Director of Development, Women and Philanthropy (Hybrid)

Position Summary

The Director is a strategic influencer, curates alumni and donor engagement opportunities, and manages a caseload of current and prospective major gift ($50,000 ) and principal ($1,000,000 ) level donors and moves them towards giving levels that achieve annual and long-range fundraising goals of the Foundation. The person will be a key collaborator across the University and Foundation by being a conduit to increase visibility, diversification in donors, and celebrate women’s contribution in fundraising across all areas of the university. The Director will work closely with the Women’s Leadership Counsel (WLC) to promote a positive culture of philanthropy and continue to evolve and meet the program goals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage the Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) a leadership board comprised of representatives from the Foundation Board, Board of Trustees, and highly accomplished alumna and friends.


• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a caseload of current and prospective major gift donors; meet or exceed annual metric goals.


• Recruit, train, and manage a cohort of highly driven, highly motivated volunteers. Assemble and engage collaborative teams of staff and volunteers to implement engagement and solicitation strategies.


• Create written strategic action plans for best prospects with intent of deepening relationships that lead to increased comprehensive giving including annual, major, and deferred gifts.


• Articulate the Women and Philanthropy and University Programs fundraising plans and goals to central development staff to broadly engage the Foundation’s fundraising staff and ensure activities are aligned towards unit goals. Including oversite of the Women and Philanthropy Network and special fundraising programs and goals.


• Foster strong working relationships with Foundation colleagues, adhering to Prospect Management Guidelines to review caseloads, provide timely and appropriate documentation of interactions and solicitations, and track progress against unit goals.


• Partner with the Assistant VP for Development, deans, directors, department heads, and members of the faculty and staff within assigned constituencies to manage donor and prospect activity and translate university priorities into fundraising plans and goals.


• Develop and articulate fundraising plans and goals to central development staff to broadly engage the Foundation’s fundraising staff and ensure activities are aligned.


• Establish and refine standards for best practices that encourage the highest levels of quality in all interactions with current and prospective donors.


• Update and maintain contact reports in a timely manner and implement next steps of moves process according to prospect/donor engagement strategies.


• Create programs and opportunities to engage key volunteers and University leadership in the cultivation, and where appropriate, the solicitation of current and potential donors.


• Values the diversity of Foundation colleagues, faculty and staff, alumni, families, and community members and how that positively impacts the work of philanthropy.


• Other duties as assigned.

Key Competencies

• Demonstrate the ability to personally solicit gifts at $250,000 .


• Champion for inclusion and diversity both internally and externally.


• Excellent interpersonal skills, tact, and diplomacy. Ability to facilitate personal interactions in formal and informal settings along with.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, including ability to effectively communicate University priorities to donors and prospects, and to positively represent the University and Foundation.
  
• Adept in use of computers and information management tools, such as CRMs (Blackbaud)


• Ability to handle multiple tasks, to assess and order priorities, and to track details in a fast-paced environment.


• High level of initiative, motivation and assertiveness capabilities in a comprehensive development environment.


• Demonstrate the ability to think strategically and willingness to take initiative to resolve challenges.


• Ability to engender trust and confidence of donors and prospective donors and to maintain confidentiality of donor information; ability to represent the UConn Foundation to prospects, donors, faculty, administrators, and others.


• Demonstrates a high degree of autonomy, along with the ability to collaborate effectively with partners.


• Ability to work to the demands of the position, which may exceed a 40 hour work week.


• Willing to travel extensively and reliable personal transportation is required for this position.


• Must possess a valid driver’s license issued from state in which employee resides. Employee must maintain at their expense, automobile liability insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $500,000 or a combination of umbrella and automobile liability insurance coverage of $500,000. A certificate of automobile insurance evidencing the limit, must be provided to the Foundation at hire and annually thereafter.

The University of Connecticut Foundation is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering diversity in its workforce.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree.


• 4 years of experience as a major gift fundraiser, program management, or relevant transferrable experience.


• Competence in Microsoft Office suite and donor management systems.