Chief Development Officer – College of Fine Arts

Chief Development Officer – College of Fine Arts

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 7+ years of experience as a development professional.
• Proven track record of closing six- and seven-figure plus gifts.
• Ability to build significant relationships with new and existing donors.
• Ambition and skills to strategically grow and manage a successful team.
• Exemplary written and oral communications skills.
• High degree of emotional intelligence and ability to successfully engage faculty and staff throughout the College of Fine Arts as well as colleagues across campus.
• Experience with a comprehensive campaign in a complex setting such as higher education.
• Intellectual curiosity and desire to appreciate, understand, and advance the academic pursuits of the college to donors, and the general public.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively and work well under pressure.
• Capable of working independently, while also engaging in collaboration between teams.
• Highly organized, collaborative, and collegial.
• Ability to travel throughout the United States to engage prospects and donors.
• Successful candidate must live in or be willing to relocate to the Austin, Texas area.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an understanding of university priorities and the College of Fine Arts’ vision and mission.
• In coordination with the Dean, develop and coordinate both fundraising and alumni relations strategies. Sustain and oversee the work of Development personnel, ensuring strategic and tactical coordination.
• Build and carry an active portfolio of 75-100 prospective donors.
• Engage in qualification, strategy development, relationship building and closing of planned and principal gifts for the College of Fine Arts.
• Create robust and highly proactive major and planned giving programs, growth of corporate and foundation funding whereby progress can be measured quantitatively.
• Consistently produce at least $5,000,000 per year.
• Work collaboratively and proactively with Texas Development to further the fundraising efforts of the College of Fine Arts. Create and nurture a culture of philanthropy within the College and its constituencies.
• Serve as a member of the Dean’s leadership team and be involved with the strategic planning and achievement of the College of Fine Arts’ mission. Develop a comprehensive major gift development plan in collaboration with the Dean, Department Heads, and Unit Directors to identify key initiatives for private funding.
• Establish and maintain strong and mutually beneficial relationships with external contacts and constituents on behalf of the College.
• Manage all components of the College’s Advisory Council, particularly as they relate to major gift activity involving volunteers.
• Assist where appropriate with the planning of major donor functions, including donor recognition and stewardship events.
• Manage all components of the College’s gift administration, gift acknowledgement, and pledge management.
• Establish and communicate fundraising goals, provide leadership, and manage and mentor staff on major and planned gift cultivation and solicitation strategies, and providing regular performance evaluations for the College of Fine Arts development team.
• Be responsible for planning, budget and strategic direction of customized and comprehensive fundraising plans, oversight and successful achievement of goals and oversight of the implementation and management of all development activities, including timelines, budget, staff, and outside counsel.
• Travel throughout the United States and around the globe, representing the College and building relationships with its donors, prospects, and alumni.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher
• Experience in higher education fundraising, coupled with the ability to connect with faculty and researchers and effectively communicate their areas of research to donors.
• Knowledge of the Texas and national arts and culture ecology and economy.
• Experience in arts and culture philanthropy.