Summary
Description
Working at Regis University
As Regis employees, we embrace our Jesuit Catholic values of respect, inclusion and equity, and welcome employees, faculty and students from all faiths and cultures. Together, we perform our duties in alignment with the mission of the University and seek dedicated individuals to contribute to and strengthen that mission and our service to students. Why Work at Regis?
Job Summary:
Reporting directly to the AVP of Development, the Senior Director of Major Gifts is responsible for cultivating and securing major gifts ($25K+) in support of Regis University’s mission. The Senior Director carries a portfolio of prospective donors with high gift capacity and strong inclination to secure philanthropic resources that will profoundly impact the students and faculty of Regis College, allowing these schools to reach their full potential.
This position plays a lead role in developing, supporting and implementing the fundraising priorities for in consultation with the Academic Dean of the college, proactively manages relationships with donors and prospects, develops strategic engagement and solicitation plans and aligns donor interest with internal and external priorities. Regular goal setting, strategic planning, and reporting on fundraising activity and results is essential. Engagement in frequent local and some national travel is required.
The ideal candidate has a proven track record of cultivating and securing philanthropic contributions. They are a strategic relationship builder, a strong project leader and are adept at aligning donor passions with institutional priorities. This individual is a skilled communicator who thrives in a collaborative mission-driven environment. They are inspired by the Jesuit mission of Regis University and committed to advancing its transformative impact on students and the broader community.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Duties:
Donor Relationship Management:
- Manage a dynamic portfolio of approximately 85-100 donors, primarily individuals, capable of making significant gifts in order to secure major gift commitments of $25K+. Maintain a schedule of local and national travel to build relationships and engage major gift prospects, resulting in significant support for University fundraising priorities.
- Cultivate existing and new individual donor relationships, aligning College specific and university wide fundraising priorities with like-minded individuals. Foster meaningful connections between donors and the University’s mission.
Leadership & Supervision:
- Leads with inclusive leadership, ensuring collaboration and trust. Serves as a mentor and coach to ensure the team is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.
- Regularly meets with team members to provide guidance on meeting and exceeding their metrics, advancing philanthropic discussions with alumni and friends, and more.
Collaboration & Institutional Engagement:
- Lead institutional advancement strategy and activities in close partnership with the academic dean & faculty of traditional liberal arts Regis College, developing and implementing a comprehensive, integrated major gift program.
Goal Setting & Data Management:
- Actively work to achieve goals related to substantive contacts, personal visits, and proposal submission.
- Ensure timely, accurate completion of proposals, pledges and fund agreements. Document prospect strategies and contact reports, evaluate new prospects and generate stewardship reports and general correspondence daily to cultivate major gift prospects.
- Regularly evaluates and assesses progress towards goals and reports on results.
Qualifications:
Education – Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
Experience –
- Demonstrated comprehensive fundraising campaign experience.
- Demonstrated experience in at least three of the following areas essential to major gifts fundraising: major gift solicitation, donor cultivation and stewardship, CRM/database management, high-touch donor engagement, strategic planning, public speaking and presentations
Special knowledge, skills, abilities –
- Solid knowledge of fundraising techniques.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships.
- Proven success in developing new partnerships as well as the ability to work with university administrators, faculty and staff.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills including demonstrated ability to develop and maintain business relationships.
- Professional demeanor and ability to establish effective working relationships, professional rapport, and effectively accomplish work within a setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups, policies, and processes. Ability to work effectively with various constituencies.
- Ability to analyze information situations and solve problems.
- Capacity to handle sensitive information discretely and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to travel for work, as well as work involving evening and weekends.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to organize and manage multiple projects/tasks simultaneously; must be able to work independently and collaboratively, and adapt to changing priorities.
- Effective ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level of sophistication required for the duties of the position, including, without limitation, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, and constituent relations software.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Please submit a resume, cover letter and list of references with your application. Current employees, please submit an application by logging into Workday. Click on the Career Worklet and access the internal site.
This position will remain open until filled with a priority application deadline of August 15th, 2025.
Regis University offers a broad range of benefits that includes:
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Comprehensive group health insurance, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance.
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A generous tuition benefit for employees, spouses and dependents
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Paid Mission leave to allow our employees to engage in acts of service or to have time for personal reflection.
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The "Gift of Time" when Regis closes between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
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Options for flexible work arrangements based on position.
You can learn more about our benefits by clicking the links below.
25-26 Employee Benefits Summary 04.28.25 or
Pay Rate:
$90,000-$100,000/ annually commensurate with qualifications
