Director of Development - Major Gifts

Director of Development - Central Major Gifts

Requisition Number: DIREC
001317

• Posted :
  January 14, 2026
• Full-Time

Showing 1 location

ISU Foundation
2505 University Blvd
P.O. Box 2230
Ames, IA 50010, USA

The central major gifts team is focused on interdisciplinary/institutional major gifts in conjunction with our fundraising growth strategy. Major gift officers on this team will be trained and provided with experiences to prepare them for major gift officer positions in fundraising units as they become available.

As one of our development officers, you will meet frequently with donors face-to-face in their homes, at events or hosting at a restaurant or coffee shop. Working each day to connect donors’ philanthropic interests with campus priorities, you will blend your professional knowledge, relationship management skills, and talent with philanthropic strategies.

Based on qualifications and experience, a selected candidate may hold one of these job titles:
Associate Director of Development, or Director of Development.

Core Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Work with team members to develop strategies to achieve goals for fundraising priorities.
• Plan and complete prospect engagement opportunities and present gift proposals.
• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 70-80 assigned prospects. You will develop new prospect relationships while engaging previous and current donors. Working with campus and foundation teams, you will partner with our research team and identify prospects capable of making major gifts of $100,000 or greater.
• Travel extensively both locally and nationally (up to 50% depending on portfolio assignment and travel territories) to establish and nurture long-lasting, strong donor relationships with the end goal of proposing and closing major gift donations.
• Work independently and collaboratively with all levels of college administration, faculty, staff, donors and foundation development teams on a variety of donor-centered tasks and activities including foundation and college special events.
• Communicate in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes. You will write donor correspondence, contact reports and proposals, and provide briefings on program status. You will also communicate the foundation’s role and donor’s wishes to key campus and foundation staff.

Qualifications

Education & Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or appropriate related years of experience. Degree preferred.
• 3+ years of professional experience in any of the following areas: major gift fundraising, non-profit work, higher education, sales, communications, or another related field. Education may be substituted for years of experience.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Ability to achieve ambitious goals. You should have a remarkable track record for leading successful initiatives with measurable results.
• Savvy relationship-building and leadership skills and be an excellent communicator. You should be articulate and persuasive with diplomacy and tact to represent the foundation to multiple constituents, donors, and campus leadership. You must also have demonstrable skills in persuasive speaking and influencing others.
• Problem-solving skills and resourcefulness. You can champion donor-centeredness by understanding the desires of the donors and creating simple solutions.
• Strong team orientation, a dedicated work ethic, and a positive and professional attitude.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple initiatives.
• Ability to use a variety of software applications.
• Must adhere to strict confidentiality standards.
• Creativity, patience, a sense of humor and a belief in our organizational mission of:
  Aligning donor passion and generosity to advance Iowa State University’s land grant ideals

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Ames, IA; potentially hybrid

For additional information, visit the following pages:

Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.