Senior Director of Development (Chase Center)

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Job Title:

Senior Director of Development (Chase Center)

Department:

Advancement | Alumni Association

Position Overview

The Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society is conducting a search for a Senior Director of Development who will work closely with the Center’s administrative team to build the Center into the flourishing academic community envisioned in ORC § 3335.39. The Senior Director of Development will lead in the development of a comprehensive fundraising plan that optimizes the best of the Chase Center resources, which include an outstanding faculty, committed University alumni, and a University development program that is well resourced and on the rise by every measure. This role, as with all members of the Center, should understand and embrace the Center’s mission, needs and value proposition of the university and the Chase Center. The Senior Director of Development is responsible for building relationships with prospective donors to increase philanthropic support. Donors such as alumni, friends, and mission-aligned individuals and groups will be identified by listening for opportunities to align their interests and passions with opportunities to donate to the Center.

The aim of the role is to actively manage a portfolio of prospective donors to be asked for major gifts of $100,000 and above. Preparation for the “ask” will include creative and strategic utilization of resources to determine the prospective donor’s capacity for giving, build their interest, raise their sights, sustain their engagement and obtain a gift. Success in the position will be guided by annual metrics such as number of monthly meetings, number of gift commitments, and dollars raised. Central resources such as a robust donor database, and reporting and analytics tools exist to help the role achieve goals and manage an allocated budget.

The Senior Director of Development dually reports to the Executive Director of the Salmon P. Chase Center and Advancement leadership, and operates with a high degree of independence to make decisions, solve problems, negotiate and adapt to shifting priorities. Goals for this position will be set collaboratively by Chase Center and Advancement leadership in alignment with the annual workplan. Performance management, including annual reviews, will be conducted jointly by leadership from both areas. Expectations include stellar communications and interactions with constituents, collaboration with colleagues across Advancement and the University and Wexner Medical Center, diplomacy, and discretion. This role requires frequent workweek travel including approximately one or two overnight trips per month, regular in-state travel and occasional evening and weekend work. This position is expected to work in person, onsite, at the Center.

The successful candidate will be an exceptional fundraiser and colleague, leading and furthering the growth of the Chase Center’s philanthropy and strategically growing a portfolio of high-net-worth donors. He or she will have a high level of emotional intelligence, will be a collaborative, steady, organized, and experienced leader with demonstrated success closing six- and seven-figure-plus gifts. The successful candidate will work closely with the Executive Director of the Center to secure resources for the faculty, fellows, students, research, and programs of the Center.

About the Chase Center

The Ohio State University’s motto, Disciplina in Civitatem, or “education for citizenship,” is not merely a slogan; it is an exhortation to remain focused on the responsibility to develop an informed, engaged, and civic-minded citizenry. It is essential to fulfilling Ohio State’s land-grant mission.

In 2023, the State of Ohio established and funded the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society at Ohio State ("the Chase Center" or “the Center”). The Chase Center is a multidisciplinary university center that conducts teaching, research, and public programming concerning the core texts and great debates of Western civilization; the principles, ideals, and institutions of the American and Ohio political order; and the foundations of responsible leadership and informed citizenship. It is an independent academic unit of the University. The Center is a leader of the growing cadre of similar centers of civic thought and leadership in Ohio and throughout the country.

During its first year of operation, the Chase Center laid a strong foundation for long-term success, securing the Center’s mission to “conduct teaching and research in the historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society,” ORC § 3335.39. This upcoming year, the Center’s founding faculty will offer the Center’s first classes and degrees, the Center is hosting a robust suite of public programming, the Chase Society of students is large and growing, the Center launched its support for K-12 schools and their students, and the Center saw significant financial support from the United States, Ohio, and private supporters. The Center will grow toward maturity over the next three years.

