Senior Director of Philanthropy, Worldwide Campus

Since its inception, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has
remained best in class — the unquestioned global leader in
aerospace education, and the definitive source of innovation in
aviation and aerospace education and research. The largest, most
comprehensive institution of its kind, Embry-Riddle was founded in
1926, 22 years after the Wright brothers’ first demonstration of
piloted, powered flight: 12 seconds that changed the world and
eventually brought Embry-Riddle into being. Today, with a nearly
100-year legacy of innovation and excellence in education, even
greater accomplishments lie ahead — and above!

Embry-Riddle holds multiple Top 10 academic rankings. Our
aerospace engineering programs, for example, have routinely been
judged to be the nation’s best. With a long history of serving
those who serve, Embry-Riddle is annually named “Best for
Veterans.” In addition, the university’s online bachelor’s degree
programs have ranked first or second in the nation for the past
eight years. And, Embry-Riddle’s professional pilot degree programs
are the unquestioned gold standard for aspiring aviators.

As we prepare for our Centennial Campaign, there has never been
a more exciting time to make your mark on our University’s history.
We seek a dynamic and seasoned fundraiser to join the Office of
Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement in the role of Senior Director
of Philanthropy for Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus.

Backed by an international reputation for academic excellence,
Embry‑Riddle’s Worldwide campus is an online community that takes
pride in its longstanding relationship with the U.S. military and
in supporting veterans. The Worldwide campus offers degree programs
from aviation and applied sciences to business, engineering,
intelligence and space. The Senior Director of Philanthropy for the
Worldwide campus works to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward
major gifts from alumni and community partners. The ideal candidate
will provide leadership and coordination to the campus in
approaching donors for major gifts, working closely with academic
leadership, faculty, and development colleagues. They will develop
and implement fundraising strategies, prepare compelling oral and
written proposals, build and maintain effective relationships with
booster supporters.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Philanthropy, and
collaborating closely with the Worldwide Chancellor and Deans, the
Senior Director of Philanthropy will chart the course for the
campus fundraising success, cultivating relationships with esteemed
alumni, foundations, and our many corporate partners.

This isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to be a catalyst for
change, a champion of innovation, and a guardian of our legacy. If
you’re ready to make waves, break barriers, and leave an indelible
mark on the future of aerospace education, we want you on our
team.

Essential Job Functions:

Major Gifts. The Senior Director shall be
assigned a portfolio of approximately 75-125 prospects. In this
role they shall conduct discovery, qualification, cultivation,
solicitation, and stewardship calls within their assigned
portfolio. Prospects will be engaged through print or electronic
correspondence, calls, encounters at events, and, most importantly,
face-to-face visits. Significant travel including on evening and
weekends should be anticipated. On behalf of the University, the
Senior Director – Worldwide will develop written strategies and
tactics for each prospect, implement them, and collaborate with
colleagues in the division to achieve donor engagement and
stewardship goals.

Unit liaison. Engage with and coordinate
development activities within academic units. Participate in
leadership meetings in order to better understand a unit’s needs,
challenges, and opportunities. Help coordinate central advancement
efforts in the areas of annual giving, major gifts, advancement
communications, data acquisition, planned giving programing, donor
relations and donor impact reporting. Build lasting, effective
relationships with academic leaders, staff and students across
campus to best engage them in the process of philanthropy. Advise
academic leadership and staff on the institution’s philanthropic
policies, practices, schedules, and strategies as well as on
general best practices in philanthropy. Ensure a strong healthy
relationship with between units and the central administration of
the University.

 Support central development. Observe
institutional development policies, participate actively in
meetings held by central development, and maintain a satisfactory
level of training and knowledge of best practices. The Senior
Director’s main emphasis is to secure funds for the Worldwide
campus while being donor-centric. Thus, as necessary or as
assigned, assist the central development enterprise in achieving
its broader objectives. This may entail transferring or sharing
assigned prospects based on interests in other units. Conduct
discovery, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and
stewardship in accordance with those assignments. Engage current
and prospective donors through print or electronic correspondence,
calls, encounters at events, and most importantly, individual, face
to face visits. Complete timely, accurate, concise, and complete
contact reports and enter them into the Division’s enterprise
system.

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree is required (foreign equivalent or higher).
Six (6) years of full-time fundraising experience in higher
education, a complex healthcare system, or a large non-profit.
Proven record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing
major level ($100,000+) gifts from individual donors. Experience
managing numerous priorities and a broad portfolio of donor/client
relationships. Experience with Salesforce or comparable donor
relationship applications.

Preferred
Qualifications: 

A master’s degree is preferred. Additional years of fundraising
experience in higher education, a large non-profit, or a healthcare
institution, experience at an academic or medical center,
experience managing volunteers or an advisory board, comfort with
high-net-worth individuals, including the ability to maintain
confidential information, basic knowledge of planned giving
vehicles and techniques, and experience developing a new donor
constituency are strongly preferred.

Apply at:  ERAU
Careers (myworkdayjobs.com)