Required/Preferred Qualifications

Required:
-Bachelors degree.
-At least three years experience in development or related experience in such fields as sales, marketing and
public relations.
-Demonstrated communications and interpersonal skills and success in working in a team setting.
-Experience with events management or project management.
-Requires occasional regional and national travel, and attendance at some weekend and evening events.

Preferred:
-Five years Higher Ed experience in development.
-Strong analytical skills.
-Knowledge of planned giving programs.
-Strong commitment to a major, land-grant/research university in an urban environment.

Duties/Responsibilities

Major Gifts Development:
--Develop and maintain a thorough working knowledge of the CFANS and individual departments' missions and needs as they relate to determining fundraising priorities.
--Manage a personal portfolio of no less than 150 major gift prospects and donors (individuals, corporations, and foundations, as assigned) for identification/qualification/cultivation/solicitation with the goal of securing major gifts of $25,000+ for CFANS. With oversight by the Chief Development Officer, manage these prospects and donors to develop effective strategies and ensure that timely steps are taken toward solicitation utilizing both current and planned gift opportunities to best meet donors' needs, interests, and financial capabilities.
--Follow up with correspondence, phone calls and additional visits as appropriate to solicit and steward gifts. Plan trips in key geographic areas as assigned to qualify and cultivate donors, and work with regional development officers, and collegiate dean and faculty as appropriate to maximize results.
--Provide regular reports on progress and results of the prospect solicitation process and portfolio. Complete and file thorough reports of all contacts in a timely manner. Review research reports and information from the University donor management system database on assigned donors and prospects.
--Assume primary responsibility as assigned for development activities around programs, units, or events in the college that bring donors, students and University leaders together. Provide general oversight of development events, in close coordination with office support staff.

Special Development Projects:
Handle other duties, projects and responsibilities as assigned.

Program/Unit Description

Reporting to the CFANS Chief Development Officer, the Major Gifts Officer will work primarily with alumni and friends to determine their philanthropic interests, and close appropriate gifts in support of collegiate and departmental fundraising priorities. This position complements the development efforts of the Dean and the Chief Development Officer, and works closely with college faculty, and with staff in the college's external relations and in the U of M Foundation.

Application Instructions

Please apply online via the Employment System at
https://employment.umn.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=73669

Attach a cover letter, current resume, writing samples, and the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of 3 references.

Hard copies of these documents may be sent to:
Cynthia Cashman, Chief Development Officer, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, 235 Skok Hall, 2003 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.

<strong>Director of Development</strong>
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs and the University of Florida Foundation, Inc. (ODAA) coordinates the fund raising program for the University of Florida. The University of Florida is located in Gainesville in climate-friendly North Central Florida, considered one of the most livable cities in the U.S. ODAA currently has a staff of approximately 255, including over 70 dynamic development professionals. The University of Florida has started its third comprehensive capital campaign, to successfully conclude in 2012, reaching a goal of $1.5 billion. We are currently recruiting for a major gifts fundraiser for the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, (hereinafter UF/IFAS) Development Office.

UF/IFAS is a federal-state-county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. While extending into every community of the state, UF/IFAS has developed an international reputation for its accomplishments in teaching, research and extension. Because of this mission and the diversity of Florida’s climate and agricultural commodities, UF/IFAS has facilities located throughout Florida.

The incumbent in this position will serve as a major gift fundraiser for UF/IFAS. As such, he/she is responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation and the stewardship of the Institute’s major gift prospects. The incumbent focuses on individual, corporate and foundation prospects at the $100,000 level and above. The director works with a team of six development professionals and staff who together seek to achieve a unit goal of $100 million during the current “Florida Tomorrow” campaign.

Preferred Qualifications: Three to five years of major gift fund raising experience preferably with an institution of higher education. Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting and closing major gift plans with individuals and business entities. Strong organizational skills, excellent written and oral communication skills required. Travel is required.

This position will remain open until filled. Please apply online at http://jobs.ufl.edu to requisition number 0705863 and submit a cover letter, resume and list of three references. For further details about this development opportunity at UF/IFAS please contact Veronica Alexander or Bill Flanagan at (352) 392-5408.