Department Overview

At the University of California San Diego, challenging convention is our most cherished tradition. Since its inception, UC San Diego has been shaped by exceptional scholars who aren’t afraid to take risks and redefine conventional wisdom. In our short history, through sheer determination and a relentless pursuit for groundbreaking discovery, UC San Diego has earned recognition as one of the world’s premier research universities and one of the top-10 public universities in the nation. Washington Monthly has consistently ranked UC San Diego as the top public university for positive impact on the nation.

Launched publicly in March 2017, the Campaign for UC San Diego is the most ambitious fundraising effort in our history: a $2 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign to transform the student experience, our campus, and ultimately the world. Private support is necessary to help us continue to drive innovation, advance society, propel economic growth, and, ultimately, solve the world’s most pressing problems. UC San Diego Advancement’s University Development department is the frontline-fundraising team responsible for supporting General Campus and Scripps Institution of Oceanography leadership in securing philanthropic resources that advance opportunity for their students, faculty and initiatives.

University Development recognizes the crucial role development professionals play in identifying, engaging, cultivating and stewarding the philanthropic partners capable of assuring this university’s brightest future. Our leadership works tenaciously to seek out development professionals at all stages of their careers who evince the passion and integrity representative of our university’s character. Once part of the University Development team, colleagues are celebrated for their accomplishments and offered the support necessary to identify and realize ambitious goals. We place a premium on collaboration and shared endeavor, recognizing that true philanthropic success is measured best by the long-term advancement of UC San Diego and the impact of its work.

Position Overview

Reporting to the Associate Vice Chancellor, University Development (AVC-UD), the Executive Director of Development (EDOD) manages the engagement of some of UC San Diego's most capable and generous donors in securing principal and transformational gifts to support key research and innovation-focused initiatives. The EDOD is responsible for managing an individual portfolio of principal gift prospects which comprise a significant portion University Development's annual and campaign fundraising totals.

Working closely with the University Development leadership team and key leaders and faculty across campus, the EDOD will develop and lead initiatives for the Campaign for UC San Diego and partner with University Development leadership to execute a principal gift program by securing on an annual basis, private support at the principal gift level ($1M+). The EDOD will lead the identification, qualification, strategic engagement, solicitation and highly personalized stewardship of prospects and donors with a capacity rating of $1M+.

• Must have access to reliable transportation.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.

• Proven success at raising funds by developing and implementing strategic solicitation fundraising plans that incorporate a concise definition of goals, targeted audiences, and strategies in-line with institutional and academic goals in higher education and closing major gifts ($100,000+) and principal gifts ($1M+) from individuals, corporations, and foundations, both local and national.

• Proven record of developing proposals for a significant project/gift ($1M+) directed to individuals, foundations, and corporations.

• Expert working knowledge of all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, and public relations concepts, principles, procedures, and techniques.

• Extensive experience in institutional major and principal gift level fundraising in a highly sophisticated donor-centered fundraising environment.

• Demonstrated experience in the full spectrum of development including gift policies, solicitations, stewardship, donor recognition, and administration.

• Demonstrated expertise to utilize on-line databases and their software to create, retrieve, and compile up-to-the-minute documents and historical information for reports.

• A background check is required.