Executive Director of Advancement - Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy

POSITION SUMMARY:

The University of Oklahoma Foundation seeks a strategic leader and experienced fundraiser to advance philanthropic support for the Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy at the University of Oklahoma. The Executive Director of Advancement Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy reports to the Assistant Vice President of Advancement for the Norman Campus and serves as a member of the Norman Campus leadership team.

This role provides strategic leadership for a team of fundraising professionals and is responsible for building, scaling, and sustaining a high-performing advancement program capable of generating more than $10 million annually in philanthropic support. The Executive Director will develop fundraising talent, strengthen donor engagement, expand the major and principal gift pipeline, and create the systems and strategies necessary for long-term philanthropic growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, execute, and continually refine comprehensive fundraising strategies that expand donor engagement, strengthen pipeline development, and position the college for sustained philanthropic growth in alignment with college and university priorities.
• Upon successful onboarding and portfolio development, serve as a frontline fundraiser with an expected individual fundraising goal of $5 million annually, or $15 million over a rolling three-year period through cash, planned and blended gifts.
• Operate with an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented mindset, identifying opportunities to strengthen fundraising capacity, improve systems and processes, develop talent, and accelerate philanthropic results.
• Provide leadership, coaching, talent development, and accountability to advancement staff while building a team capable of consistently achieving and exceeding a $10 million annual fundraising goal.
• Enable a culture of philanthropy by equipping the dean and academic leaders to effectively articulate vision, engage donors, and steward philanthropic investments.
• Assess fundraising performance, systems, and organizational effectiveness, implementing changes that strengthen fundraising capacity and position the college for future growth.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of major and principal gift opportunities, ensuring sustainable long-term fundraising growth beyond annual fundraising goals.
• Build and sustain a high-performance fundraising culture rooted in accountability, strategic thinking, donor-centered engagement, and continuous improvement.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Serve as a top-tier frontline fundraiser for the OU Foundation, advancing institutional priorities through strategic donor engagement and solicitation.
• Manage and advance a portfolio of major and principal gift relationships, leading disciplined cultivation, strategic solicitation, and intentional stewardship efforts.
• Lead complex donor strategies, including interdisciplinary and cross-college opportunities where donor interests align.
• Develop and implement a donor engagement and travel strategy within approved budget parameters.
• Travel regularly to engage donors and prospective donors throughout the United States.

Collaboration, Stewardship & Operations

• Serve as the primary strategic partner to the dean, providing senior-level engagement, alignment, and support while enabling development staff to manage day-to-day relationships and activity.
• Work closely with college-based faculty and staff to align institutional needs with donor interests.
• Collaborate across the advancement enterprise, including Principal Gifts, Planned Giving, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Annual Giving, and Advancement Initiatives, to identify opportunities, strengthen donor pipelines, coordinate engagement strategies, and advance transformational philanthropic investments.
• Ensure donor intent is honored through appropriate stewardship, reporting, and use of funds.
• Maintain accurate documentation of donor interactions, proposals, and solicitations in the prospect management system.
• Work with legal documents including donor agreements and planned giving vehicles.
• Monitor and analyze fundraising activity, pipeline health, proposal activity, and performance metrics to inform decision-making, identify growth opportunities, and ensure progress toward long-term fundraising objectives.

Perform related responsibilities as required or assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to solicit and close major and principal gifts.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to make effective presentations to large and small groups.
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills. Ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
• Must be able to establish positive relationships with university alumni, donors and friends, administrators, faculty, students and staff.
• Ability to manage professional and support staff, lead project teams and communicate directions and expectations effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn customized online software applications, basic data analysis.
• Ability to effectively evaluate projects/programs and produce comprehensive reports.
• Ability to travel to in-person meetings in various U.S. cities.
• Ability to travel independently, by car, to multiple locations for work that may be significant distances from one another.
• Weekend or evening work is required.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelors degree in related discipline.
• 8-10 years of experience in fundraising or advancement.
• Management experience required.

Preferences:

• Experienced in comprehensive fundraising campaigns, preferably for a higher education institution.

Certifications:

• CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) certification is preferred.

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