Executive Director of Development

Executive Director of Development

The State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz invites applications for an Executive Director of Development. The Executive Director of Development in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations ("Office") reports directly to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations (who is also the Executive Director of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation). This is an Appendix A title, and not eligible for permanent appointment. The Executive Director of Development serves as a member of the senior management team of the Office and advises the Vice President on all matters of philanthropy. The individual currently supervises: two major gift officers (MGOs), a stewardship and scholarships team of two, the annual fund officer, and an assistant. The Executive Director of Development supports the work of the Foundation's Board of Directors and is the staff liaison to the Foundation's Gift Acceptance Committee. The Executive Director of Development plays a significant role in the planning and implementation of strategies for Beyond the Ridge, the University's second comprehensive campaign, which goes public in October 2026 and will close after the University's 200th anniversary in 2028. The Executive Director of Development interacts with colleagues at other institutions to keep current on best practices in philanthropy and remains current with professional standards and ethics in the field at large.

Duties & Responsibilities

The role encompasses a wide range of duties from high-level strategic oversight to hands-on, day-to-day management, with a strong focus on mentorship and staff development, including to:

• Develop and enhance relationships with alumni, faculty-staff, parents, and friends of SUNY New Paltz and engage them for philanthropic support;
• Provide leadership, direction, support and oversight for all philanthropic activities including major gifts, planned giving, and unrestricted giving;
• Identify, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of approximately 25 prospects and donors;
• Solicit (and advise on the solicitation of) major and principal gifts to help ensure the ongoing success of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation's philanthropic efforts;
• Provide guidance to major gift officers as necessary to interpret and assess wealth data and determine ask amounts and strategy;
• Provide leadership in the area of moves management, by staying abreast of prospects' progress through the cultivation and solicitation pipeline, and by ensuring proper oversight and documentation of gift officer activities;
• Review all endowed and annual gift agreements to ensure terms are acceptable and meeting standards that adhere to philanthropic best practices;
• Review all letters of understanding with the University's Departments for the awarding of scholarship and program funds, meeting with Department chairs and others in order to ensure donor's intentions are met;
• Provide direction and oversight over donor stewardship, communicating directly with donors in response to questions regarding their gifts and related funded awards;
• Provide oversight of the Foundation's scholarship program in the awarding of over $1M in scholarships per year;
• Work collaboratively with faculty-staff across campus to engage prospective and current donors in building meaningful and strategic relationships;
• In collaboration with the Foundation CFO, ensure compliance with the New York Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (NYPMIFA), and develop financial operational budgets for the development function; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree is required; a Master's degree is preferred.

Experience: Minimum seven years of progressive experience required in philanthropy (or a related field), including a demonstrated track record of building donor relationships and closing major gifts. Minimum five years of supervisory experience required, with demonstrated leadership in providing direction and oversight of staff. Preference given to individuals with experience with: fundraising for higher education, comprehensive campaigns, and working with boards of directors.

Professional & Interpersonal Skills: The position requires:

• Record of sustaining strong relationships with individual donors, gaining their trust while building deep partnerships with the organization and its representatives;
• Ability to take initiative, collaborate with others, and strategically align University and program needs with interests and resources of donors;
• Superior interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style, with strong written and verbal communication abilities with all levels of faculty, staff, senior leadership, and donors;
• Capacity to engage people in diverse settings and contexts;
• The ability to lead and manage teams;
• A keen ability to prioritize and manage competing projects and demands;
• A solid understanding of budget development and oversight;
• Commitment to professionalism, collegiality, and a positive and productive approach to work;
• Willingness and ability to travel (regionally and nationally) and work varied hours for events and meetings as needed; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Technical Skills: The position requires experience with:

• Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) systems for fundraising (Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT preferred); and
• Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel in particular).

Special Instructions to Applicants - Electronic submissions required. Candidates will be required to submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. Please apply by visiting Individuals who need assistance with the application process should call View phone number on click.appcast.io. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Other important information about this vacancy - This position offers full New York State benefits which are among the most comprehensive in the country; see them here: The State University of New York at New Paltz is a highly selective, public University that is recognized regionally for the strength of its academic programs. It is located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley with easy access to New York City and other nearby recreational and cultural amenities. SUNY New Paltz recognizes the unique skills, perspective, talents and passion that each employee contributes to its learning community. To work here is to accept an invitation to participate in the growth and development of all campus members—students, faculty and staff. The University's commitment to inclusive excellence is an important part of our mission of public education and our culture. New Paltz continues to work on building a community that supports freedom, mutual respect, and civility. We seek others who support these values of diversity and inclusiveness and candidates of all diverse backgrounds who wish to participate in our cultural aspirations are welcome and encouraged to apply. All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The State University of New York at New Paltz is an AA/EOE/ADA employer.