Director of Development

Director of Development


City: Hammond


Job Description:


Preferred application deadline is July 14, 2026

Interviews will take place towards the end of July/early August 2026.

Overview of Director of Development

Purdue University Northwest is seeking a Director of Development. The Director of Development is responsible for cultivating and stewarding philanthropic relationships that advance the mission and priorities of Purdue University Northwest. This position manages a portfolio of prospective and current donors, including alumni, friends, corporate partners, and faculty and staff, with the focus on securing major and planned gifts.

By building trust-based relationships and aligning donor passions with institutional needs, the Director actively engages individuals through all stages of the giving cycle, discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The Director works collaboratively with academic and administrative leadership to develop compelling funding opportunities and foster a strong internal and external culture of philanthropy. Hybrid work environment to meet the needs of office collaboration and remote work to meet and steward donors.

Pay:

• $100,000 - 105,000

Duties and Responsibilities of Director of Development

• Build and manage a portfolio of prospective and current donors, including alumni, parents, community members, corporate partners, and faculty and staff.
• Establish and sustain meaningful trust-based relationships that advance engagement and philanthropic support.
• Proactively identify, qualify, and develop relationships through personalized outreach, discovery conversations, and consistent follow-up.
• Conduct regular in-person and virtual visits to deepen relationships and move prospects through the donor engagement continuum.
• Act as the lead fundraiser on various named scholarship fund efforts and other special projects in specific Colleges.
• Develop and execute individualized strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and planned gifts.
• Align donor interests with institutional priorities, including scholarships, faculty support, and programmatic initiatives.
• Prepare compelling proposals and lead or support solicitations to secure philanthropic investments.
• Achieve annual fundraising goals through thoughtful and strategic donor engagement.
• Partner with university leadership, including the Chancellor, Provost, Deans, faculty and staff, to identify funding priorities and engagement opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to strengthen a campus-wide culture of philanthropy, including positioning faculty and staff as potential donors and advocates.
• Serve as a trusted liaison between donors and the university, ensuring alignment between donor intent and institutional impact.
• Become conversant and comfortable with planned giving/asset-based giving vehicles.
• Become conversant with the history and traditions of Purdue University Northwest.
• Attend university functions (such as Commencement, Homecoming, Alumni Hall of Fame, and college and/or unit-based functions where alumni, donors, friends, and corporate partners, as well as other stakeholders will be present to build relationships and cultivate philanthropic partnerships.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of future donors through strategic prospect identification, research, and qualification.
• Partner with Advancement operations to refine prospect strategies and ensure coordinated relationship management.
• Utilize Ascend and other provided resources to document engagement activity, track progress and manage donor strategies.
• Develop and execute annual work plans with clearly defined goals, metrics, and timelines.
• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals and adjust strategies as needed to maximize results.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of donor interactions, proposals and outcomes.
• Ensure effective records maintenance, including timely filling of requests of prospect assignments, prospect strategies and contact reports using the University Development Office's prospect management system (Advance, Reeher, etc.). Prepare progress reports as needed.

Benefits of Director of Development

• Full benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
• Accrue 15 days' vacation your first year, then 22 days' vacation your 2nd year plus rollover
• University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
• University contributions to Health Savings Account -
• Plus a chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
  • 10 paid holidays
• Employee Wellness Programs
• Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
• Tuition remission for you, your spouse and dependent children at any Purdue campus

For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit:

Education of Director of Development

• Bachelor's degree required.

Experience of Director of Development

• A minimum of 3 years of progressive responsibility for fundraising or external relationship management such as donor stewardship, or professional selling experience is required.
• 5+ years of experience in major gift fundraising or comparable relationships-based roles strongly preferred.
• Experience in solicitation of major and/or principal gifts in higher education preferred.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating and soliciting philanthropic gifts or securing comparable revenue through relationship-driven strategies is preferred.

Core Competencies of Director of Development

• Highly motivated and flexible individuals with strong relationship building skills and a demonstrated capacity for organization and teamwork.
• Ability to thrive in a hybrid work environment (balancing remote and in-office).
• Confidence and comfort with engaging high net worth individuals and C-suite executives.
• Demonstrate conceptual understanding of development and alumni relations.
• Strong professional communication and listening skills and the ability to represent the university with tact and diplomacy at all levels.
• Proficiency with standard office productivity software, database management, and CRM systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel required.

Additional Information

Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position

Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.

Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master's and applied doctoral levels.


Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW's values reflect the university's commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.


PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Colleges report and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development.

FLSA Status

Exempt