Executive Director of Philanthropy, College of Design
About the Department
North Carolina State University was founded in 1887 with the purpose of creating economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. Today NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 37,000 high-performing students, 9,000 preeminent faculty and staff and 260,000 alumni. NC State is a research-extensive university known for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We’re also at the forefront of teaching and research in agriculture, business, design, education, humanities and social sciences, natural resources, textiles and veterinary medicine. NC State is consistently named as one of the best values in higher education, and many of our programs are ranked at the top of their respective disciplines. We take a great deal of pride in our collaborative, supportive and collegial team culture. All staff are provided opportunities for training and professional development, with an eye to personalized career growth.
This is a particularly exciting time for NC State and the University Advancement team on the heels of the successful completion of the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, the largest in the University’s history, having raised $2.1 billion on a $1.6 billion goal. NC State continues to experience record fundraising years, which combined with strong budget support from the state and a bold strategic plan, will have profound impacts at the institution for generations to come.
Considered among the top programs of its kind in the country, the College of Design’s graduate and undergraduate programs in Architecture, Media Arts, Design and Technology, Design Studies, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Landscape Architecture teach design thinking in an interdisciplinary environment that makes sense of the world for the benefit of the public and to serve the needs of users.
Design touches everything from the tech in our pockets to the parks in our cities. And good design can change lives. At NC State’s College of Design, our students prepare for rewarding careers that make a positive impact — environmentally, socially, and economically. Here, we gather creative minds from around the world and task them with bettering our world. Because to a designer, every problem is just waiting for a creative solution.
Essential Job Duties
The Executive Director of Philanthropy is the College of Design’s chief fundraising and engagement leader and will be responsible for managing the College’s advancement program and growing fundraising results in close collaboration with university partners – faculty, staff, other fundraising professionals, campus leaders, volunteers – and in alignment with industry best practices. This position will provide the strategic direction and coordination for all development efforts including the creation of fundraising strategies that increase the organization’s support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other sources.
The Executive Director leads the complete range of development activities including planning, managing and implementing an annual operating plan and budget designed to attain development goals. Implementation of a comprehensive major gift program that generates individual and corporate donors and other philanthropic support on a continuing basis for the college is an essential part of this responsibility.
The Executive Director reports directly to the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development in collaboration/cooperation with the Dean of the College of Design.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
- Plans, directs, and implements a comprehensive major gift program that generates philanthropy from individuals, as well as foundations, corporations, and other constituents, on a continuing basis to achieve fundraising goals;
- Leads strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, prioritize, solicit, recognize, and steward all donors and prospects; collaborates with volunteers, other University development and advancement staff, and other organizational leaders in these efforts;
- Works with the Dean and the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Development in developing annual goals and comprehensive strategies to achieve those goals; monitors progress and shares reports for internal and external stakeholders;
- Works extensively with the Offices of Gift Planning and Corporate & Foundation Relations on strategies to maximize giving to the College;
- Provides sound leadership, coaching, and mentoring to the advancement team (4); Manages team to university performance standards; ensures the appropriate systems, staffing, and procedures are in place to support fundraising goals;
- Tracks all College major gift prospect contacts to ensure productive and purposeful prospect and donor engagement;
- Ensures effective & meaningful donor stewardship is a priority throughout the College
- Collaborates with College and University staff to ensure that publications and websites include donor-focused content, including stories and statistics that demonstrate the impact of philanthropy;
- Assists the Dean in working with the college’s Advisory Board to enhance development efforts.
- Adheres to the highest ethical standards; demonstrates empathetic disposition and perseverance; reflects optimistic and positive attitude;
- As a member of the University’s development team, participates in all University-wide development activities.
Other Responsibilities
- Perform other duties as required or assigned;
- Attend a variety of events throughout the year;
- Regular travel and occasional night and weekend work are required.
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, plus at least five or more years of experience in major gift fundraising or a substantially related field (such as sales or wealth management).
Other Required Qualifications
- Relevant success in a leadership role and demonstrated managerial accomplishments with visionary and administrative components;
- Expert knowledge of the principles, practices, and ethics of fundraising;
- Demonstrated success in securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and/or corporations;
- Ability to take institutional priorities and translate them into development opportunities;
- Ability to establish and build effective working relationships with key stakeholders and partners across an organization;
- Commitment to a collegial and collaborative team approach to fundraising;
- Strong organizational skills with a high attention to detail; ability to manage multiple and competing priorities;
- Excellent listening, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills;
- Computer literacy and competency with electronic donor information systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree;
- Volunteer management experience;
- Experience in higher education fundraising.
Link to Apply: https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/190022
