Jan 9th, 2025

Brown University

States A - M

States N - W

Remote-or-Hybrid

Director, Regional Development, West Coast

( California | Hybrid )


Job Description

As Director, Regional Development for Brown University, you will be responsible for the strategic management of a comprehensive, regionally focused, development program for the West Coast region. Responsibilities include oversight of a regionally based leadership, major and principal gift fundraising, and engagement program, as well as the management of a team of four or more staff with a primary focus on building relationships within the region and securing gifts and pledges. The team composition of the development staff and geographic focus may change from time to time.

The incumbent will also manage a personal portfolio of approximately 100-125 prospects weighted toward the capacity to make gifts of $1M plus to the University for which prospect qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship are required. The incumbent will also oversee the fundraising strategies and progress for reporting fundraisers. The incumbent will work toward achieving both personal and regional fundraising goals on an annual and long-term basis.

This position also oversees the engagement programming focused on faculty and senior administrator development-focused events and other cultivation efforts in the West Coast region and works collaboratively with colleagues in Donor Relations and Special Events to achieve overall goals in the region.

This position coordinates and facilitates all presidential, provost, and senior administrator advancement-related visits to the region, as well as the engagement of key volunteers and members of the Corporation. This position must also coordinate with a range of other Advancement staff including Liaison to the President’s Office, the Senior VP, VP, and fundraisers from across the Division regardless of reporting line to ensure coordination and strategic engagement necessary for achieving goals across the Division. This position is responsible for building engagement and philanthropic support throughout the BrownTogether campaign and beyond. The success of this program will be vital to realizing the ambitious goals of the University.

Required Education and Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree required.

  • Minimum 6 years of experience in fundraising in related fields such as development, sales, and customer relations.

  • Minimum 2 years of staff management experience.

Required Qualifications

  • Proven ability to solicit and close gifts on the $1M+ level, or equivalent experience in related fields (such as sales).

  • Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to initiate, collaborate, implement, monitor, evaluate, and advance strategic plans that support the activities of the program and contribute to the overall goals and objectives of Advancement and the fundraising enterprise.

  • Ability to inspire, mentor, motivate team performance and promote accountability. Provide appropriate training, support, and feedback to all fundraising professionals, including early, mid-career, and senior-level gift officers. Proven effectiveness at recruiting, hiring, and retaining high-performance fundraising staff.

  • Computer proficiency and knowledge of CRM systems are required.

  • Working knowledge of email and calendars, the Windows environment, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other software such as Adobe Acrobat, donor databases, etc.

  • Must be able and willing to travel frequently throughout the United States to attend relevant programs and events and to meet with current and prospective donors and leadership volunteers to further cultivation and solicitation strategies. Must be able and willing to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Development fundraising experience preferred.

Job Competencies

  • Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), including experience/ability to identify and emphasize diverse perspectives in programming, communications, and strategy. Commitment to working in a team environment is essential.

  • Superior interpersonal skills with proven ability to successfully interact and collaborate with varied constituencies in a professional manner, exhibiting excellent written and oral communication skills, team-building skills, and demonstrating tact, poise, and diplomacy while working with a wide variety of personalities. Ability and comfort in meeting and interacting with individuals of considerable social status and affluence is required.

  • Ability to apply good judgment and proven responsible decision-making skills; tact and discretion are required to deal with highly confidential alumni, parent, student, family, donor, and prospect information.

  • Must be detail-oriented, a self-starter with a demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple projects, priorities, and staff to meet goals and timelines.

  • Decisiveness, trustworthiness, discretion, and creativity are daily requirements of this position.