Associate Director of Major Gifts

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

The Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University is one of the fastest-rising, highly-ranked engineering schools in the nation. The school consists of four departments with 130 tenure-track faculty members, 1250 undergraduate students, 1400 master’s students, and 600 PhD students. Housed within a university renowned for its programs in the liberal arts, medicine, business and law, Pratt prepares future engineering leaders to address complex challenges with solutions that take into account the complexities and nuances of implementing them. Pratt takes a whole-student approach to education, ensuring students are well-supported throughout their journeys and graduate with the grit and determination required to persevere in their careers and their lives. Pratt is dedicated to the values of diversity, equitability, inclusivity and community in its pursuit of knowledge and service to society.

Occupational Summary:

The Associate Director of Major Gifts will report directly to the Senior Associate Dean and Director of Development.  This position will be responsible for identifying, cultivating and soliciting significant gifts in support of the school’s educational needs and priorities. To assist the school and its leadership in expanding its philanthropic base of alumni, parents, and friends through leadership annual fund gifts and major gift fundraising.

Work Performed:

• Work with the Associate Dean and Director of Development in creating and implementing a comprehensive development plan for major gift fundraising that includes but is not limited to the identification and qualification of newly screened major gift prospects; as well as the cultivation and solicitation of both existing and newly identified prospects at the $100,000 to $5M+ level.

• Solicit annual fund leadership gifts of $1,000+ from engineering alumni and current engineering parents. Work closely with the Annual Fund team to increase the giving levels of existing leadership donors. 

• Involve Engineering administrators, faculty and volunteers in fundraising efforts; keep abreast of institutional and departmental priorities, University programs, personalities and events.

• Maintain a working knowledge of Duke-wide funding priorities, and a general knowledge of those schools, departments, and institutes that collaborate directly with Engineering.

• Actively communicate and collaborate with development officers throughout the University to inform them of travel and to visit potential prospects, to coordinate regional prospect strategies and activities and to make and take referrals.

• Represent the school within the broader campus development community by coordinating cultivation and solicitation strategies for prospects with multiple interests; and by contributing to the refinement of policies and practices that will enhance the University’s advancement goals.

• Maintain a balanced portfolio of 150 qualified major gift prospects for engineering through work in 4 key regions including San Francisco

• Support the Pratt Development team as needed to advance the Engineering School’s priorities

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires communication, analytical and organizational skills generally acquired through a bachelor's degree. Masters or other advanced degree preferred.

Experience

Work requires 5 years of progressive fund-raising experience in a related organization with a proven track record in major gifts. Campaign experience is desirable.

Preferred experience and skills:

• Raising individual gifts in the range of $100,000 to $1 million.
• Significant experience staffing major gift and board volunteers.
• Strong collaborative abilities and enthusiasm for working in teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• High level of creativity, initiative and motivation
• Ability to travel frequently
• Proven ability to work independently

Job Code: 00001821 MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER
Job Level: 16

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.