Director, Development

Compensation Range:

Annual Salary: $78,496.00 - $105,974.00

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Advancement & Community Relations, the Director, Development manages and implements National University’s fundraising programs, including the annual fund, major gift development, donor pipeline management, and day-to-day development operations.  The Director serves as the bridge between Advancement leadership and development staff, ensuring fundraising strategies are translated into action through effective donor pipeline management, donor engagement, and operational coordination. They oversee the Development Database Specialist and associated development staff to ensure consistent execution, performance tracking, and donor stewardship. The Director also manages a personal portfolio of major gift prospects while supervising the systems, processes, and staff that support a healthy donor pipeline and effective fundraising activity.

Essential Functions:

Fundraising Strategy and Program Leadership

• Collaborates with the AVP to develop and implement fundraising programs and strategies that build a strong, sustainable philanthropic pipeline for National University.
• Provides leadership for annual giving, planned giving, and key fundraising campaigns, including multi-channel appeals and targeted initiatives.
• Leads and executes annual giving campaigns and major-gift-focused mini-campaigns aligned with institutional priorities.
• Works with internal partners to align giving opportunities with academic and institutional needs.

Moves Management and Donor Pipeline Development

• Leads and manages the University’s donor lifecycle process, including prospect assignment, tracking, and movement through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship stages.
• Creates a consistent rhythm of donor strategy meetings, portfolio reviews, and action tracking across the team.
• Provides coaching and guidance to development staff on donor engagement and moves management best practices.
• Ensures accurate and timely documentation of donor interactions in the CRM.

Development Operations Oversight

• Supervises and collaborates closely with the Development Database Specialist to ensure accurate gift processing, reconciliation, reporting, and CRM data integrity.
• Ensures timely preparation of donor lists, reports, dashboards, and analysis required for appeals, campaigns, events, and stewardship.
• Monitors fundraising metrics, pipeline health, and performance benchmarks for frontline fundraisers.
• Works with the Database Specialist to maintain a coordinated CRM environment supporting all fundraising activities.

Stewardship and Donor Communications

• Oversees the development of stewardship plans for annual fund donors, leadership donors, and major donors.
• Reviews and supports the creation of donor impact reports, acknowledgment letters, event communications, and stewardship updates.
• Collaborates with Advancement and NU Foundation colleagues on donor-related content, newsletters, and recognition.

Collaboration with AVP and Institutional Partners

• Translates the AVP’s advancement priorities into actionable fundraising plans and coordinated internal workflows.
• Provides regular updates to the AVP regarding fundraising progress, opportunities, challenges, and resource needs.
• Works with academic leaders, enrollment partners, and community relations staff to align fundraising efforts with broader institutional goals.
• Participates in planning donor events, outreach activities, and strategic engagement opportunities.

Team Leadership and Supervision

• Supervises and mentors a team of development staff including the Development Database Specialist, and private grants contractor.
• Conducts performance reviews, establishes clear goals, and supports professional development.
• Fosters an accountable, collaborative, and donor-centered team culture.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Oversight and management of a team, to include a Development Database Specialist.

Requirements:

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit leader