Director of Development

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Building: Avery Hall
• Salary Range: $90,000 - $125,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Development & Alumni Relations at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), the Director of Development identifies, cultivates and solicits alumni, parents and friends of GSAPP with the capacity to make gifts in the $100,000 to $1,000,000 range. The incumbent is responsible for a portfolio of not more than 150 individuals. Focusing on this pool of prospects, the Director of Development is responsible for moving gift prospects through the complete giving cycle: validation, engagement, cultivation, solicitation, gift negotiation and stewardship. The incumbent works closely with the Dean and Associate Dean to identify priorities for fund raising focus. The incumbent must have effective writing and presentation skills and be a persuasive advocate for GSAPP priorities.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

-Conducts a minimum of 150 personal visits annually to cultivate and solicit prospects and close gifts.

-Completes a minimum of 15 major gift asks annually and a minimum of 25 leadership annual fund asks annually. There is also an expectation of 10 planned giving conversations for this position each year.

-Implements the Columbia Campaign fundraising program and provides project management in support of fundraising efforts.

-Conducts regular validation meetings with prospects and alumni who have not been visited previously to determine giving potential and opportunities for engagement.

-Manages prospect relationships to enhance continued and increased support and attend events, which facilitate contact with prospects.

-Responsible for prospect identification and solicitation, proposal development, and coordination of internal support activities.

-Prepares written strategies for top tier prospects and solicitation materials, including proposal and executive summaries.

-Meets with administrators and faculty to understated GSAPP priorities and attend scheduled meetings to track and discuss major gift prospects.

-Works with staff, donors, volunteers and other university staff to assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with all university constituencies.

-Works with the Associate Director of Development & Alumni Relations on campaign pipeline development, volunteer management, event planning and planned giving.

Performs other related task and special projects as required.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic development planning capability to support annual and long-term goals. (20%)
• Helps conceptualize and write proposals for funding. Implements the Columbia Campaign fundraising program and provides project management in support of fundraising efforts. (20%)
• Identifies and helps cultivate new prospects. Responsible for prospect identification and solicitation, proposal development, and coordination of internal support activities. (20%)
• Works with staff, donors, volunteers and other university staff to assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with all university constituencies. Manages relationships with other University offices including University Development and Sponsored Research. (20%)
• Stewards existing prospects and identifies new funding opportunities they may find attractive. (10%)
• Performs other related tasks and special projects as assigned. (10%)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required, Master's degree preferred. Five to Seven years successful experience in development, or other related philanthropic environment, with demonstrated success.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills required, including a high level of attention to detail and active listening skills.
• The ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling manner is essential. The capacity to clearly comprehend and communicate GSAPP's mission and ongoing initiatives is required. Must be able to problem-solve and troubleshoot. Demonstrated ability to effectively partner with a diverse group of administrators and academic leaders. Must be able to negotiate issues, resolve problems and have strong influencing skills.
• The successful candidate must be a strategic thinker and politically savvy, ensure the utmost discretion in all matters, as well as possess the ability to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally. The candidate must be flexible in nature with a collaborative style that fosters teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to a broader organization.

Preferred Qualification

• Management experience is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.