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Director of Development
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The salary range for this role is $110,000-$135,000 and is commensurate
with experience
Benefits: Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our
competitive benefits package located here: https: // www. iit.edu/hr/benefits
Position Summary
The Director of Development is a frontline fundraiser responsible for
identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gift
prospects capable of commitments of $100,000+. Directors manage a portfolio of
prospects and support the university's fundraising priorities across all
academic units. Directors are assigned based on institutional priorities and
will have primary fundraising responsibility for one or more academic units.
Key Responsibilities
1) Major Gift Fundraising & Portfolio Management – 75%
Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects (approximately 125), with
capacity of $100,000+.
Conduct approximately 100 donor visits per year, including at least 20
formal solicitations (may include blended or planned gifts).
Qualify prospective donors through discovery to assess philanthropic
interest, capacity, and alignment with university priorities.
Develop individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
strategies aligned with academic unit priorities.
Achieve annual revenue goals aligned with experience and unit priorities
(generally ~$1M–$3M).
Maintain strong stewardship practices and solicit annual leadership gifts
from assigned prospects.
2) Prospect Strategy, Research, & Analytics – 10%
Partner with Managing Director and Prospect Research & Management (PRM)
for portfolio optimization and pipeline development.
Participate in regular portfolio reviews with the Managing Director and
PRM.
Prepare proposals, gift agreements, and donor correspondence in
collaboration with Donor Relations and Gift Administration.
Ensure timely and accurate documentation of all prospect activity in
Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT; adhere to stage movement and data integrity
standards.
Prepare briefing materials for meetings involving deans, faculty, or
university leadership.
Participate in Advancement meetings, prospect strategy reviews, and
professional development trainings.
3) Academic Partnerships – 15%
Serve as key liaison for one or more academic units; align fundraising
strategies with dean-defined priorities and program needs.
Develop deep knowledge of university and unit priorities. Partner with
faculty and program leaders and understand student success initiatives, to
align donor interests with institutional needs.
Represent Advancement at donor and university events as assigned.
Contribute to special projects and cross-unit initiatives that advance
institutional and campaign fundraising goals.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree.
Minimum of 5 years of fundraising (or closely related) experience with
direct donor engagement and solicitation.
Demonstrated success closing major gifts.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree.
7+ years of frontline major gift experience.
Experience with STEM and/or professional school donors.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Experience with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT.
Work Environment & Conditions
Periodic out-of-state travel.
Occasional evening or weekend work.
