Job Details
Director, Institutional Giving

Director, Institutional Giving
Position Title:
Director, Institutional Giving
Position Type:
Regular
Hiring Range:
$115,200.00 - $143,987.00; commensurate with experience.
Pay Frequency:
Annual
OVERVIEW
The Director of Institutional Giving will be a senior contributing member of the Institutional Giving team, supporting the faculty, staff, and leadership of Santa Clara University in creating lasting, mutually beneficial relationships and funded partnerships with private, community, and corporate foundations. Institutional Giving works closely with academic schools and colleges, interdisciplinary centers, academic leadership, and select non-academic divisions to secure philanthropic gifts, grants, and sponsorships for projects and programs identified as University priorities. This role emphasizes developing major proposals and funded partnerships to support research, academic programming, and community partnerships for submission to major corporations and institutional donors.
The successful candidate will be a professional with excellent verbal and written communication skills, a strategic thinker, and a problem-solver capable of helping teams hone and communicate structured project plans, compelling impact propositions, and competitive measurement and evaluation strategies. A successful candidate must possess strong relationship management skills and consistently support high-level proposal submissions on behalf of the Institutional Giving team. Familiarity working with faculty, corporate and foundation program executives, and community leaders is desired. Applicants should be accustomed to and comfortable with receiving and applying feedback and advice to improve performance. Additionally, applicants should demonstrate a history of success in their prior field/position and an ability to lead and manage interdisciplinary project teams and workflows to successfully achieve goals. The primary focus is on funding proposals above $100,000.
Institutional Giving is part of a highly-regarded Development and University Relations division, which successfully completed a $1 billion capital campaign in 2024 and received the CASE Educational Fundraising Award in 2018, an honor given each year to superior fundraising programs at educational institutions across the country.
POSITION PURPOSE
Reporting to the Executive Director of Institutional Giving, the Director of Institutional Giving will allocate 50% of their time to supporting the institutional engagement goals and philanthropic fundraising priorities of Miller Center for Global Impact (MC). Miller Center, one of the three centers of distinction at SCU, is the most successful university-based social enterprise accelerator in the world. The Center leverages a validated capacity-building curriculum, a network of mentors with expertise in innovation-based business models and domain- and context-specific expertise, and investment-readiness support to advance its mission to end global poverty for the next generation.
The Director will allot the other half of the staffing time to advancing additional Institutional Giving priorities, University-wide, and as assigned by the Executive Director. Priority will be given to supporting goals associated with priorities articulated in the University's Strategic Plan.
The Director of Institutional Giving requires a thoughtful, highly organized, collaborative, and proactive professional with a proven track record in securing funding through effective engagement with corporations, foundations, and NGOs. The position supports Institutional Giving's growing portfolio of high-impact initiatives and partnerships by:
- Advancing Santa Clara University's reputation nationally and internationally
- Designing and implementing discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to sustain long-term engagement with current and prospective institutional donors, enabling Institutional Giving to meet its 12-month, 3-year, and 5-year fundraising goals.
- Proactively researching and identifying new funding opportunities.
- Maintaining strong relationships with all Institutional Giving stakeholders, particularly institutional prospects.
- Supporting and enhancing the success of the Institutional Giving efforts to pursue key University priorities and initiatives.
- Participating in all aspects of frontline fundraising as defined by University Relations leadership
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Perform all aspects of fundraising moves management on behalf of SCU (including Miller Center) to ensure that all institutional prospects are promptly identified, successfully cultivated, effectively solicited, and appropriately stewarded. Essential duties and responsibilities include:
- Advance on-campus collaboration in support of campaign priorities, programs, and key initiatives.
- Develop, negotiate, and accelerate external institutional partnerships to support compelling, fundable social impact program opportunities.
- Represent SCU, through result-oriented frontline fundraising activities, elevating the University's reputation as a leader in architecting a "more humane, just, and sustainable world."
- Lead, collaborate with, and assist the University's senior officers, frontline fundraisers, academic deans, and center directors, including the Miller Center Leadership Team (CLT), in designing and implementing effective funding strategies that attract and engage institutional prospects to become long-term financial contributors to the University.
- Perform all aspects of discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities to deepen relationships with prospects and maximize their support of the University's critical programs and initiatives.
