What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Strategic Giving position at Meredith College?
Company Description
Meredith College, founded in 1891, is one of the largest independent women's colleges in the United States, located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The college serves around 1,700 undergraduate students and approximately 300 graduate students, offering coeducational programs in business, education, nutrition, and psychology. Known for its rigorous academics, personalized environment, and emphasis on experiential learning, Meredith prepares students for successful careers or further studies. Situated near North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, the college provides abundant opportunities for career development, research, and internships. Meredith College is dedicated to empowering students to discover and utilize their greatest strengths for success.
Job Description
The Director of Strategic Giving is a frontline fundraiser responsible for ongoing identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high-net-worth prospects and donors to secure significant financial contributions. Building trust and relationships with alumnae, parents, and friends of the College.
Duties:
- Portfolio Management: Cultivate a portfolio of 100–200 donors, implementing personalized engagement strategies and timelines.
- Donor Cultivation & Solicitation: Lead face-to-face meetings, virtual presentations, and personalized solicitations to secure major and planned gifts.
- Prospect Identification: Utilize research and data to identify new major gift prospects and move them through the donor pipeline.
- Stewardship & Recognition: Ensure proper donor recognition and stewardship, ensuring donors feel valued and engaged.
- Serve as a liaison for assigned campus constituencies.
- Works as a member of the team of gift officers.
- Provide regular prospect activity and progress reports and contribute to annual departmental plans/assessments for inclusion in the institutional effectiveness plan.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Skills Needed:
- Excellent interpersonal, networking, and public speaking skills.
- Strong communication skills. Must be able to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with supervisor, coworkers, customers, and others.
- Experience with fundraising databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) to record donor interactions.
- Knowledge of appropriate software and use of data.
- Ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects routinely.
- Understanding and ongoing practice toward the accomplishment of donor recognition and stewardship.
- Ability to function both independently and as a member of a team.
- Ability to travel frequently to meet with prospects, often requiring evenings and weekends.
- Willingness to handle a heavy workload and irregular hours – including some weekends and holidays.
Key interfaces:
- Alumnae and volunteers
- Campus constituencies as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in communication, marketing, or a related field required.
- Ability to travel frequently to meet with prospects, often requiring evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- At least 7 years of fundraising or related experience.
- Familiarity with higher education and single gender education is preferred.
- Valid NC driver’s license and clear driving history required.
Working conditions & physical demands:
- General office setting with moderate noise level.
- Long-distance travel as appropriate.
Required Documents:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Professional Goals