Job Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, the Senior Director of Principal, Planned, and Estate Giving holds primary responsibility for Georgia College & State University's (GCSU) planned giving program. This position collaborates closely with all development officers across the university to build and sustain a robust estate giving plan, and assists the Vice President in identifying principal giving opportunities and prospective donors across campus. The Senior Director also identifies, cultivates, and stewards principal giving donors from the Lake Oconee Region and represents GCSU at events throughout that region.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Fundraising & Portfolio Management - 60%
Develops, implements, and manages a sophisticated major and principal gifts fundraising program focused on cultivating and soliciting transformational contributions from alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends of the university.

Maintains a personal portfolio of high-capacity major and principal gift prospects, executing consistent, meaningful engagement strategies that advance relationships through all stages of the gift cycle toward solicitation and closure.

Creates and drives a strategic annual fundraising plan with ambitious dollar goals, defined prospect strategies, moves management timelines, and clear accountability metrics.

Collaborates with the Office of Alumni Engagement on engaging and recognizing alumni in designated units and supporting alumni efforts at the institutional level. Coordinate unit-level alumni engagement efforts with GCSU Alumni Engagement.

Partners with the Prospect Research team to identify, qualify, and prioritize a robust pipeline of major and principal donor prospects, ensuring a healthy and actively managed portfolio.

Designs and executes sophisticated long- and short-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies tailored to individual donor interests, capacity, and philanthropic motivations.

Coordinates State and Foundation resources to ensure all funds are utilized effectively and in full alignment with donor intent as outlined in gift and endowment agreements.

Collaborates with the broader advancement team on prospect management, corporate and foundation proposals, planned giving solicitations, and campaign initiatives.

Travels regularly - locally, regionally, and nationally - to cultivate and solicit major and principal donors and prospects in support of assigned college or unit priorities.

Staff Leadership & Mentorship - 10%
Provides direct supervision, coaching, and professional development support to assigned development officers and advancement staff.

Sets performance expectations, conducts regular check-ins, and evaluates staff progress toward fundraising goals and professional growth benchmarks.

Models best practices in major gifts fundraising, donor engagement, and advancement operations for junior staff.

Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing team culture within University Advancement.

Strategic Leadership & Campaign Engagement - 15%
Serves as a senior fundraising strategist for the assigned college or unit, providing vision and direction for long-range development planning and campaign goal-setting.

Plays a leadership role in comprehensive campaign planning and execution, including participation in silent phase strategy, case for support development, and volunteer engagement.

Partners with academic leadership, including Deans and faculty, to identify and articulate compelling philanthropic priorities that align donor interests with institutional needs.

Represents University Advancement at college-level events, leadership meetings, and donor-facing occasions as a senior ambassador for the institution's philanthropic mission.

Volunteer & Board Engagement - 5%
Provides strategic leadership to volunteer advisory and fundraising boards associated with assigned areas, ensuring members are meaningfully engaged in stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation activities.

Develops agendas, prepares briefing materials, and provides strategic direction to maximize volunteer board effectiveness and philanthropic impact.

Identifies, recruits, and cultivates new volunteer leaders to sustain and grow board capacity over time.

Stewardship & Donor Relations - 5%
Leads and participates in stewardship activities designed to recognize, engage, and retain major donors, including organizing high-level development events, impact reporting, and personalized recognition experiences.

Contributes to and oversees the development of donor communications including gift proposals, case statements, newsletters, and giving website content.

Ensures timely and meaningful acknowledgment of major gifts in coordination with the advancement services and stewardship teams.

Other - 5%
Performs other duties as assigned in support of the division's fundraising and advancement objectives.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Other Required Qualifications
Demonstrated, verifiable track record of personally soliciting and closing major gifts at the six-figure level or above.

Experience managing a large, active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects through all stages of the gift cycle.

Experience developing and executing strategic fundraising plans with measurable goals and outcomes.

Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing leadership to development staff or advancement teams.

Proficiency with CRM/advancement database systems such as Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or similar platforms.

Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly.

Required Experience
Minimum of 7 years of progressive fundraising experience, with a significant portion focused on major gifts, preferably in higher education or a complex non-profit environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications
Experience working directly with academic deans, provosts, or senior institutional leadership to align fundraising strategy with academic priorities.

Demonstrated success leading or participating in a comprehensive fundraising campaign, including silent and public phases.

Experience managing and growing a volunteer fundraising board or advisory council.

Familiarity with planned giving vehicles and their integration into a comprehensive major gifts strategy.

CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential or active pursuit of same.

Preferred Educational Qualifications
Master's degree or advanced degree in a related field.

Preferred Experience
10+ years of major and principal gifts fundraising experience in higher education.

Proposed Salary

This position is a pay grade 12. The available salary range is $76,282 to $85,000. Starting salary within this range is based on relevant years of experience.

For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay-grade-structure.

Relocation is negotiable.

Required Documents to Attach

Cover Letter
Resume
List of References

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
Ability to provide senior-level fundraising leadership and strategic vision while remaining personally active in frontline major gift work

Ability to engage credibly and build trust with high-net-worth donors, university executives, academic deans, and community stakeholders

Ability to lead, inspire, and develop a team of advancement professionals in a collaborative and goal-oriented environment

Ability to handle sensitive donor, personnel, and institutional information with the highest level of discretion and confidentiality

Ability to travel extensively, including evenings and weekends as required by donor schedules and university events

Ability to represent the university with professionalism, enthusiasm, and a genuine commitment to its philanthropic mission

KNOWLEDGE
Comprehensive knowledge of major and principal gifts fundraising principles, moves management methodology, and the full gift cycle

In-depth knowledge of planned giving vehicles - including bequests, charitable gift annuities, and charitable remainder trusts - and their strategic role in a comprehensive development program

Thorough understanding of higher education advancement structures, including the relationship between institutional foundations, academic units, and central advancement operations

Deep familiarity with CASE (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) standards, ethical fundraising guidelines, and industry best practices

Working knowledge of gift processing, fund accounting, and endowment stewardship principles

Understanding of comprehensive campaign structures, including goal-setting, silent phase strategy, and volunteer engagement frameworks

Understanding of FERPA and other applicable privacy regulations in a higher education context

SKILLS
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling six- and seven-figure gift proposals, case statements, and high-stakes donor correspondence

Advanced relationship-building skills with the ability to engage authentically and strategically with high-net-worth donors, corporate and foundation partners, and senior institutional leaders

Strong leadership and staff development skills, including the ability to coach, motivate, and evaluate development professionals toward ambitious fundraising goals

Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage complex, concurrent priorities across a large and active donor portfolio

Analytical skills to assess prospect capacity, evaluate portfolio and program performance, and present data-informed fundraising reports to senior leadership

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and advancement CRM platforms

Skill in developing and delivering persuasive, polished presentations to individuals, boards, and senior leadership audiences