Edtech.com's Summary

Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business is hiring an Associate Director of Major Gifts. This role involves soliciting philanthropic gifts from alumni, parents, and friends in alignment with university and college priorities, managing a portfolio of major donors, and developing cultivation and solicitation strategies to support fundraising goals.

Highlights

Solicit major gifts ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 with an annual closing goal of 12 gifts over $100,000 and $2 million total.
Manage a portfolio of 100 to 125 major gift prospects and initiate over 100 significant donor contacts annually.
Plan and implement fundraising efforts for college and university programs under the Director of Development.
Travel regionally and nationally about 5 to 8 days per month for donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
Required qualifications include a Master's degree or a Bachelor's with significant fundraising-related experience, strong communication skills, and professionalism.
Preferred qualifications include previous successful fundraising experience, especially in higher education, and ability to build relationships with senior leaders and donors.
Salary range is $65,000 to $75,000 annually.
Work schedule is 40+ hours per week with frequent travel, including weekends and evenings.
Position is exempt from overtime and requires a safe driving record and a criminal background check.
Engagement with a large network of over 50,000 alumni and a philanthropic campaign exceeding $116 million.

Associate Director of Major Gifts, Pamplin College of Business Full Description

Job Description

Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business is seeking an Associate Director of Major Gifts to solicit philanthropic gifts from alumni, parents, and friends, which align with overall university, college and program strategic priorities. This highly motivated professional will be involved with the planning and implementation of major gift fundraising efforts in support of current operations, endowment, capital, and other priorities from private sources. This individual will fulfill the duties under the direction of the Director of Development / Assistant Dean for Advancement in close cooperation with overall leadership of the university's central advancement office.

The Associate Director of Major Gifts will:
- Assist with fundraising activities for the college/unit, and university programs within designated time frames.
- Travel, on average, five to eight days per month to cultivate, solicit, steward and identify prospects.
- Have a portfolio of between 100 to 125 prospects.
- Initiate and document 100+ significant contacts annually.
- Have typical solicitation ranges of $100,000 to $1,000,000.
- Solicit 15 $100,000+ gift on an annual basis.
- Close 12 $100,000+ gifts on an annual basis.
- Close $2,000,000 per year using a three-year rolling average.
- Develop and implement cultivation and solicitation strategies which include building, managing and soliciting a portfolio of major gift prospects.
- Establish strong working relationships with other central advancement, collegiate, unit, and constituent development officers and staff to foster a productive work environment.

Regional and national travel is required for the purposes of conducting field research, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, which may include overnights and weekends. The associate director must have the ability and willingness to travel utilizing standard, commercial, and/or personal modes of transportation. Additionally, participation in college or university programs when possible is necessary.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree or bachelor's with significant experience.
Demonstrated experience in fundraising, sales/marketing, advertising, public relations, communications or a related field.
Demonstrated professionalism with strong communication skills and the ability to motivate volunteers as well as donors.
Self-motivated with the ability to work as a team member in a complex organization.
Willingness to travel on a frequent basis.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated successful track record in fundraising.
Experience in higher education fundraising.
Proven success in building productive, relationships with senior administrators, key business leaders, faculty, staff, institutional boards, volunteers, and/or donors.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

$65,000 to $75,000

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

August 17, 2025

Additional Information

Safe driving record.

Routine Travel or Telework – (50% or more travel).

Uncommon Work Schedule – (Rotating Shifts, Weekend, Nights).

Unable to sponsor work visas.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Advancement Human Resources at advhr@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Original Job Description