Executive Director of Development

OBU Mission Statement

OBU transforms lives by equipping students to pursue academic excellence, integrate faith with all areas of knowledge, engage a diverse world, and live worthy of the high calling of God in Christ.

Oklahoma Baptist University achieves its mission through a shared commitment to the following expectations. All employees must embrace these expectations and model them in their behavior.

• Demonstrate commitment to the essentials of the Christian faith.
• Commit to the mission and vision of Oklahoma Baptist University.
• Treat people with dignity and respect.
• Build relationships on honesty, integrity, and trust.
• Strive for excellence through teamwork, leadership, and a strong work ethic.
• Manage human and financial resources wisely and efficiently.

The Executive Director of Development is a leadership role in the office of university advancement and is responsible for developing and managing major and principal gift relationships in support of Oklahoma Baptist University. This role carries responsibility for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-capacity donors while contributing to the overall leadership and direction of the Advancement division. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Advancement and Alumni, the Executive Director plays an integral role in shaping fundraising strategy, advancing capital campaign initiatives, and strengthening relationships with top donors and foundations across the Eastern Oklahoma region.

This position works closely with the University President, Vice Presidents, Deans, and other senior leaders to advance institutional priorities through philanthropic partnership.

• Develop and manage a portfolio of major and principal gift prospects and donors within Eastern Oklahoma, with a focus on significant philanthropic commitments.
• Work with advancement engagement team to design and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that align donor interests with university or campaign priorities.
• Identify, qualify, and advance new prospects into the major and principal gifts pipeline through collaborative workflows with advancement prospect research and analytics.
• Lead and participate in complex gift conversations independently and in partnership with the President, Vice President for Advancement and Alumni, and other senior leaders.

• Serve as the senior advancement representative for Eastern Oklahoma, coordinating donor engagement and fundraising activity across the region.
• Develop and implement regional fundraising strategies that support annual and campaign goals.
• Represent the university at donor gatherings, community events, and institutional functions throughout the region.
• Develop keen understanding and knowledge of university assets, priorities and opportunities for donor involvement and partnerships.

• Assist in the strategic development and execution of capital campaign initiatives and leadership gift strategies.
• Partner with Advancement leadership to refine campaign priorities, donor strategies, and naming opportunities as well as coordinated liaison with campaign consultants.
• Support leadership gift cultivation and campaign engagement within the Eastern Oklahoma region especially in areas of Planned and Estate Giving.

• Build and manage relationships with top private foundations and institutional partners within the assigned region.
• Collaborate with Advancement leadership, and campus partners to align institutional priorities with foundation interests.
• Support cultivation, proposal strategy, and stewardship efforts for foundation partners through OBU’s grants and foundations consultant, as appropriate.

• Serve as an active member of the Advancement Leadership Team, contributing to strategic planning, goal setting, and best practices especially in areas of campaign development and messaging.
• Collaborate closely with colleagues across Advancement, Alumni Engagement, Donor Relations,…