Description

The Director of Development for the College of Nursing is responsible for securing major gifts of $25,000+ by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, friends, and community partners. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing the college’s priorities and UCF's mission by building meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors.

The Director will independently manage a portfolio of major gift donors, develop and implement fundraising strategies, and partner with the Dean, faculty, and leadership to drive philanthropic growth for the College of Nursing. This includes on-boarding the new Dean to Advancement work, introducing them to top donors, and helping create a fundraising focused vision and strategy for the Dean's Advisory Board.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects/donors, with a focus on individuals, through discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Design and implement fundraising strategies that support the needs and priorities of the College of Nursing and UCF.
• Conduct face-to-face visits and develop donor-centered proposals to secure major gifts.
• Collaborate with the Dean and Advancement leadership to expand the fundraising pipeline and strengthen engagement of advisory board members.
• Ensure effective use of prospect management tools, research, contact reports, and the Apollo database.
• Acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and aligned with UCF’s mission and values.
• Maintain best practices in office systems, records, acknowledgments, and stewardship activities.
• Perform related duties as required to advance the College of Nursing’s fundraising success.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications: 

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6). 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, with a track record of securing gifts of $25,000+, preferably in a higher education or nonprofit setting.
• Experience working within academic health, healthcare, or College of Medicine/Nursing environments.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, complex organization with multiple stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build and manage donor relationships, including advisory boards and volunteer leadership groups
• Proficiency with donor databases (such as Blackbaud CRM, Raiser’s Edge, or equivalent), Microsoft Office Suite, and fundraising tools.
   

The most successful candidates may possess the following qualities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling proposals and presentations.
• Strategic thinker with excellent organizational skills, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• A collaborative, collegial approach with the ability to work effectively across diverse teams and with academic leadership.