APU is seeking employees who desire to engage in our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is pleasing to God and edifying to one another.


Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, the Executive Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving provides vision, leadership and strategic direction to the comprehensive major and planned giving teams, as well as managing and soliciting a donor prospect portfolio. The Executive Director is responsible for developing and implementing the strategies to discover, cultivate, solicit, and steward major current, planned, estate and foundation gifts in fulfillment of APU’s mission. The Executive Director will inspire, lead, and develop a team of Development Officers and Foundation and Corporate Relations Director to significantly grow the annual revenue from major current, deferred, and foundation sources. The Executive Director will partner with the Vice President and Executive Director of Advancement to expand the Division’s fundraising capacity and implement a comprehensive campaign.



Required Education

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.



Required Experience

At least seven years of progressive experience in major gifts fundraising and team leadership, preferably within a higher education or comparably complex non-profit environment.
Thorough knowledge of development principles and a strong record of accomplishment in creating and managing a comprehensive major gifts program.
Demonstrated success discovering, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts in excess of $25,000.
Success soliciting and closing major, blended, and revocable/irrevocable estate and planned gifts.
Familiarity with Estate Planning instruments, products, principles, and marketing programs, and success integrating gift and estate planning into a comprehensive major gifts program.
Proven success leading a disciplined moves management strategy with a portfolio of individuals.
Experience collaborating with academic and administrative leadership to define strategic projects and initiatives, drafting cases for support, developing engagement experiences and events.
A high level of professional and spiritual maturity, judgment and decisiveness to motivate fellow staff and volunteers, and to inspire confidence among donor prospects.
Strong administrative and systems experience.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.



Primary Duties/Essential Functions

Spiritual and Servant Leadership

Live out the God First mission of APU, exemplifying Christ-like servant leadership and character required of senior leadership that advances the mission of APU and promotes the development and welfare of the Advancement team.
Demonstrate personal spiritual maturity, integrity, sound personal and professional judgment, and the ability to lead from an ever-deepening faith and character.

Major Gifts Leadership

Manage the Director of Development, who will provide leadership to the Development Officer team.

Manage the Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations.
Provide overall leadership to a divisional plan to raise major current gifts within the scope of the upcoming comprehensive campaign, special projects, and presidential priorities.
Provide vision and leadership to an expanding team of Development Officers (DO’s) instituting a defined moves management strategy, metrics, and goal setting processes.
Develop an annual plan, strategy, and management metrics for the Development Officers to meet the University Fund goal.
As player-coach, manage a donor portfolio of 50-75 major donors and high net worth estate and planned giving prospects.
Provide information for prospect records through appropriate documentation in the form of contact reports and strategy statements housed in the central Raiser’s Edge system.
Provide timely and accurate reports of major gift activity and results to the Vice President and to the
Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Gift and Estate Planning Leadership

Develop and implement integrated strategies, marketing, engagement, and resource plans to ensure an expanding pipeline of estate and planned giving prospects producing $5 - $10 million annually in revocable and irrevocable gifts.
Develop a strategy that integrates gift and estate planning into the work of all Development Officers with appropriate training and metrics.
Manage a donor portfolio of high net worth estate and planned giving prospects.
Work collaboratively with the Executive Director of Advancement to ensure proper documentation and execution of estate plans, trust management, trust and annuity payments, and business operations related to all estate planning functions.
Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Comprehensive Campaign

Work with the Vice President and Executive Director of Advancement in the pre-planning phase of a comprehensive institutional fundraising campaign, including collaborative engagement with the President and campaign consultant.
Help develop the major gifts and estate planning strategies for the comprehensive fundraising campaign.



Skills

Strong self-starter with a positive attitude, and intrinsically motivated.
A creative, highly productive, and flexible, self-starter with ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Proven ability to manage a portfolio and make major gift level asks ($10,000+), involving travel, flexible work schedule involving morning, evening and weekend work.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a winsome and relational manner.
Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively with a wide range of professionals, in a metric and goal driven environment.
Ability to understand, embrace, and communicate APU's unique mission and character.
Other necessary characteristics: honesty, responsiveness, follow-through, servant attitude, confidentiality, vision, initiative, drive, and adaptability.
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines



Mental Demands

In agreement with the purpose and goals of Azusa Pacific University in providing a Christian-based higher

education for its students.
Ability to work under pressure, exuding a mature demeanor while multi-tasking in a deadline oriented environment with accuracy and consistency.
Ability to exercise good judgment and discretionary skills in determining when to act independently and when to consult management prior to taking action.



Physical Demands

Local and regional overnight travel required
Requires typing and sitting at computer keyboard.
Hearing and speaking demands.
Ability to conduct business at other locations on and off campus.
Ability to lift, pull, grasp, bend and reach.
Ability to lift up to 20 lbs.



Visual Demands

Computer monitor and reading.



Environment

Pleasant office, comfortable temperatures.
Multiple conversations and transactions occurring simultaneously.



Technologies

Proficient in Raiser’s Edge, Google Apps., Microsoft Office, Word and Excel, Tableau (and Business
Intelligence programs)



Compensation

Grade 23: $134,848 - $175,303 is the annual salary for this role and reflects what Azusa Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on the qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, APU offers a competitive benefits package.


Azusa Pacific University is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Please click the links to learn more about 'what we believe', our 'mission statement', and our 'statement of faith'.


You can learn more about APU by watching the stories of faculty, staff, and alumni as they carry out our mission here: http://www.apu.edu/stories/


Azusa Pacific University will conduct a background check on all final candidates.


Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled unless otherwise stated. Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.


Azusa Pacific University is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

About Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University is a comprehensive, evangelical, Christian university located 26 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. As a leading Christian university in California, Azusa Pacific University grounds rigorous academics on a solid spiritual foundation. With an intentional focus on scholarship, faith integration, diversity, and internationalization, APU provides high-quality academic programs within a tight-knit community of disciples and scholars. APU is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 Doctoral University, recognizing APU’s high level of research activity. A leader in the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, APU is committed to excellence in higher education. Offering more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs on campus, online, and at seven regional locations across Southern California, APU continues to be recognized annually as one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.

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