Director of Major Gifts

Charleston School of Law

Position Summary

Charleston School of Law seeks a highly relational, community-minded professional to serve as its Director of Major Gifts. This position will play an important role in expanding the school's relationships throughout Charleston, the Lowcountry, Statewide and Nationally while developing those relationships into meaningful philanthropic support for the school and its students.

The Director of Major Gifts will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals and organizations with the interest and capacity to make significant investments in Charleston School of Law. The successful candidate will be a natural relationship builder who enjoys meeting people, making connections, developing trust, and representing an organization within the community and beyond.

While previous fundraising experience is valuable, it is not required. Successful candidates may come from advancement, business development, sales, law, banking and financial services, professional services, community relations, nonprofit leadership, hospitality, civic engagement, or other relationship-centered fields.

Of particular importance is an understanding of Charleston, the Lowcountry and South Carolina, and the ability to build authentic relationships with alumni, attorneys, business and civic leaders, community partners, corporations, foundations, and friends of the school.

The Director of Major Gifts will work closely with the School's Advancement team and senior leadership to expand the school's network, strengthen existing relationships, identify new prospective donors and partners, and generate philanthropic support for scholarships, academic programs, faculty excellence, student opportunities, strategic initiatives, and other institutional priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gift Development

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individuals and organizations capable of making significant philanthropic investments in Charleston School of Law.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of prospective major donors and supporters, with an emphasis on meaningful engagement and measurable progress.
• Develop individualized strategies for building relationships with prospective donors and moving those relationships toward philanthropic support.
• Conduct regular personal meetings, visits, calls, and other outreach with alumni, attorneys, business and civic leaders, community partners, and prospective supporters.
• Solicit significant gifts, including gifts of $25,000 and above and, where appropriate, six- and seven-figure commitments.
• Identify individuals and organizations not currently connected to Charleston School of Law who could become meaningful partners and supporters.
• Work with School leadership, faculty, alumni, Board members, and other volunteers to facilitate introductions and develop donor relationships.
• Maintain appropriate follow-up and stewardship following gifts and significant donor interactions.

Community, Donor, and Alumni Engagement

• Serve as a visible and effective ambassador for Charleston School of Law throughout Charleston, the Lowcountry and South Carolina.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with alumni, attorneys, business and civic leaders, community organizations, corporations, foundations, and friends of the school.
• Expand the school's network within the Charleston community and identify opportunities to introduce new individuals and organizations to the school.
• Attend community, professional, alumni, donor, and School events as appropriate to build relationships and increase the school's visibility.
• Build long-term relationships based on trust, engagement, and a genuine understanding of the interests of prospective donors and partners.
• Identify opportunities to connect individuals and organizations with the mission, students, faculty, programs, and priorities of Charleston School of Law.
• Assist in developing opportunities for donors, alumni, and community leaders to become more engaged with the school.

Strategic Development

• Work collaboratively with the Advancement team and School leadership to establish annual and long-term fundraising priorities and strategies.
• Help develop a sustainable pipeline of prospective donors and move relationships from initial introduction through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Support fundraising efforts related to scholarships, academic programs, student opportunities, special initiatives, capital priorities, and other institutional needs.
• Bring forward ideas for new partnerships, relationships, sponsorships, and philanthropic opportunities based on knowledge of the Charleston and Lowcountry communities.
• Help identify emerging opportunities for the school to strengthen its relationships with the legal, business, civic, nonprofit, and philanthropic communities.
• Establish measurable relationship-development and fundraising goals and provide regular updates regarding progress.

Prospect and Relationship Management

• Maintain accurate and timely records of significant donor and prospect interactions, opportunities, proposals, commitments, and outcomes within the school's advancement CRM.
• Work closely with Advancement colleagues to ensure donor and prospect relationships are appropriately coordinated and managed.
• Assist in developing donor proposals, presentations, correspondence, impact reports, and other materials supporting relationship development and gift solicitation.
• Track prospective donors and opportunities and ensure appropriate and timely follow-up.
• Provide information and updates to School leadership regarding significant donor relationships, opportunities, and fundraising activity.

Qualifications

Charleston School of Law recognizes that successful relationship development and fundraising can come from many different professional backgrounds. Accordingly, no specific college degree or number of years of fundraising experience is required for this position.

The school is interested in candidates who demonstrate the ability to develop meaningful relationships, establish credibility within the community, and translate those relationships into opportunities for Charleston School of Law.

Desired Qualifications and Attributes

• Exceptional interpersonal skills and a genuine ability to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge of and connections within Charleston and/or the broader Lowcountry community or demonstrated success developing meaningful relationships within the region and State.
• Ability to establish credibility and trust with attorneys, alumni, business and civic leaders, community partners, prospective donors, and other stakeholders.
• Comfort initiating conversations, making introductions, developing new relationships, and asking individuals and organizations to financially support a mission or cause.
• Effective communication, listening, presentation, and follow-through skills.
• Professional judgment, discretion, authenticity, and the ability to represent Charleston School of Law effectively in community and professional settings.
• An entrepreneurial and proactive approach to identifying opportunities, making connections, and developing relationships.
• Ability to understand the interests and motivations of others and identify opportunities to connect those interests with the mission and priorities of the school.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Advancement colleagues, School leadership, faculty, alumni, Board members, and volunteers.
• Ability to independently manage relationships, priorities, and opportunities while maintaining appropriate communication and coordination with the Advancement team.
• Willingness to participate in community, alumni, and donor activities that may occasionally occur during evenings or weekends and to travel as necessary.

Preferred Experience

The following experience is helpful but not required:

• Fundraising, advancement, development, business development, sales, law, banking and financial services, professional services, community relations, nonprofit leadership, hospitality, civic engagement, or another relationship-focused field.
• Established relationships within Charleston's legal, business, civic, philanthropic, nonprofit, or professional communities.
• Experience developing relationships with high-net-worth individuals, business owners, executives, attorneys, civic leaders, or other influential community members.
• Experience securing charitable contributions, developing business, generating revenue, cultivating clients, securing sponsorships, developing partnerships, or successfully making other significant asks.
• Experience representing an organization in community, professional, business, or civic settings.
• Familiarity with donor databases, CRMs, or other relationship-management systems.
• Experience with higher education, legal education, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, or philanthropic initiatives.