Director of Advancement Partnerships and Major Gifts (MC)

The Director of Advancement Partnerships is responsible for expanding Finger Lakes Community College's philanthropic and external partnership capacity by developing high-value relationships with individuals, corporations, private and family foundations, alumni, and community organizations. The Director will serve as a primary external relationship manager for the Advancement Division, identifying opportunities where the interests of donors and partners align with the College's strategic priorities and translating those relationships into major gifts, foundation and corporate investments, planned gifts, naming opportunities, workforce collaborations, internships, grants, and other resources that benefit students and strengthen institutional vitality.

This is a highly visible, externally focused position. The Director will spend a significant portion of time in the community and region identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospective partners and donors. Working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer, President, College leadership, faculty, staff, and the FLCC Foundation, the Director will develop customized engagement and funding strategies that advance scholarships, emergency student support, capital priorities, workforce development, academic innovation, and other institutional initiatives.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.

Experience: Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, fundraising, major gifts, corporate or foundation relations, business development, community engagement, or a related field. Demonstrated success securing major philanthropic investments of $100,000+ from individuals, corporations, or foundations. Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT fundraising software, or a comparable fundraising CRM preferred.

Special Skills: Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and highly relationship oriented. Exceptional interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. Demonstrated ability to build trust with donors, corporate leaders, foundation representatives, alumni, and community partners; identify shared interests; and translate institutional priorities into compelling investment opportunities. Strong skill in major gift cultivation and solicitation, proposal development, strategic planning, prospect management, and collaborative problem solving. Ability to work effectively across academic and administrative units, manage multiple priorities, and represent the College professionally throughout the region. Knowledge of, respect for, and successful engagement with members of other cultures or backgrounds.

Essential Functions

1. Actively seeks, identifies, qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, corporations, private and family foundations, alumni, and community organizations with the capacity and interest to make significant investments in FLCC.
2. Manages a portfolio of approximately 75-100 qualified major gift and strategic partnership prospects and develops individualized relationship, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
3. Maintains a strong external presence throughout the Finger Lakes region and beyond, conducting regular face-to-face meetings with donors, business and industry leaders, foundation representatives, alumni, and community stakeholders.
4. Develops strategic philanthropic partnerships by identifying areas of mutual interest between external partners and College priorities, with particular emphasis on student success, workforce development, scholarships, emergency assistance, capital projects, academic innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional economic vitality.
5. Develops and presents customized funding proposals, cases for support, sponsorship opportunities, naming opportunities, and other investment concepts in collaboration with College leadership and internal subject-matter experts.
6. Collaborates with the President and Advancement leadership on major and principal gift strategies, campaign priorities, leadership solicitations, and high-value external relationships.
7. Builds and expands relationships with corporations and employers that may result in philanthropic support, workforce collaborations, internships, equipment or in-kind support, employee education pathways, sponsorships, or other opportunities benefiting FLCC students and programs.
8. Develops a planned giving pipeline by identifying and cultivating prospective legacy donors, initiating planned giving conversations, and coordinating appropriate gift planning resources and stewardship.
9. Partners with Grants Development and other College units to identify private foundation and corporate funding opportunities and strengthen relationships that may lead to competitive grant proposals or other institutional investments.
10. Serves as an internal connector and advancement resource, working with academic and administrative leaders to understand institutional priorities and develop fundable opportunities that align with donor and partner interests.
11. Maintains timely and accurate prospect strategies, contact reports, proposals, moves management activity, and relationship information in the College/Foundation constituent relationship management system.
12. Represents FLCC and the FLCC Foundation at business, civic, philanthropic, economic development, alumni, and community events and cultivate relationships that strengthen the College's visibility and reputation.
13. Tracks and reports measurable outcomes using Blackbaud Raisers Edge NXT including external visits, qualified prospects, solicitations, proposals, new strategic partnerships, philanthropic commitments, planned giving activity, and other resources generated through the position.
14. Works toward annual revenue-generation goals sufficient to demonstrate a positive return on investment.
15. Performs related work as required, including written correspondence, donor and partner meetings, Foundation events, community activities, and other Advancement initiatives.
16. Flexible working hours, including evenings, occasional weekends, and regional travel.

Benefits and Salary Range

Applicants receiving benefits through the New York State Retirement System should review state regulations regarding post-retirement employment. This position is not eligible for employment under a Section 211 waiver

1. The competitive salary range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000 and is commensurate with qualifications
2. NYS Retirement or Optional SUNY Retirement Program
3. SUNY Voluntary Savings Plan with a 2% FLCC match
4. Comprehensive Health and Dental Insurance through Excellus BCBS
5. FSA
6. 21 days of annual leave, 12 sick days, and 13.5 holidays annually
7. FLCC Tuition Waiver for employees and dependents
8. Tuition assistance at 4-year institutions

Special Notes: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements.

Application Instructions:

Applicants must submit the following documents online:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae or résumé

Applications will only be accepted online.