Posting Details

Position Information

Department/College Development Position Title Director, Major Gifts Job Category Staff Posting Number 00194 FLSA Exempt Full or Part Time Full-Time Other Temporary No If Temporary, number of months Position Summary Information

Duties

The Director of Major Gifts is responsible for fundraising activities and strategies designed to increase giving to the Athens State University Foundation by alumni and friends of the University. The Director is primarily responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewardship of gifts from alumni and friends of the University.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Manage a portfolio of 100-150 active major gift prospects capable of making gifts of $10,000 or more to the University.
•Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a broad variety of donors including alumni, corporations, foundations, and individuals who desire to support the Athens State University Foundation.
•Direct, develop and implement institutional fundraising strategies in the areas of special and deferred gifts in conjunction with the Assistant Vice President of University Development.
•Contribute toward the development of materials including brochures, case statements and other media that support the Foundation’s fundraising goals.
•Participate in fundraising initiatives for special events and projects relating to University development as assigned.
•Prepare and complete reports in a timely fashion to document activities related to fundraising goals and objectives.
•Actively recruit and engage alumni and friends of the University to participate in University events and activities.
•Travel both locally and nationally and be flexible in work hours including some nights and weekends.
•Assist in preparing and providing material for University publications including The Column, press releases and other materials as needed.
•Actively participate in updating and enhancing the Advancement database to ensure information is current and accurate.
•Follow the policies of the University and Foundation in regard to the processing and acceptance of gifts.
•Routinely maintain prospect pipeline (i.e., planned and executed solicitations) to reflect a minimum of 15 major gift solicitations per year with overall consistent movement of prospects in assigned portfolio reflecting the various stages of cultivation.
•Conduct a minimum of 10 planned strategic visits per month.
•Actively work toward building cooperative and collaborative relationships with University Colleges, Departments, faculty, staff and community entities.
•Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to changing work scope and tasks based on need.
•Identify opportunities for improvements to work practices and offers viable solutions for implementation.
•Proactively engage in problem solving related to tasks in this position with internal and external constituencies.
•Routinely practice self-monitoring by assessing self to make improvements or take corrective action to improve performance.
•Completes other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
•Bachelor’s degree
•Strong verbal and written communication skills
•Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to relate to diverse constituencies
•Strong organizational skills
•Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
•Willingness and ability to travel; frequent travel is a priority in this position requiring flexibility in work hours to include evenings and weekends and as needed to accomplish objectives and satisfy goals
•Working knowledge in fundraising strategies and techniques as endorsed by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)
•Familiarity with fundraising database systems and a strong command of Microsoft Office suite of products
•Ability to work in a system that emphasizes measurable objectives, including mutually agreed-upon targets for major gift fundraising
•Progressively responsible development experience with some primary focus on identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding corporate and foundation sponsorships, gifts, and grants

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED:
•Master’s Degree
•Experience in higher education or other nonprofit fundraising
•Experience with the Salesforce CRM Platform

Salary Schedule

Salary Band: A130, to view the salary schedule, visit: www.athens.edu/human-resources/salary-schedule-tables/ Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Posting Detail Information

University Information

Located in historic Athens, Alabama, Athens State University offers junior and senior-level coursework to community college graduates and transfer students holding sufficient credits from other institutions. Presently, over 3,100 students have selected Athens State because of its neighborly environment where 50 majors and degree programs are offered, with courses taught by a supportive and exceptional faculty. Approximately 80% of the students are enrolled in at least one online course. The typical student is a working adult who commutes. Recently, the University was featured in the 2015 Best Value Online College Rankings by OnlineU.org for four online programs including computer science, accounting, education and human resources. The University offers undergraduate degree programs in Liberal Arts, Teacher Preparation, and Business. The University employs more than 350 full and part-time employees with approximately 90 full-time faculty members in three colleges: College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business, and College of Education. Seventy-five percent of the full-time faculty members hold a terminal degree. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Athens, Alabama is located in north Alabama equidistant between Nashville, TN and Birmingham, AL. Athens is home to several events and festivals that have been featured as the Southeast Tourism Society’s “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” including the Athens Storytelling Festival and the Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention.

EEO Statement

Non-Discrimination Policy Statement Athens State University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. Athens State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, religion, genetic information, or veteran status in employment, or admissions to or participation in educational programs and activities. Inquiries or concerns may be addressed to the Office of the Vice President of Enrollment and Student Support Services, 300 N. Beaty St., Athens, AL 35611, 256- 233-8175.

Background Check Statement

In accordance with Athens State University Policy and guidelines, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form for a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from that criminal background check.

Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicants

Unofficial transcripts should be from the college or university which verifies minimum qualifications for the position. Upon an offer of employment, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be submitted. Continued employment is contingent upon receipt of transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Please provide contact information for three professional references on your application.

Additional Information

Athens State University participates in the E-verify System to verify employment eligibility for all newly-hired employees.

Start date: April, 2019

Review of applications will begin February 14, 2019 and continue until filled.

For assistance, contact the Human Resources Office at 256-216-3333 or email us at employment@athens.edu.

Posting Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
   • Chronicle of Higher Education web or print ad
   • Higher Ed Jobs.com
   • Special Publication or Professional Journal
   • Athens State University website (Athens.edu)
   • Personal or Employee Referral
   • Local newspaper ad
   • Other
   • Inside Higher Ed
2. * Do you have experience in fundraising/development?
   • Yes
   • No
3. * Do you have experience in major gift solicitations?
   • Yes
   • No
4. * Do you have a Bachelor's degree?
   • Yes
   • No

Applicant Documents Required Documents

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter/Letter of Application
3. Unofficial Transcripts

Optional Documents

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Other Document