Position Summary: The Director of Development will implement new strategies to build upon a solid base of support by helping develop new relationships to assure BU continues to remain on the cutting edge of its student-centered, innovative higher education model. This position will be responsible for developing, implementing and managing a strategy for annual giving by building a pipeline of new alumni, next-generation businesses, and first-time donors.

Essential Functions:
 

Relationship Building

• Work with the team in developing effective strategies to engage new constituencies and relationships that resonate with BU’s mission.
• Build long-term relationships with donors and prospects.
• Plan and organize community outreach projects, activities, and events for alumni, donors, and prospects.  
• Develop strategic communication pieces including reports, requests, and updates for donors, prospects, and events.
• Develop and implement recognition plans for donors.

Annual Giving and Engagement 

• Develop and execute annual giving and community engagement plans aligned with BU’s mission and strategic plan.  
• Lead development and implementation of strategies to engage new constituents to support BU.
• Create a pipeline of new prospects in collaboration with other University divisions.
• Initiate an innovative system of giving and engagement for BU’s 70,000+ alumni leading them to stronger relationships and giving.
• Develop innovative donor-centered community engagement strategies to reach next-generation business and community aligned with BU’s mission.         
• Work with Director - Advancement Services on developing systems of sharing information with other departments in identification and communicating relationship-building activities and the use of donor data.        
• Work with the Vice President of Advancement to identify donor interests to feed projects and fundraising campaigns.

Assist in raising annual and major gifts for the University’s priorities.

• Solicit current donors according to monthly moves management timing.
• Develop and implement solicitation plans for prospects.
• Demonstrates sensitivity in handling confidential information.
• Manages and implements multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ensures compliance with the University’s policies and procedures and external (donors/legal/IRS) requirements.

Identifies new sources of first-time donors and potential $10,000+ level gifts for the University’s priorities.

Marginal Functions:

Individual Contributor Competencies:
 

• Relationship Builder with passion BU educational mission and a service mentality. Demonstrated superior communication skills to express, both orally and in writing.  Ability to articulating the mission of Bellevue University and its innovative educational model with clarity and persuasion; ability to credibly and compellingly present the Bellevue story to external and internal constituencies.
• Demonstrated ability to create and manage engagement strategies for new donors, alumni & friends.  
• Track Record of Success with a proven record of accomplishment in individual, corporate, or foundation relations; planning, implementation, management, and successful conclusion of a major campaign is highly desirable. 
• Action-Oriented, hard-working with an ability to make decisions in a fast-paced, changing, and interactive environment; self-starting, self-motivating with the ability to show results on time and in a highly ethical and professional manner; customer-focused, dedicated to meeting and exceeding expectations and requirements of internal and external constituents. 
• Demonstrated the Ability to Collaborate and work well with the department and cross-functional teams; ability to develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships.
• Strong Competency in Leading Donors to a place of giving that is comfortable for them; driven to operate through organized planning where monitoring progress and results in a deadline-driven environment is natural.
• Team Orientation - Ability to work as part of a team with individual accountability that supports the greater BU Advancement and University goals.     
• Initiative - Takes prompt action to accomplish tasks and meet goals and objectives.
• Service Orientation – Applies effective interpersonal and problem-solving skills when responding to customers and is committed to customer satisfaction.
• Quantity/Quality of Work - Pays close attention to detail.  Strives to achieve accuracy and consistency in all tasks.
• Benefactor Focus - the ability to keep the donor at the center of what we do, and why we do it. Exhibits passion for improving and creating lasting partnerships with individuals, foundations, and funding organizations.
• Inclusivity - Understands that each individual is unique; recognizes individual differences along the dimensions of: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, marital status, veteran status, education, training, position, and level of authority, seniority, full-time or part-time status.
• Customer Focus - Cultivates a positive customer service relationship and two-way communication; identifies and understands the needs wants, and expectations of customers, whether internal or external; delivers products and services that meet customer expectations.

Skills & Abilities: 
 

Education: Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three (3) years of related experience or an equivalent combination.
 

Experience:  

• Experience building systems, and designing and implementing constituent relationships. 
• Experience building and maintaining long-term relationships with fund-raising constituents.
• Experience in managing and tracking multiple prospects and donors.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, preferably in a large non-profit organization.
• Experience working with fundraising principles and practices.
• Experience, coursework, or other training in current trends in charitable giving in the areas of capital campaigns, annual giving, major gifts, or planned giving.
• Previous experience in fundraising, alumni relations, volunteer management, or a related field
• Experience with donor relations/stewardship as it relates to fundraising and donor relations.
• Demonstrates strong organizational skills with the ability to set priorities and manage multiple projects.

Computer Skills: General office and internet skills. Microsoft Office: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio.
 

Other Physical Requirements: N/A

Reasonable Accommodations Statement: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

 Work Environment:

• Works in a typical office environment.
• May have occasional long or irregular hours.

NOTE:  The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work involved for this job.  It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this job.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act requires institutions participating in federally funded financial aid programs to make information about the institution available to the public, current and prospective students, and current and prospective employees. The Bellevue University Consumer Information webpage, found at www.bellevue.edu/student-support/consumer-information/consumer-information, provides readily accessible information to help consumers make informed decisions about post-secondary education. Bellevue University’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASR), found at www.bellevue.edu/student-support/consumer-information/pdfs/annual-safety-report.pdf, provides information about campus crime statistics and institutional security policies and procedures as well as information about student housing fire statistics and fire safety policies. You can obtain a paper copy of these reports from the Bellevue Dean of Students office by calling 402-557-7028. In addition to this, Bellevue University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.