- Conduct primary and secondary research to develop compelling funding proposals and concepts.
- Write and present persuasive funding proposals and budgets, presentations, cases for support, and concept notes for new and renewed funding opportunities.
- Solicit and secure financial, in-kind, and all other identified forms of support from institutional prospects.
- Deliver seamless and prompt interface/relationship management to targeted prospects.
- Work with relevant advisory, leadership, and governance boards and leverage their connections to gain access to strategic institutional partnerships, developing meaningful and measurable value propositions for the University and partnering entity.
- Arrange institutional prospect visits on behalf of senior leadership, program managers, faculty, etc., as appropriate; develop visit briefings; and actively participate in these visits.
- Provide exceptional stewardship of key partnerships (external and internal).
- Develop stewardship and impact reports on funded projects and deliver them in a timely manner to prospects.
- Facilitate education and compliance across Santa Clara University with regard to policies and procedures, best practices, and future trends related to institutional affiliations and partnerships, enhancing the University's ability to develop strong and productive relationships with institutions.
- Track and report on fundraising metrics while maintaining a portfolio of active institutional prospects.
- Develop yearly funding pipelines and provide updates to the University's senior officers, Executive Director (Institutional Giving), unit deans, and center directors (including MC's team).
- Ensure comprehensive documentation of information/interaction related to all corporate and foundation prospects using CLARA (CRM donor database).
- Actively participate in office culture enhancement activities (e.g., team building activities, retreats, etc.).
- Actively participate in personal and professional development opportunities.
- Support communications and branding activities related to Institutional Giving and the projects and initiatives supported.
- Actively participate and comply with the University's diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
- Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned.
PROVIDES WORK DIRECTION
- Not Applicable
GENERAL GUIDELINES
- Recommends and implements institutional engagement strategies to develop multidimensional, long-term partnerships and secure successful solicitations.
- Maintains customer contact and solicits feedback to improve services.
- Maximizes productivity through use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.
- Researches and develops resources to create a timely, efficient workflow.
- Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals.
- Prepares and submits reports as requested and required.
- Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred.
Knowledge
- Possesses knowledge of the leading institutional philanthropy trends and utilizes these approaches effectively to secure funding.
- Proven knowledge in fundraising database management (experience with Blackbaud CRM and Salesforce is a plus).
- Demonstrated knowledge of communication media: virtual and print.
- Clear understanding of fundraising concepts, principles, procedures and techniques, and successful implementation of these concepts in work activities.
- Sound grasp of the latest innovations and entrepreneurial trends, and successful implementation of these concepts in work activities.
- Knowledge and experience using technology to enhance communications as well as operational efficiencies in the office.
- Working Knowledge of developing programmatic budgets.
- Understanding and appreciation of the mission of Santa Clara University and the vision and values of a Jesuit Catholic educational institution.
Skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong research and analytical skills.
- Proficiency in database administration and reporting.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
- Excellent computer skills; proficiency in using advanced functions of word processing, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint, database and web resources.
Abilities
- Passion and commitment to building a "more humane, just, and sustainable world."
- Self-starter, capable of working independently and/or collaboratively, as appropriate.
- Able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritizing and completing according to importance and impact.
- Ability to work effectively with a variety of audiences: internal and external.
- Sense of humor, integrity, reliability, initiative, diligence, common sense, respect for others, flexibility, creativity, and team player.
- Demonstrated sound judgment in situations requiring independent decision making and in handling highly confidential and sensitive material.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum of 6 - 8 years related work experience required, which includes 3 - 5 years of direct fundraising experience, preferably with institutional partners.
- Experience in a higher education environment is preferred.
- Experience in project management/coordination required.
- Valid drivers license required.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
- May be required to go to other buildings on the campus.
- May be required to travel to engage prospects
- May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors or suppliers.
- May be required to take class/test to operate golf cart.
- May at times require physical labor.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Typical office environment.
- Mostly indoor office environment.
- Offices with equipment noise.
- Offices with frequent interruptions.
Telecommute
Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.
EEO Statement
Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination
Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/.
Clery Notice of Availability
Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at hraccommodations@scu.edu or by phone at (408)554-5750.
To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Director--Institutional-Giving_R6894
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