Duties and Responsibilities

95% - Fundraising

• In collaboration with the Center Director this team member identifies, qualifies, and cultivates a portfolio of prospective major gift donors and organizations in support of the Chase Center
• Participates in the crafting and creation of robust and highly proactive major giving programs, leveraging central resources, whereby progress can be measured quantitatively
• Establishes and communicates fundraising goals in partnership with the Center Director and Advancement leadership
• Provides leadership on major gift cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Works with faculty and Chase Center leadership to build relationships
• Works collaboratively and proactively with Advancement to further the fundraising efforts of the Chase Center
• Identifies appropriate funding opportunities and potential donors from the Ohio State alumni base, other individuals, corporate and foundation partners, and others who would be interested in the opportunity to support the Center’s mission
• Builds and manages a portfolio of 75-100 major ($100,000 or more) gift prospects who have the capacity and interest to support the Center’s mission
• Cultivates, solicits, and closes major and principal gifts from donors and prospects to include endowment and unrestricted support, documentation of estate plans, and annual fund commitments
• Delivers on quantifiable goals, specifically excelling in successful major and principal gift solicitations closing major and principal gifts and grants
• Oversees the implementation and management of all development activities, including timelines and budget
• Conducts executive prospect strategy meetings with the Executive Director to maximize time with donors
• Pursues connections and discovers donor values, capacity, interests and passions
• Assists in development of growth plans that will facilitate engagement and focuses on establishing a pipeline of prospective financial supporters
• Builds context for gift proposals, develops and implements strategic gift solicitations
• Maximizes stewardship opportunities by strengthening donor relationships, providing strategic support across fund management, acknowledgements, reporting, and development officer travel, and delivering prompt, effective solutions to donor relations issues
• Monitors and reports on data, sharing monthly fund balance updates
• Assists with stewardship events on an as needed basis and partners closely with donor experience and alumni relations colleagues
• Collaborates with Advancement, planning and executing of targeted events
• Works in partnership with development officers, engagement and marketing/communications staff to create briefings, talking points, remarks and background materials for targeted events
• Curates stories and needs for annual giving appeals in collaboration with Advancement Annual Giving
• Assists with messaging, packaging, and creating online/social engagement content
• Creates and nurtures a culture of philanthropy within the Center and its constituencies
• Travels throughout the United States and around the globe representing the Center and building relationships with its donors, prospects, and alumni

This role requires frequent workweek travel including approximately one or two overnight trips per month, regular in-state travel and occasional evening and weekend work. This position is expected to work in person, onsite, at the Center.

5% - Miscellaneous

• Completes special projects and performs other duties as assigned, focusing on fundraising efforts connected to the Chase Center

Metrics and Collaboration

The annual performance of all fundraisers at Ohio State is measured by the number of qualifications, cultivations, solicitations and commitments/dollars raised the individual accrues over each fiscal year.  Each fundraiser may have different expectations regarding these figures based upon, but not limited to, their experience level, unit size, prospect portfolio, past performance, etc.  Goal setting is done with the individual’s manager prior to each fiscal year to assure transparency, consistency and alignment.

All fundraisers at Ohio State are encouraged and expected to collaborate with their colleagues across the institution and can be counted as ‘Secondary’ on a gift in the solicitation, commitment and dollars raised phases of the development cycle.  A secondary fundraiser can be considered when a team is working on a multi-unit gift, the fundraiser is a subject matter expert in an area critical to the solicitation or a fundraiser has a pre-existing, meaningful relationship with the donor and their participation helps move the gift forward.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated commitment to the Chase Center’s mission of citizenship education
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education/experience
• Six (6) years of relevant experience with at least four (4) years of professional fundraising experience (building relationships towards philanthropic end through making calls, conducting face-to-face appointments, creating and presenting proposals, closing gifts) and two (2) years of related experience in marketing, sales, public relations, financial advisement, account management or related field with emphasis on donor cultivation, solicitation and relationship cultivation of individuals/businesses
• Ability to travel throughout the United States to visit prospects and donors
• Ability to use Microsoft Office suite and quickly assimilate to new technology
• Experience in writing successful proposals and meeting goals
• Demonstrated poise, professionalism, good judgment, and ability to take the extra step to meet customer needs
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment, and manage multiple projects simultaneously

Desired Qualifications (We’re committed to building a team that reflects a variety of skills and experiences and encourage you to apply even if your experience does not align perfectly)

• Master’s degree or higher preferred
• Ambition to strategically grow an individual philanthropy team
• At least six (6) years of professional fundraising experience raising the highest level of philanthropic gifts at an organization (preferably six figures and above)

• At least six (6) years of professional fundraising experience in higher education or a hospital/health care environment
• Experience working in other advancement departments such as donor relations and stewardship, donor communications and/or alumni relations
• Experience with a comprehensive campaign in a complex educational setting
• Fundraising experience for strategic or multidisciplinary initiatives
• Success working with both individual donors and corporate, foundation and other institutional donors
• Prior experience staffing academic administrators in development setting

The Office of External Affairs is committed to providing tools and resources for you to learn our business, proprietary databases, University-specific processes, and advancement practices.

You Need to Know

Aside from the unparalleled benefits of working for The Ohio State University and working in the vibrant, smart, enjoyable, and growing city of Columbus, Ohio, this opportunity will provide exceptional rewards that arise from working for an institution doing worldwide life-changing teaching and research. Learn more here:  https://hr.osu.edu/careers/.

In accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and University State of Emergency Policy 6.17 this position has been designated as a standby position.

Additional Information:

Additional Information
To learn more about the Office of Advancement , please visit advancement.osu.edu. To learn more about the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society and its efforts to conduct teaching and research in the historical ideas, traditions, and texts that have shaped the American constitutional order and society please visit chasecenter.osu.edu.
 

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

The salary range for this position is $99K - $132.5K. The offer for this position will be based on the candidate's qualifications.

Function:          Development and Engagement

Sub-function:   Development

Career Band:    Individual Contributor – Specialized

Career Level:    S4

Location:

Page Hall (0061)

Position Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:

First Shift

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