[Hiring] Regional Development Director @Saint Mary's College

Role Description

Saint Mary’s College seeks a Regional Development Director to build lasting relationships with alumnae and other benefactors and connect their philanthropic interests with opportunities to support the College. This is a remote position serving a designated region, with a preference for candidates based in greater Chicagoland.

In this role, you’ll help advance Ring Out Ring True, the College’s $200 million comprehensive campaign, and its three priorities:

• Empowering Leaders
• Enriching Our Community
• Enhancing Our College

You’ll partner with the Executive Director of Regional Development and Gift Planning, academic leaders, Development colleagues, and volunteers to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $25,000 or more. If you know how to earn trust, listen carefully, and guide people through significant decisions, we welcome your application. We value experience in major gift fundraising as well as transferable experience from other fields.

In this role, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 150 prospective donors and meet annual fundraising goals.
• Develop individualized engagement plans that connect donors’ interests with College priorities, from the first conversation through solicitation and stewardship.
• Secure leadership gifts of $25,000 or more, including gifts at the $100,000 level and above.
• Promote the College’s gift planning program and identify opportunities for planned gifts.
• Prepare proposals, briefings, and correspondence for donors, the President, volunteers, and other College partners.
• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records of donor interactions, strategies, solicitations, and next steps.
• Expect to travel 5–10 days per month, up to 50%, primarily within the assigned region, with national travel as needed.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and must not require visa sponsorship from the College now or in the future.

To apply:

• Submit a current résumé and a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience, qualifications, and interest in the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Five or more years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success cultivating and soliciting gifts of $100,000 or more, or a proven record of building relationships with decision-makers and closing complex, high-value agreements. Relevant experience may come from sales, higher education admissions, customer relations, or business development. Volunteer fundraising campaign management will also be considered.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, active listening, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and carry complex projects from planning through completion.
• Demonstrated initiative, follow-through, and a record of meeting professional goals.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience using a constituent relationship management (CRM) system to manage relationships and workflow.
• Ability and willingness to travel 5–10 days per month.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising, preferably in higher education.
• Experience promoting or supporting gift planning initiatives.
• Residence within a three- to four-hour drive of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, with preference for candidates based in greater Chicagoland.