Senior Director of Development

Posting Details

Position Information


Position Title
Senior Director of Development


Position Category
Staff (Exempt)


FLSA
Exempt


FTE
1


Location
Thousand Oaks


University Background


The mission of California Lutheran University is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in their identity and vocation, and committed to service and justice. Founded in 1959 in beautiful Ventura County, the university has an enrollment of about 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students who come from across the nation and around the world from a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and faiths. As a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution, Cal Lutheran is looking for candidates with a dedication to and success in working in diverse communities. The university is committed to an inclusive learning and work environment that values individual differences and respects each person's dignity.

Basic Function


Reporting to the Vice President for Growth & Advancement, the Senior Director of Development is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift prospects and donors in support of the University's fundraising priorities. The position manages an assigned portfolio of major gift prospects and donors and develops individualized strategies to advance relationships through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

The Director serves as the primary Advancement point person for Athletics fundraising, working collaboratively with other fundraisers and campus partners. The position also supports fundraising efforts involving parents and other University priorities as assigned.

Representative Duties

• Manage an active portfolio of approximately 75-150 major gift prospects and donors, developing and maintaining individualized plans to advance relationships through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify, cultivate, and solicit major gifts and principal gifts, in support of University fundraising priorities.
• Conduct substantive donor and prospect meetings and travel as needed to develop relationships and advance gift opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Vice President for Growth & Advancement and Associate Vice President for Advancement in developing and implementing fundraising strategies for Athletics and parents.
• Serve as the primary Advancement point person for Athletics fundraising, working with Athletics leadership, coaches, Advancement colleagues, and other campus partners to identify prospects, funding priorities, and philanthropic opportunities.
• Coordinate with other Advancement fundraisers to support a collaborative approach to Athletics fundraising and donor engagement.
• Work with University administrators, faculty, staff, and other campus partners to understand institutional and departmental funding priorities and connect donor interests with appropriate giving opportunities.
• Prepare and present gift proposals, correspondence, and other fundraising materials aligned with donor interests and University priorities, including proposals for corporate and foundation prospects as appropriate.
• Identify planned and blended giving opportunities and collaborate with appropriate Advancement colleagues and subject-matter experts as needed.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor and prospect records, including contact reports, proposal status, and other moves management activity, in the University's CRM.
• Monitor and report progress toward established portfolio and fundraising goals and performance expectations.
• Work with Advancement colleagues to identify and qualify alumni, parents, friends, and other prospective donors based on philanthropic interest and giving potential.
• Collaborate with colleagues across University Advancement, including annual giving, planned giving, advancement operations, stewardship and donor relations, and alumni engagement, to coordinate donor activities and relationships.
• Engage volunteers as appropriate and participate in donor cultivation, stewardship, fundraising, Athletics, and University events and programs.
• Maintain current knowledge of major and planned giving practices, charitable giving vehicles, and relevant fundraising trends.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to University policies, professional fundraising standards, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Of

• Major gift fundraising principles and practices.
• Donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Major gift portfolio and moves management.
• Donor relationship management and prospect development.
• Fundraising proposals and donor communications.
• Higher education or nonprofit advancement practices.
• Planned and blended giving concepts and charitable giving vehicles.
• Advancement CRM systems and donor records.
• Professional and ethical standards related to fundraising and donor confidentiality.

Ability To

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects and donors.
• Manage an assigned portfolio and consistently advance donor relationships.
• Build effective relationships with donors, prospects, alumni, parents, volunteers, University leadership, faculty, staff, Athletics personnel, and other constituents.
• Connect donor interests with University funding priorities and philanthropic opportunities.
• Prepare and present effective gift proposals and donor communications.
• Collaborate effectively with Advancement colleagues and campus partners.
• Exercise sound judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
• Organize and prioritize multiple assignments and meet established fundraising goals.
• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records and effectively use advancement CRM systems.
• Travel and participate in occasional evening and weekend activities as required.
• Work from Cal Lutheran main campus to PLTS campus/Northern California.

Minimum Qualifications


Any combination equivalent to a bachelor's degree and seven years of progressively responsible fundraising, development, advancement, or related experience, including demonstrated experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts and managing donor or prospect relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success securing major gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Experience managing a major gift portfolio and working toward individual fundraising goals.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit fundraising.
• Experience with Athletics fundraising, parent giving, or other constituency-based fundraising.
• Experience with planned or blended giving.
• Experience developing fundraising proposals and donor communications.
• Experience using advancement CRM and moves management systems.
• CFRE or other relevant fundraising professional development or certification.

Licenses and other requirements


N.A.

Physical Abilities


Detect to understand appropriate written correspondence; operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer; communicate to exchange information in person, in writing, on the telephone and by email; stationary position for extended periods of time; move or transport light objects; position self to store and/or retrieve files

Environment


Office and donor-engagement environments with regular interaction with donors, prospects, University employees, volunteers, alumni, parents, and community members. Requires travel and occasional evening and weekend work for donor meetings, Athletics events, University activities, and fundraising or stewardship events. Up to 60% of time traveling.

Hiring Range
$120K-$150k

Posting Detail Information


Posting Number
Staff005602022


Number of Vacancies

Desired Start Date
10/12/2026


Position End Date

Open Date
09/09/2026


Close Date
09/23/2026


Open Until Filled
No


Application Procedure/Special Instructions

Statement


California Lutheran University is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment for all persons, regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable law. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program, activity or facility of the University on the basis of these factors in a manner consistent with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, ordinances, orders and rules, and University's policies, procedures, and processes.

Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process can be provided to individuals with qualifying disabilities. Please contact the Human Resources Department for further information or to request an accommodation.