Director of Development
Description of Duties
Luther College (www.luthercollege.edu) invites applications for a full-time position in the role of Director of Development. Leading the Development and Alumni Relations functions of the College, the Director of Development position is responsible for planning, implementing and managing all fundraising activities at Luther College (High School and University campuses) including major gifts, capital campaigns, annual campaigns, planned giving and special events. The primary goal of the position is to build philanthropic support for the school through the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and engagement of donors and prospective donors. The role is also responsible for developing and implementing alumni engagement initiatives for both campuses, leading alumni engagement activities intended to strengthen relationships with stakeholders both internal and external. Reporting to the President, this position is a member of the College Leadership Group (CLG) at both campuses and will play a direct role in the leadership of the College, as well as attending regular meetings of the Board of
Regents.
Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Management
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Lead the development and execution of strategic and operational plans and budgets for the fundraising and alumni relations programs.
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Determine appropriate goals and metrics for fundraising programs; report on progress against goals and on the key activities and initiatives of staff.
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Articulate and promote a strong case for support for the school and building
opportunities to create and sustain a culture that understands the relationship between philanthropy and a unique, quality education.
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Ensure that all fundraising activities fall within ethical, fiscal, and legal standards and review and revise, as needed, fundraising policies, processes and procedures.
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Build relationships with other fundraising colleagues, maintain membership in professional fundraising associations, and participate in training opportunities as appropriate to ensure ongoing knowledge of best practices and to benchmark the school's fundraising performance.
Fundraising
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Identify major gift prospects, develop and maintain in-depth relationships with the end goal of meeting the donor's philanthropic needs and securing a gift, solicit donors (personally or by way of written proposal) and close individual major gift donations.
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Plan, organize, and implement the annual fund program, including mailings, electronic appeals, and special projects focused on donor acquisition and retention.
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Build the planned giving program through targeting marketing and through face-to-face donor cultivation with a focus on deferred gifts such as bequest expectancies.
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Plan and execute special fundraising events targeting key donor and constituent groups.
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Lead the grant application process by identifying and applying for new and existing grant opportunities while ensuring reporting requirements are complete, accurate and timely.
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In partnership with the Director of Communications, develop key messages and oversee the design, printing and distribution of marketing and communication materials to support fundraising efforts.
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Enhance the philanthropic culture by assisting board members, leadership, other volunteers and staff to identify, cultivate, and solicit charitable gifts using fundraising best practices.
Donor Relations and Stewardship
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Develop and implement donor relations and stewardship strategies to foster longterm engagement and to ensure that donors experience high-quality interactions with the school.
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Oversee timely and accurate gift acceptance processing and acknowledgment.
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Implement meaningful donor recognition and stewardship programs including giving societies, donor walls, special events and donor impact reports.
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Support the Parent Association in their fundraising and community building initiatives.
Alumni Relations
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Develop and implement an annual alumni relations plan that builds affinity, fosters engagement and increases philanthropic support for the College.
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Plan, manage, and execute unique and targeted alumni events locally, nationally and internationally, including an annual Homecoming weekend for LCHS.
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Evaluate outcomes of alumni engagement efforts in order to determine effectiveness and guide program planning, including regular surveys to ensure programming aligns with alumni interests and College priorities.
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Ensure alumni information is captured in Raiser’s Edge for accurate reporting and relationship management.
Administration
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Supervise staff including establishing annual goals and work plans, conducting performance reviews and supporting ongoing professional development opportunities.
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Oversee fundraising and donor record keeping, including in Raiser's Edge to ensure the accuracy, utilization, maintenance and confidentiality of donor information.
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Identify and implement solutions for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the fundraising and alumni relations function and office.
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Preparation of reports to the President, College Leadership Group, and Board of Regents as required; this may include enterprise risk management and balanced scorecard tools as appropriate.
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Manage appropriate budgets for development and alumni relations activities, and ensuring effective use of resources.
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Other work or analysis as required by the President.
Culture
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As a member of the College Leadership Team, the Director of Development contributes to the continued promotion, maintenance, and ongoing development of a healthy workplace culture.
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Models healthy leadership characteristics including work-life balance.
