Director of Development

About Us

Located in Morrow, Georgia, Clayton State University is roughly 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta. The university offers employees an adaptable, collaborative environment that fosters professional and personal development.

The university is committed to having a positive impact on the State of Georgia and beyond by serving students and the community through broadening access to high-quality education and advancing workforce development. Clayton State offers multiple certificates, Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's Degree programs, which currently enroll over 5,500 students in challenging campus and online courses.

Clayton State's main campus is situated on 214 beautiful acres in a lakeside setting just minutes from downtown Atlanta, making access to the vibrant metropolitan area swift. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has named the university a Top Workplace in Atlanta for six consecutive years. The Chronicle of Higher Education also named Clayton State one of 79 higher education institutions across the nation in its list of 2017 Great Colleges to Work For.


Job Summary

The Director of Development is a frontline fundraising professional responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding major gift prospects and corporate and foundation partners in support of Clayton State University. Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development & External Affairs, the Director will manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 prospects and donors, with a primary focus on securing gifts of $25,000 or more. The Director will be responsible for building a strong major gift pipeline, advancing prospects through the fundraising cycle, and meeting established annual fundraising, solicitation, and activity goals. The Director will work closely with university leadership, academic and administrative leaders, volunteers, and University Advancement colleagues to develop philanthropic opportunities and build meaningful, long-term relationships with donors and partners.


Responsibilities

Fundraising

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100-125 major gift prospects and donors, with responsibility for the full fundraising cycle, from identification and qualification through solicitation, closing, and stewardship.
• Identify, research, and qualify new major gift prospects to continually build and strengthen the University's fundraising pipeline.
• Develop and execute individualized moves management strategies to consistently advance prospects from qualification through cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, and stewardship.
• Develop individualized strategies to qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects capable of making gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Personally solicit and close major gifts of $25,000 or more, and coordinate solicitations involving the President, senior university leaders, Foundation Board members, volunteers, and other University representatives.
• Identify and cultivate corporate and foundation prospects whose interests align with University priorities.
• Conduct regular prospect and donor visits and maintain consistent personal engagement with assigned prospects.
• Develop compelling proposals, solicitation strategies, and other materials to secure philanthropic support.
• Build and maintain relationships with alumni, friends, corporations, foundations, community leaders, and other external constituents.
• Steward donors and partners to encourage continued engagement and philanthropic support.
• Meet established annual fundraising, solicitation, prospect contact, and other activity goals.

Collaboration and Strategy

• Work with University leaders, faculty, and staff to identify and develop compelling funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with advancement colleagues in prospect research, advancement services, alumni engagement, stewardship, and communications to maximize fundraising opportunities.
• Participate in University and community events as a representative and ambassador of Clayton State University.
• Provide guidance to University leaders and volunteers regarding donor strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Contribute to annual fundraising plans and initiatives established by University Advancement leadership.

Prospect Management and Administration

• Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive records of prospect and donor activity in the University's advancement database/Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
• Document donor contacts, meetings, cultivation strategies, solicitations, asks, outcomes, next steps, and stewardship activities in the CRM in a timely manner.
• Develop and maintain strategies and moves management plans for significant prospects and solicitations.
• Monitor portfolio activity, prospect movement, proposals, solicitations, and projected revenue to ensure consistent pipeline development and progress toward fundraising goals.
• Provide regular updates and reports regarding fundraising activity, pipeline development, solicitations, and results.
• Ensure appropriate coordination with advancement services on gift documentation, reporting, and stewardship.
• Adhere to University policies, gift acceptance procedures, and professional standards of ethical fundraising.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor¿s degree from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, development, relationship management, sales, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships with individuals and organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to personally solicit and close major gifts of $25,000 or more.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospective donors.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to travel locally and regionally and work occasional evenings and weekends as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Five or more years of professional fundraising experience, preferably in higher education or nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, corporate support, foundation funding, or other significant philanthropic commitments.
• Experience managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors using moves management strategies.
• Experience working with senior executives, university leaders, volunteers, corporate leaders, and foundation representatives.
• Experience developing and submitting corporate or foundation proposals.
• Experience with comprehensive or capital campaigns.
• Experience using an advancement database or CRM system.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build authentic, long-term relationships with donors and external partners.
• Ability to translate University priorities into compelling opportunities for philanthropic investment.
• Ability to identify and qualify new prospects and build a sustainable major gift pipeline.
• Ability to effectively manage a prospect portfolio and consistently advance relationships toward solicitation and closure.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Clayton State University and its role in promoting social mobility.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at .

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at .

Institutional Values

Clayton State University will have a positive impact on the State of Georgia and beyond by serving students and the community through broadening access to high-quality education and advancing workforce development. Our statement of core values is adaptability, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and people-centered. Each Clayton State University community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on Clayton State's Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct can be found online at and


Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation, including a criminal background check demonstrating eligibility for employment with Clayton State University, as determined by Clayton State University in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Candidate must disclose potential, actual, or apparent conflicts of interest in compliance.

Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, statutes, rules, and regulations of this institution and the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.


Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of Clayton State University and the University System of Georgia (USG). Clayton State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any Clayton State University program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Clery Disclosure

This position may be considered a Campus Security Authority, CSA. A Campus Security Authority is a Clery-specific term that encompasses certain departments, groups, and individual employees who have a duty to report crimes they become aware of, as defined by the Clery Act.