Senior​/Director of Development School of Business

Senior/Director of Development for the School of Business

VCU is a public research university unlike any other. We’re dedicated to serving the needs of students and patients, and our passionate community isn’t afraid to tackle difficult challenges others can’t or won’t. We’re home to creativity, teaching, discovery and healing. Our location in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia means the nonstop energy of our city ignites our innovation and provides unlimited opportunities.

All full‑time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax‑deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development for the School of Business, the Senior/Director of Development works directly with Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) colleagues to achieve Virginia Commonwealth University’s fundraising and engagement goals by engaging, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding prospects with a philanthropic interest in the strategic needs of the University. The School of Business Development team has the unique opportunity to make the final determination of duties, working title and salary based on knowledge, skills and experience of the candidate pool.

Candidates with varying levels of experience are encouraged to apply and will be considered equally.

• Manage (identify, engage, cultivate, solicit, steward) a portfolio of approximately 90‑125 of the unit’s top prospects with a giving capacity of $50,000 or greater; engage in discovery work annually on an additional pool of 20‑30 prospects to determine interest in VCU priorities
• Solicit gifts at the major gifts level (at or above $50K) through personal appointments, calls and correspondence in order to obtain and/or increase donor contributions
• Maximize the dean’s participation in fundraising and engagement efforts through strategic planning and thorough organization
• Integrate the dean, faculty, students, and alumni into development activities where most appropriate and effective
• With executive director, dean, academic leaders, SAVP, and other DAR leadership and colleagues, devise short and long‑term donor‑centric strategies and develop plans for advancing each prospect’s meaningful passions to the university
• Collaborate and coordinate with colleagues across the university and on central teams (including planned giving, CFR, principal gifts, and university development) to develop donor‑centric strategies to leverage and maximize giving and engagement; engage with colleagues for joint cultivation/solicitation/stewardship efforts when needed
• Prepare briefing documents for VCU and DAR leadership for functions in which they are in attendance
• Ensure accurate documentation of all donor activity and major gift solicitation plans in the university’s prospect management system (RADAR)
• Coordinate with alumni relations and the strategic marketing and engagement team to ensure coordination of information to stakeholders and friends
• Develop, support, and evaluate campaign volunteer opportunities; collaborate with central partners on recruitment and training of those volunteers
• Audit internal operations in order to develop standardized procedures in keeping with university policies
• Provide guidance and assist with stewardship events and correspondence in coordination with the University’s Office of Donor Relations
• Coordinate with central teams on the composing, editing, and publishing of fundraising reports
• Manage time and activities to support annually‑established metrics on prospect/donor engagement and fundraising efficacy

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100‑125 major, principal, and planned giving prospects
• Supervise one or more direct reports
• Collaborate with DAR Corporate…