistent with the requirements of the law and prudent practices, conduct criminal background investigations per College policy.   This position is subject to a criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon review of the criminal background check.