Chief Development Officer

The Texas A&M Foundation invites applications for the position of Chief Development Officer charged with leading the development team for the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University .

The Chief Development Officer is a driving force behind expanding a culture of philanthropy on campus and accomplishing the goals of our benefactors. Serving as a fundraiser for the College of Architecture, the Chief Development Officer will play a pivotal role in engaging alumni and donors with the auspicious goals of the school. Diplomacy, drive, and determination will be core qualities in reconnecting alumni and supporters to share in the pride and enthusiasm of the college.

This accomplished and high-energy fundraiser will discover, inspire, invite, and engage prospective donors with major and planned gift potential. Experience working in large and complex institutions will be key to leveraging partnerships and developing strong relationships with internal stakeholders. This professional will also serve as a strategic partner and philanthropic advisor to the university and academic leadership.

As our Chief Development Officer, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and grow a high-powered fundraising team and model collaboration and innovation for the foundation.
• Champion the foundation’s fundraising model and add depth and insights to the strategic vision of the foundation.
• Lead by example – actively engage, solicit and steward a portfolio and serve as a “player-coach” for teammates and colleagues.
• Earn and enhance strategic partnerships with university leadership, faculty and staff, to position their work optimally in the philanthropic market.
• Fully engage in all areas of team and talent management, recruiting, on-boarding, coaching, evaluating and growing team members.
• Adopt a “team of teams” approach, fostering collaboration, transparency, accountability, a donor-centric mindset and passionate professionalism.
• Discover, inspire, invite, and engage high priority prospects, considering individual desires and interests as well as the university’s needs and priorities.
• Create customized funding opportunities based on strategic objectives of the Foundation, University, and the interests of the donor.
• Identify, inspire, and recruit faculty champions with big transformational ideas to engage and partner in the philanthropic strategic planning process to drive funding opportunities and achieve excellence.
• Demonstrate strategic business plan development and project management skills applying the understanding to cross-collaborative efforts.
• Provide a comprehensive donor or project plan for high impact initiatives or principle gift level donors.
• Translate contextual and academic ideas, objectives and information into relatable messages.
• Provide development leadership for unit/college and participate in team based fundraising efforts that advance the mission and strategic vision of Texas A&M University and the college/unit.
• Collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders to determine funding priorities and potential funding sources for various programmatic needs, scholarships, faculty support, big ideas, transformative initiatives, and building needs.
• Serve as content expert and contact, addressing inquiries regarding fund-raising policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in fundraising or a related field, with a demonstrated history of success in relationship-driven or high external outreach industries. Any equivalent combination of education and experience will also be considered.
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills including excellent listening, relationship-building, and customer service including the ability to respond to internal and external constituents with tact, diplomacy and discretion.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality across a variety of situations and involving a variety of constituents (including Foundation leadership, team members, prospects, donors, and University leadership).
• Flexibility to travel extensively including evenings, overnight and weekends and the ability to visit donors in offices, residences, or other agreed locations.
• A valid Texas driver license and good driving record must be maintained as a requirement of the position.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), or other comparable certification.
• 8+ years of related development experience with at least 3 years' successful experience in front-line major gift fundraising.
• Prior experience in a non-profit or fundraising organization.
• Experience in higher education advancement.
• Displayed accomplishments in fundraising.
• Demonstrated success and effectiveness in identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding donors/potential donors.
• Proven ability to navigate complex situations with diplomacy and discretion, building bridges between differing or competing priorities while maintaining a high level of poise and professionalism in all circumstances.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across disciplines/units and build cross-functional, interdisciplinary partnerships.
• Prior experience using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems or donor database platforms.

Desired Attributes:

• Personal appreciation for Texas A&M and the power of philanthropy.
• Displayed accomplishments in fundraising.
• Experience in complex organizations.
• Vision and ability to assess data and implement strategies.
• Ability to develop rapport quickly; communicate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders and constituents, including university and foundation leadership, academic leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, corporations, foundations, partners and others; and inspire philanthropy.
• A strong work ethic, proactive, high performing team member.
• Exceptional judgment, strong initiative, and the ability to think strategically and analytically to move from vision to action.
• Personal drive and high motivation with the ability to manage a significant volume of diverse tasks, activities and projects efficiently and effectively.

As a nonprofit organization, the Texas A&M Foundation is the primary academic fundraising institution for Texas A&M University charged with raising and managing gifts of all types and sizes, with a focus on major gift endowments. We invest these gifts and disburse part of the investment earnings for the purposes designated by donors. In this way, endowments remain forever and continually benefit Texas A&M University.

Our team of passionate professionals partners with former students, corporations and other supporters who want to lead by example and match their charitable passions with opportunities for purposeful philanthropy at Texas A&M. Gifts create scholarships, advance faculty endeavors, enhance student programs, and fund college programs and campus construction. Collectively, these investments greatly enhance Texas A&M’s mission to provide the highest quality undergraduate and graduate programs and develop new understandings through research and creativity. We live by the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Loyalty, Leadership, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Mission

The Texas A&M Foundation builds a brighter future for Texas A&M University, one relationship at a time.

Vision

The Texas A&M Foundation vision is to be among the most trusted philanthropies in higher education.

Guiding Principles

• We believe in the cause.
• We believe that people matter.
• We believe in selfless service.
• We believe in the future.

To apply for this position, please apply online at: Apply Here

Special instructions for applicants: Please include a letter of interest, a resume, and contact details for three professional references.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact .

Texas A&M Foundation is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.