Qualifications
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Undergraduate university degree, preferably in the liberal arts or in a relevant field of study that may include, but is not limited to, Fundraising, Business, Marketing or Communications; an equivalent level of education and experience may be considered.
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Minimum of five years fundraising experience with a proven track record of success; an equivalent level of education and experience may be considered.
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Accreditation as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), or working towards designation, would be considered an asset.
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Experience with major gifts, annual giving and events management.
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Highly effective interpersonal skills with the ability to build and sustain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
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Exceptional communications skills in writing, editing and presenting.
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Strong project management skills, with proven ability to manage timelines and budget.
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Highly developed organizational skills and the ability to multi-task.
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Problem solver and critical thinker with attention to detail and excellent judgement.
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Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
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Consistent attention to detail, accuracy and quality of work.
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Experience working with Raiser's Edge or a similar database would be considered an asset.
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Service oriented perspective with internal and external clients.
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Demonstrated track record of professionalism, attention to detail, discretion, and the ability to establish and maintain confidentiality.
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Experience working in a non-profit setting would be an asset; experience with, or an understanding of, alumni would be an asset.
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Affinity with the goals of Luther College and the small college environment in which flexibility, warmth, and cordiality are necessary and valued.
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Knowledge and appreciation of the College's Vision, Mission, and Values should be reflected in all aspects of the Director’s work.
Supervision
Association
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Maintains working relationships with all operational areas of the College including the President, Director of Finance, other members of the College Leadership Group, faculty, and staff.
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This position works closely with the President and senior leadership to build relationships between the school and its various constituencies including alumni, volunteers, current students, parents, staff and faculty, board members, and other friends of the College.
Working Conditions
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This is a full time position with hours of work normally totaling 35 hours per week; however, irregular and extended hours are required from time to time due to College events, special projects, or emergencies.
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This position is located primarily at the High School Campus (1500 Royal St.), but may occasionally require travel to the University Campus (3737 Wascana Parkway).
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The work is performed primarily in an office environment and a variety of other areas throughout the College and University; attention to safety procedures and practices associated with these environments is required.
Luther College
Luther College offers a competitive salary, vacation, medical and dental benefits, a health/personal spending account, educational opportunities, flexible work environment, and an employee and family assistance plan.
Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $86,536 - $116,784 annually.
To Apply
Interested candidates are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references as a single pdf document to humanresources@luthercollege.edu by Monday, April 22, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Luther College is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, individuals of diverse gender and sexual orientation, and all groups protected by The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. Applicants are invited to self-identify in as many categories as apply. You may identify in more than one group: please indicate all with which you self-identify.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority.
Luther College is situated on Treaty 4 lands. These are the territories of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpāk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda, and the homeland of the Métis/Michif Nation. For Luther College, this acknowledgement is a recognition of the shared histories of Indigenous and non‐Indigenous peoples, and a reflection of our commitment, as visitors on this land, to the continuing act of reconciliation essential to a shared future together. To this end, Luther College works to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, especially numbers 62-64.
Luther College
Luther College operates two educational campuses in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada – a historical, independent high school and a post-secondary campus, federated with the University of Regina, serving students locally and around the world. Our two campuses share a Board of Regents, President, and College Leadership Group.
Mission
Luther College prepares students to be compassionate, creative, and critical thinkers, through academic excellence and a community of care that is rooted in our call to love and serve our neighbours.
Vision
Luther College makes transformative change for a more grace-filled, just, and joyful world.
Luther College has developed a set of values which inform and inspire all that we do. These include:
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Rooted and Open: Rooted in the Lutheran intellectual tradition and open to insights from other religious, spiritual, and secular traditions. In our Canadian context, we feel especially called to recognize and value Indigenous worldviews, knowledge, and perspectives.
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Excellence: Innovation, creativity, exploration, and critical thinking and the desire to do our best in everything that we do
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Compassion, Care and Stewardship: Care for all entrusted to us — students, one another, our resources, and the world we live in
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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Safety, acceptance, respect for all while valuing differences in individuals and among people(s)
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Integrity: Honesty, transparency, and accountability