Description

Description

The Executive Director reports to the Assistant Dean of Philanthropy, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and serves on the leadership team for the division. This position is charged with developing and implementing strategies for securing financial support from a portfolio of donors and prospects including identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts for the university from alumni and friends. The Executive Director prepares and implements strategic plans for the major gift team and is responsible for meeting annual goals based on new prospect discovery and qualifications, in-person meetings, proposals submitted and gifts closed.

The Executive Director is charged with planning, coordinating, and representing university-wide fundraising initiatives and programs by closely partnering with colleges and units, university leadership, and development colleagues across campus. The Executive Director may serve as the direct supervisor, mentor and coach to major gift officers and program specialists, while maintaining their own fundraising portfolio.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Major Gifts Strategy, Pipeline Development, and Donor Portfolio Management

• Serve as a member of the College’s advancement leadership team and lead/execute projects related to the major gifts program.
• Grow the major gifts program and building a pipeline of individual major gift donors ($100,000+) through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship cycles
• Actively manage a personal portfolio of current and potential major gift donors.
• In partnership with the Assistant Dean, leads the strategy to identify, qualify, prioritize, cultivate, solicit, all donors and prospects assigned to the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences.
• Prioritize and implement complex donor strategies involving multiple units and leadership.

Fundraising Goals, Solicitations, and Donor Engagement

• Develop fundraising and program goals for staff in collaboration with Assistant Dean; monitoring progress against goals.
• Initiate and conduct personal meetings with prospects and donors throughout the year and leading / participating in solicitations with university leaders and development colleagues to meet and achieve individual and institutional goals.
• Foster and reinforce a non-territorial, sophisticated approach to donor-centric philanthropy that encourages flexibility and responsiveness throughout University Advancement.

Staff Leadership, Coaching, and Advancement Team Coordination

• Lead and manage staff in a fiscally sound manner by ensuring that the appropriate systems, staffing and procedures are in place to support fundraising goals.
• Serve as a resource, role model, and coach to development staff on matters of prospect strategy and solicitation; regularly share new approaches and techniques.
• Ensure that all interested parties (team members) are well informed and engaged in efforts focused on specific prospects.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as required or assigned by the Assistant Dean for Philanthropy.
• Attend a variety of events throughout the year.
• Regular travel around the region and to other areas of the country.
• Occasional night and weekend work is required.

About the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

Great land-grant Universities have strong Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences that are important to the success of the University in fulfilling its mission. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is poised to bring its strengths to bear as an externally dynamic college focused on delivering impact and stimulating economic development in North Carolina. Its programs exemplify the ‘Think and Do’ philosophy of the University, developing the talent that will bring significant recognition to the University.

CALS is one of the largest colleges of its kind in the nation, with nearly 3,400 students pursuing associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and 1,300 on-campus and 700 off-campus faculty and staff members. Its research engine ranks in the top of land-grant university colleges. Research expenditures total $130 million annually. 43,000 volunteers and advisory leaders engage 2 million face-to-face contacts annually. 28,287 living CALS Alumni make up the pride of the Wolfpack!

NC State Extension is one component of a strategic partnership among NC State University, N.C. A&T State University, and federal, state and local governments. Together we enrich the lives, land and economy of North Carolinians. NC State Extension is the local and statewide outreach provider of North Carolina’s preeminent research enterprise — NC State University — delivering research-based agricultural, food and youth programs that create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for all North Carolinians. Our extensive partnerships with agriculture, business, education, government and industry create a unique culture of collaboration that increases productivity and fuels economic development. Our land-grant roots inspire us to provide practical solutions for the real world. Our world-leading faculty and staff make it a reality. We serve the unique needs of varied clients every day with subject-matter experts at 101 local centers across the state. 

To learn more about our college visit: https://cals.ncsu.edu/

Requirements

Qualifications

Minimum Education & Experience

• Requires a relevant post-Baccalaureate degree with a minimum of seven (7) years or greater of related professional experience, or a relevant undergraduate degree and a minimum of ten (10) years or greater of relevant experience may be substituted for the advanced degree.
• Experience closing 6-and 7-figure gifts.
• Experience managing staff.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven leadership skills that nurture an accountable, goal-oriented and values-based environment.
• The ability to work collaboratively and effectively as a part of a team.
• Demonstrated success in personally cultivating, soliciting and stewarding major and principal gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations with a sound knowledge of principles, practices and ethics of charitable giving.
• The ability to contribute to the tone of a department driven by values based on professionalism, productivity, responsiveness, a strong work ethic, responsibility, collaboration, open communication, mutual respect and achievement.
• The ability to serve as a critical and trusted partner displaying evidence of high integrity, honesty and trustworthiness.
• Flexibility and the demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, complex, academic environment, juggling numerous projects and satisfying multiple constituencies simultaneously.
• A strong track record of working effectively with volunteers, faculty and administrators, engaging them in the life of the institution and assisting them in improving their effectiveness in all aspects of fundraising.
• The ability to prioritize work and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic plans, implement programs and manage and implement change.
• The ability to leverage resources in CALS Advancement Special Events and College Communications teams to support development objectives.
• Excellent listening, oral and written communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to effectively articulate the case for support.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise a high degree of sound judgement and diplomacy, and a commitment to confidentiality are essential.
• An understanding of technology and its applications in development.
• Willingness/ability to travel frequently and participate in occasional evening and weekend activities.

Preferred Experience, Skills, Qualifications and Credentials

• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in front line fundraising or related professional experience, with a track record of success in securing major gifts and meeting fundraising goals and proven experience working with 6-and 7-figure gifts or related professional experience, including the ability to evaluate, qualify and move prospects through the cultivation/solicitation cycle.
• Fundraising experience in a university setting or relevant industry experience.
• Experience in working through a capital campaign.
• Experience managing and motivating advancement professionals.
• An understanding of the land grant, research Tier One university environment.
• Familiarity with NC State University.