Director of Development - Engineering

Position Summary:

The School of Engineering (Engineering) at Vanderbilt University seeks an experienced and highly motivated development professional to serve as Director of Development. The Director will serve as a front-line fundraiser responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift donors and prospects in support of Engineering’s highest priorities.

The Director will manage a portfolio of alumni, parents, friends, and other prospective donors with the capacity to make major gifts. The position will develop and execute thoughtful, individualized strategies to build meaningful relationships with donors and connect their philanthropic interests with opportunities to advance Engineering’s mission and priorities.

Fundraising responsibilities will encompass a broad range of priorities, including student financial aid and scholarships, faculty support, and strategic programs and initiatives across Engineering. 

The Director will work closely with the Engineering development team, Dean of the School of Engineering, senior leadership of the school, faculty, program and center leaders, alumni, volunteers, and colleagues across Vanderbilt’s Development and Alumni Relations organization. The successful candidate will bring strong relationship-building skills, sound fundraising judgment, excellent communication abilities, and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the mission of higher education.

About the Work Unit: 

The Department of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) assists Vanderbilt University in securing the resources, both human and financial, that are required to achieve its mission and goals.The Department is responsible for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals and organizations whose charitable objectives are consistent with those of Vanderbilt University’s teaching and research programs. Learn more about our department at https://www.vanderbilt.edu/dar/

Key Functions and Expected Performance: 

Major Gift Fundraising and Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, developing and executing individualized strategies for identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and donor relations.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with alumni, parents, friends, foundations, and other prospective donors.
• Personally solicit and close major gifts, generally in the range of $100,000 to $250,000, in collaboration with the Senior Director and other university and college leaders as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain an active prospect pipeline, identifying opportunities to move prospective donors toward deeper engagement and philanthropic investment.
• Establish annual fundraising goals and activity plans in partnership with the Senior Director and contribute meaningfully to Engineering’s overall fundraising objectives.
• Conduct donor visits and participate in meetings, events, and other engagement opportunities designed to cultivate and steward donors and prospects.
• Ensure timely and appropriate stewardship of major gift donors, demonstrating the impact of their philanthropy and strengthening long-term relationships.
• Develop a strong understanding of Engineering’s academic programs, research, faculty expertise, and distinctive centers and initiatives in order to articulate compelling philanthropic opportunities to donors.
• Translate donor interests and passions into meaningful opportunities for investment that advance Engineering’s strategic priorities.
• Partner with academic and program leaders to develop compelling cases for support, donor engagement opportunities, proposals, and stewardship materials.

Collaboration and Relationship Management

• Partner closely with the Senior Director of Development to develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies for assigned prospects and priorities.
• Work collaboratively with the Dean, senior college leadership, faculty, program and center directors, and other key stakeholders to advance fundraising priorities.
• Coordinate with colleagues across Vanderbilt Development and Alumni Relations, including development officers, annual giving, principal gifts, foundation relations, corporate relations, gift planning, advancement communications, prospect development, and donor relations.
• Collaborate with university and college colleagues to ensure coordinated and strategic engagement of donors and prospects.
• Serve as a knowledgeable and trusted development partner to Engineering faculty and staff, providing guidance on donor engagement and fundraising strategy.

Fundraising Communications and Proposals

• Prepare and coordinate compelling proposals, letters, briefing materials, impact reports, and other written materials to support donor cultivation, solicitation, and donor relations.
• Develop individualized proposals and solicitation strategies that align donor interests with priorities.
• Assist in developing cases for support and fundraising materials for strategic initiatives, programs, and centers.
• Prepare senior leaders and faculty for donor meetings, solicitations, and stewardship engagements.

Events and Donor Engagement

• Participate in and help plan events and engagement opportunities designed to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift donors and prospects.
• Leverage Engineering events, faculty interactions, student experiences, and program activities to deepen donor engagement and strengthen relationships.
• Represent Engineering and Vanderbilt University with professionalism and enthusiasm in interactions with donors, alumni, parents, volunteers, and external partners.

Advancement Operations and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and timely records of donor interactions, strategies, proposals, solicitations, and other activity in Vanderbilt’s advancement systems.
• Prepare prospect plans, contact reports, solicitation documentation, and other required advancement records.
• Monitor portfolio activity and fundraising progress and provide regular updates to the Senior Director of Development.
• Participate in team meetings, professional development activities, and strategic planning efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position has no supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Director of Development, Engineering.

Work Environment:

Hybrid role based in Nashville – in the office approximately 1 day per week or more based on business needs. 

Education and Certifications:

Bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, is required.

Experience and Skills:

Required Qualifications

• Five years of experience, or the equivalent, is required.

• Five or more years of successful experience in major gift fundraising in higher education or another complex nonprofit environment is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain productive relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, organizational, and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative development team.
• Willingness and ability to travel and participate in occasional evening and weekend events.
• Commitment to the mission of Vanderbilt University, Engineering, and to the transformative impact of education and human development.
• Driving is considered an essential job function for this role. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record. Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts of $100,000 or more is preferred.
• Strong ability to listen, identify donor interests, and align those interests with institutional priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex academic and programmatic priorities in compelling and accessible ways.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgment, initiative, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and relationships while meeting deadlines and fundraising goals.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, integrity, and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.
• Proficiency with standard office technology and advancement databases.