Director of Development – Major Gifts

Position Title:

Director of Development – Major Gifts

Compensation:

$75,000-80,000

Department:

BSU Foundation_R

About this opportunity:

Join Our Team: Director of Development – Major Gifts
Are you ready to be part of an energetic and unified team dedicated to transforming higher education? Our foundation is breaking down
barriers between advancement, alumni relations, and stewardship to create a cohesive environment where philanthropy and innovative
partnerships thrive. This is your chance to make a significant impact as we fulfill Our Call to Beneficence: The Campaign for Ball State
University, aimed at elevating student support both financially and academically.

Why Join Us?
-Dynamic Team Environment: Collaborate with passionate professionals who are committed to our mission.
-Cutting-Edge Initiatives: Be at the forefront of redefining philanthropy in education.
-Unified Structure: Work within a seamless organization with no barriers between key departments.
-Supportive Culture: A high-achieving work environment that values camaraderie and collaboration.
-Impactful Work: A mission that changes lives through education and philanthropy.

The Director of Development – Major Gifts plays a crucial role in shaping the organization’s public image and success as a frontline fundraising with responsibilities to discover, cultivate, and successfully solicit individual donors for the purposes of securing major, annual, and planned gifts for Ball State University. If you are a dynamic leader with a passion for philanthropy, we invite you to join our team and make a difference. Join us in our mission to support students in realizing their purpose, achieving their dreams, and leading meaningful lives.

What you'll do and what you'll bring:

Position Function:

Discover, cultivate, and successfully solicit individual donors for the purposes of securing major, annual, and planned gifts for Ball State University; plan and implement ongoing major gift activities on behalf of the university in order to increase the number and size of private gifts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide development leadership by identifying, engaging and successfully soliciting individuals for major gifts towards annually determined fundraising and solicitation goal.

• Develop solicitation strategies for assigned major gift donors. Cultivate and prioritize top prospective donors, create plans for engaging donors with the university, and establish philanthropic relationships leading to major gifts.

• Responsible for conducting a minimum of 125 substantive contacts annually with donors and prospects once trained.

• Provide overall philanthropic leadership for a major gift priorities as assigned. Exercise independent judgment and initiative in creating comprehensive major gift strategies which are aligned with the fundraising priorities of the university.

• Coordinate relationships and development activities with other administrative areas, campus units, peer development officers, and departmental leaders.

• Manage and monitor donor relationships and prospects effectively; ensure appropriate contact reports and gift documentation are properly recorded in the system of record.

• Contact donors as needed for purposes of gift acknowledgment, stewardship, pledge fulfillment, and gift renewal.

• Promote information about giving societies and donor recognition to prospects and donors.

• Participate in planning or managing special donor events and other functions, when necessary.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

• At least three years of experience in philanthropy, fundraising, or related profession.

• Willingness and ability to travel extensively; possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and be insurable under the university’s auto fleet policy.

• Ability to work as part of an organization without direct daily supervision.

• Outstanding oral, written, and listening communication skills are necessary in order to articulate institutional viewpoints, goals, priorities, and needs.

• Candidates for searches must have current authorization to be employed in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

• Requires successful completion of a background check and education verification.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution.

• Prior fundraising experience in a higher education setting.

• Strong organizational management and interpersonal skills together with self-motivation, personal accountability, and ability to motivate others, including staff, faculty and volunteers.

• Ability to work as a team member within a complex institution.

• Knowledge of or experience in an educational setting.

How to apply:

For inquiries, please contact:

Director of Development-Major Gifts Search Committee at foundation@bsu.edu Please follow upload instructions to attach all of the required supporting documents listed below.  NOTE: Do not use the Autofill feature for resume.

• Cover Letter

• Resume

What we offer:

At Ball State University, we understand the importance of balancing professional responsibilities with personal well-being. That's why we offer paid 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and 10 holidays a year. Plus, our paid parental leave (6 weeks) is there for life's most significant moments. We offer affordable health and dental insurance, robust long-term disability and life insurance plans, as well a range of retirement benefits to provide financial security to you and your family. These benefits ensure that you can focus on your work and personal growth without worrying about the unexpected.

When you work for us, you are family. And to show our support of your family, we will cover 90 percent of your child's (or children's) undergraduate college tuition at Ball State. We do the same for you.  In fact, we'll cover 100 percent of the tuition costs for you to earn you undergraduate degree and 80 percent of your graduate tuition.  This offer is good from the very first day you start. It's just one way we do our part to uplift you.

Let's fly together toward a secure and prosperous tomorrow.

Curious about our excellent benefits package?

We have developed a calculator that shows you the value of our core benefits. Select the Total Compensation Calculator - Professional and download the spreadsheet. If you are applying for a 10-month position or one with Burris or Indiana Academy, please select the corresponding calculator.