Executive Director, Principal Gifts - Queens University

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), and in partnership with the Associate Vice-Principal (AVP), Development, the Executive Director, Principal Gifts will provide strategic direction and leadership on principal gifts fundraising strategies for transformational initiatives of the highest value and priority to Queen’s University. In partnership with the Advancement and Development Leadership Teams, campus partners and senior administrators, the incumbent will execute and oversee a sophisticated principal gifts program with targeted strategies aimed to maximize lifetime-time engagement and philanthropic support of gifts in the $5 million + range, largely from individuals. This includes facilitating strategies, monitoring and coordinating initiatives; and ensuring that next steps are completed in a timely manner with the goal of furthering the university’s development goals.

The Executive Director manages a diverse and sophisticated portfolio of principal gift level donors, supports the portfolio management of the VP/CAO/AVP portfolios and serves as a key advisor to the Advancement Leadership Team (ALT), the Development Leadership Team, volunteers, and other key campus partners, providing high level expertise, strategic direction, and facilitation in the development and implementation of principal gift fundraising strategies.

This position requires travel within and outside of Canada. Work on evenings and weekends is occasionally required.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Together with the AVP, Development, oversees and evolves the principal gift program at Queen’s, with strategies aimed to grow a pipeline of principal gift prospects ($5 million +) through the identification, evaluation, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of high net-worth prospects and major gift donors.
• Takes lead on implementing and managing the principal gifts program at Queen’s, designed to obtain transformational and maximum long-term financial support for the university. Program elements include in-person visits, data mining, working with allied professionals, supporting family wealth initiatives, and other means of inspiring principal gifts.
• Works with the Executive Leads in Development to recommend prospects for service on committees/boards, facilitates engagement, orchestrates a broad range of influential volunteers, and university senior administrators, who will assist in securing principal gifts.
•  Personally manages a portfolio of high-potential principal gift prospects ($5 million+) and a small pool of key volunteers/high touch donors such as previous leadership or board members.
• Serves as a trusted advisor, and university-wide resource and liaison to donors, the Office of Advancement, senior university officials, volunteers, allied professionals, executors, and others, to expand and diversify the base of principal gift prospects and donors by researching and developing donor strategies. Collaborates and coordinates strategies and help secure principal gift commitments. Fosters and reinforces a non-territorial, sophisticated approach to donor-centric philanthropy which encourages collaboration, flexibility and responsiveness. Stays abreast of philanthropic developments, giving vehicles, and/or relevant legislation that may assist in maximizing revenue.
• Manages the Principal Gifts Unit which includes a core group of individuals tasked with managing and supporting Principal Gift work in the short and long term.
• Works closely with the AVP, Development to foster the notion of a Principal Gifts Team as an institutional approach, meaning that the team working on Principal Gifts spans across the institution.
• • Builds deep internal relationships with the Development Leaders, the Managerial team, and other campus constituencies to execute principal gift work efficiently.
• Works closely with the Prospect Research team to identify potential donors at the principal gift level.
• Helps develop a process to sustainably identify “big ideas” for consideration by prospective principal gift level donors and takes lead, as appropriate, in building out these “big ideas”.
• Works with Advancement colleagues on internal and external communications, briefing notes, research profiles, funding proposals, gift agreements, stewardship reports, and accountability reports. Ensures all necessary constituents are involved in key efforts focused on specific prospects.
• Develops and maintains an in-depth knowledge of the university’s activities, priorities and needs in both teaching and research. Applies this knowledge in matching the interests and needs of prospective donors with the strategic needs of the university.
• Works with the Executive Leads to plan and execute annual and long-term strategic and integrated fundraising based on reliable internal and external data analysis. Formulates comprehensive and mini fundraising campaigns, fundraising projects and programs for the university including the development of campaign strategies, targets, metrics and analysis. Translates broad goals into achievable steps. Oversees the planning and execution of campaign launches relevant to the portfolio.
• Develops measurements for timely evaluation of program performance and forecasting. Analyzes data, tracks activity, and prepares reports required to formulate, execute, evaluate and benchmark strategic and priority driven implementation plans. Reports findings to the CAO and implements changes in strategy as required.
• Ensures all contact reports are recorded in a timely fashion on the Advance database.
•  Ensures the unit’s data integrity is maintained within the Advance database.
• Collaborates with Donor Experience to establish timely and appropriate stewardship plans, ensuring gifts are handled and recognized according to sound Advancement practices.
• Represents the university and the Office of Advancement on committees and to internal and external audiences, ensuring understanding and adoption of Advancement policies and procedures.
• Manages the operating budget for the Principal Gifts unit.
• Serves as a member of the Development Leadership Team.
• Promotes a culture of inclusion, that embodies the Advancement values, with a commitment to the university’s equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives designed to foster an inclusive, supportive, and welcoming work environment for individuals with diverse backgrounds and identities.
• Plans, prioritizes and manages the work of employees, providing strategic and tactical advice, guidance and coaching. Identifies the need for staff resources, participates on staffing committees, and makes effective recommendations regarding employee selection.
• Manages performance by establishing performance standards, reviewing and evaluating performance, and conducting formal talent reviews and performance reviews on an ongoing basis.
• Assesses staff training and development needs, and ensures employees receive training required to improve and sustain successful performance.
• Investigates, addresses and resolves employee/labour relations issues, including making decisions regarding disciplinary and discharge matters.
• Undertakes other duties as assigned in support of the unit and/or department.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience engaging with donors and managing fundraising programs, with a focus on principal, major and planned giving, preferably in a university setting.
• Strong record of involvement in seven-figure gifts.
• Clear understanding of and strict adherence to ethical fundraising standards.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire and raise donor sights, articulate aspirational goals and institutional priorities, and effectively present philanthropic opportunities to high net-worth prospects and donors.
• Demonstrated knowledge of diverse giving vehicles, integrated gift strategies, as well as a demonstrated understanding of family wealth management (involving business or investable wealth) such as wealth transfer strategies, taxation, philanthropy, family governance and wealth education.
• Outstanding prospect management and tracking skills including proven success identifying, evaluating, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors at the major and principal gift levels.
• Proven success developing and implementing strategic plans and meeting objectives.
• Experience working on institutional fundraising campaigns preferred, including directing and/or managing a portfolio of campaign prospects with a view towards satisfying the priorities identified by the university.
• Proven leadership and human resources management skills including recruiting, organizing, directing, motivating and retaining staff and volunteers.
• Strategic planning, budgeting and financial management skills to oversee and forecast the Principal Gifts unit budget portfolio and assess budget implications of strategic initiatives.
•  Understanding of the administrative, academic, and governance structures of the university environment, and the challenges faced by post-secondary institutions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of federal and provincial Canadian legislation affecting charities and charitable status in order to secure complex principal, planned and major gifts.
• Holds or working towards the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) or equivalent considered an asset.
• Satisfactory Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check required.
• A valid “G” class driver’s license (or equivalent) and passport with no travel restrictions is required.
• Consideration will be given to an equivalent combination of education and experience.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Review full job description, requirements, special skills  and apply online.