Reporting to the Senior Director of Development (SDOD), the Director of Development (DOD) will be primarily located in New Brunswick, NJ, where they will focus on building relationships with faculty, academic leaders, fellow fundraisers, and central RUF teams. The DOD will play a key role in building a pipeline of major gift donors and will contribute to the success of Rutgers’ upcoming comprehensive campaign. With a focus on major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations, the DOD will translate technical and research subject matter into compelling opportunities for investment. Fundraising priorities will include student support, faculty and research excellence, innovative programs, and mission-aligned initiatives of the School of Social Work (SSW).

Essential Functions

• In partnership with the Senior Director of Development and the Dean of the School of Social Work, design and execute a strategic development plan that results in increased philanthropic support both in the near term and for future campaign goals.
• Build and maintain a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects (defined as gifts of $25,000+), with an emphasis on securing gifts at or above the $50,000 level and a personal fundraising goal of $1M.
• Personally identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, alumni, corporations, foundations, and friends of the School; aim to conduct 75–100 unique prospect/donor meetings annually.
• Develop and submit compelling written proposals, budgets, and other collateral materials to secure philanthropic investments of $100K+.
• Build constructive, professional relationships with SSW faculty and staff, and strategically collaborate on donor-related initiatives.
• Clearly articulate the mission and priorities of SSW in written and verbal formats for a variety of internal and external audiences.
• Strategically organize the Dean’s time and resources to achieve advancement goals. Staff the Dean appropriately for leadership meetings, donor visits, and special events.
• Support the Dean and faculty in donor/prospect meetings, manage meeting logistics, and prepare briefing materials, follow-up correspondence, and stewardship reports.
• Serve as the development liaison to the SSW Alumni Association and help lead engagement strategies that align with major gift cultivation.
• Provide guidance on SSW annual giving efforts as needed, in consultation with the SDOD and relevant RUF colleagues.
• Accurately track and report on contacts, solicitations, meetings, and events through Rutgers University Foundation systems (e.g., CRM).
• Attend school, alumni, and university functions to develop a strong understanding of the School’s culture, research, and alumni base.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Competency Aptitudes

Leadership

• Demonstrate ability to successfully lead projects, coordinate with academic and alumni partners, and provide guidance to team members and volunteers.
• Represent the School in a way that reflects institutional values and maximizes philanthropic potential.
  
  

Autonomy

• Manage assigned programs, projects, and donor strategies with moderate supervision.
• Set personal goals, track metrics, and meet fundraising targets.
  
  

Complexity

• Work across departments and teams to implement multifaceted fundraising initiatives.
• Effectively manage up to the SDOD, Dean, and other university partners; adapt strategies in response to evolving school and donor priorities.
  
  

Strategy

• Develop innovative cultivation and engagement strategies, including alumni networking and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Align fundraising objectives with the Dean’s vision and emerging institutional priorities.
  
  

Education And/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and/or 6+ years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields.

Working Conditions

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet resource-raising commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituents’ schedules.

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

Compensation And Benefits

The position is budgeted at a starting salary of $110,000/ year. Final offers are based on various factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and other job-related reasons for the role. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers:

• Office-centric hybrid work schedule
• Comprehensive medical
• Comprehensive no cost dental, and no cost vision insurance for employee and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement
  
  

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.