Job Description

Senior Director of Development

Development - Law School, Lincoln Center

Fordham University

Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City.  Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools. 

• Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents 
• A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan.
• As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
• As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.  
• University employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.

Hybrid Policy:        

Please review the Hybrid Policy here.

https://www.fordham.edu/human-resources/policies-guides-and-agreements/hybridremote-work-policy-for-administrators/

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development and Strategic Initiatives for the School of Law, the Senior Director of Development seeks to increase participation in annual, major and planned giving from alumni, parents, and friends of Fordham University’s School of Law.

Working closely with faculty, senior administrators and volunteers, the Senior Director of Development secures commitments at the $100,000+ level. The Senior Director works with the Law Assistant Dean of Development and Associate Vice-President for External Relations to craft giving opportunities for donors, prospects, and volunteers who have the capacity to make significant commitments to the Law School.

The Senior Director of Development staffs a portfolio of approximately 100 major donor-level Law School alumni and friends and works closely with Major Gift Officers, Planned Giving and Research staff in the University’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Fordham Law Alumni Association staff, and staff from other University offices.

This position may require travel for chapter engagement and evening/weekend work.

Essential Functions         

• Creates individual and group giving/engagement opportunities for major gift donors based on giving history, relationship and the organization’s knowledge of the donor’s giving potential with the goal of increasing gifts at the major gift level of the giving pyramid.
• Manages a portfolio which consists of approximately 100 prospects and donors with capacity to make gifts of $100,000+.
• Completes 75+ visits annually with assigned prospects.
• Meets solicitation metrics:
  • Year 1: Solicit $1 million, close $500,000
  • Year 2: Solicit $2 million, close $1 million
  • Year 3: Solicit $3 million, close $1.5 million
• Manages any council devoted to C-Suite
• Gathers data, assesses prospects, develops and executes strategies designed to realize the current and lifetime giving potential of prospects to achieve individual and departmental goals.
• Leads planned giving efforts at the Law School, developing an outreach calendar to discover new planned giving prospects.
• Implements strategy for a comprehensive firm challenge program to increase engagement and giving from key firm partners and associates. Oversees strategy for firm selection, identification of partners, and mass outreach communications.
• Serves as a primary fundraiser for the Dean of the Law School along with the Assistant Dean of Development and Associate Vice-Preisdent for External Relations.

Essential Functions Note

This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities   

Guides work of other employees who perform essentially the same work and/or student workers. Organizes, sets priorities, schedules and reviews work, but is generally not responsible for final decisions in hiring, performance management or compensation.

Additional Functions       

• Makes persuasive verbal and written cases for supporting Fordham Law’s key priorities, effectively matching the interests of prospects to specific projects and programs needing support and ensuring effective stewardship of donor relationships.
• Properly records information about prospects and donors utilizing appropriate University databases; report activity and monitor resources and expenditures associated with his/her program and portfolio.
• Has an understanding of the complex principles and techniques associated with planned giving and estate gifts; works collaboratively with Planned Giving colleagues within the University and the Law School to close planned gifts.
• Uses systems to identify best prospects for planned giving, based on age, giving, and consecutive years of giving.
• Works with the Office of Planned Giving as needed.
• Sets priorities for multiple short-term and long-term projects based upon established goals for the Law School major gifts team.
• Works closely with the development team and senior administration at the Law School to identify new funding opportunities and projects for donors.
• Participates in advancement activities and events, including dinners, receptions, and alumni campus visits.
• Develops and maintains relationships with faculty, staff, and volunteers associated with his/her portfolios/programs; meets with colleagues across campus to coordinate and execute strategies, utilizing experience and knowledge to resolve conflicts and build consensus.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience         

• Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts, business, communications, or related field preferred with a minimum of four (4) years of successful fundraising experience and a proven track record of closing six and seven-figure gifts; or, in lieu of a degree, minimum 12 years of experience in development or related field, preferably in a higher education setting.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills       

• Strong interpersonal skills, as well as a high level of sophistication and maturity in social and professional settings.
• Curiosity and analytical thinking, global perspective; complex problem solving; ability to organize, prioritize and complete multiple projects simultaneously with close attention to detail, meet deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment.
• A general level of comfort when dealing with high-net-worth individuals, and an ability to maintain discretion and high level of confidentiality when dealing with significant benefactors.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues in a team environment; an ability and willingness to quickly learn both the Law School’s and University’s history, mission, demographics, faculty, current programs, and departments, as well as University culture.
• Comfort with using personal computers, tablets, and software programs for retrieving, organizing, researching, and presenting appropriate donor/prospect information; proficiency with MS Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Preferred Qualifications  

• Experience working with trusts, estates and estate planning products; this experience can be within a university setting, other not-for-profit, or in the private sector; private sector experience in wealth management or accounting is relevant
• Prior capital campaign experience
• Experience with Banner or Blackbaud a plus.

Minimum Starting Salary: $120,000

Maximum Starting Salary: $135,000

Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

START DATE: ASAP

APPLY HERE: https://careers.fordham.edu/postings/7725

ABOUT FORDHAM

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its 9 colleges and schools.  It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom. 

Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories

*Please mention you saw this ad on VeteransInAcademia.*

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