Director of Development

Director of Development

Graceland University strives to provide a positive, vibrant working environment for employees. Position descriptions are essential to understanding the scope of the position, the expectations, and the general nature of the work performed.

The Director of Development will work closely with other advancement team members, senior administrators, and interact with other University faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and community members to manage and strengthen Graceland University's fundraising practices and develop strategies to achieve the institution's desired financial future through the promotion of a culture of philanthropy, both internally and externally.

This position supports the university mission by:

• The Director of Development is in charge of engaging, cultivating, and stewarding a portfolio of donors to meet and exceed the fundraising goals of the University.
• Focus fundraising efforts to maximize the impact Graceland has on preparing students for productive careers and rich lives.
• Contribute to student success/retention.
• Embracing a growth mindset by willing to be a life-long learner, focusing on strategic priorities of the university, using failure as a means to move forward.

This position contributes to student success/retention by:

• Providing financial resources for scholarships, capital projects, endowment growth and all other fundraising needs
• Attending athletic events, performing arts and other student activities to show support and to develop personal connections to students
• Develop relationships with family members of students to enhance the families view of Graceland

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• The Director of Development is responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and planned gift prospects in support of Graceland University's strategic priorities. Working in partnership with the Senior Director of Major Gifts, this position develops and executes individualized fundraising strategies for an assigned portfolio of approximately 150 major gift prospects and donors, with the goal of securing unrestricted, major, and planned gifts while building long-term philanthropic relationships that advance the University's mission.
• Participate in portfolio reviews with the Senior Director of Advancement Services to evaluate prospect movement, refine fundraising strategies, and ensure accurate portfolio management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, donors, and friends of the University to inspire philanthropic investment and meaningful engagement with Graceland.
• Prepare gift proposals, stewardship reports, and donor communications in collaboration with Institutional Advancement colleagues.
• Coordinate donor visits involving the President, Vice President, and other university leaders to maximize fundraising opportunities.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of Graceland University's comprehensive fundraising campaign by collaborating with Institutional Advancement colleagues to secure philanthropic support for the University's strategic priorities.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and fundraising strategies within the University's constituent relationship management system.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship through university events, including Homecoming, commencement, donor receptions, and other engagement activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, business development, annual giving, sales, communications, marketing, or a related field, with demonstrated success in building relationships and achieving measurable results.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward donor, client, or constituent relationships while building productive partnerships with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Proficiency with constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and Microsoft Office applications, or the ability to quickly learn new technology.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Graceland University.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel extensively, including evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position may be based in either Lamoni, Iowa, or Independence, Missouri, and requires regular travel to all Graceland University campus locations and throughout assigned fundraising territories to cultivate and steward donor relationships.