Director of Major Gifts & Advancement Operations
Laguna Beach, CA
Sterling Search Inc. has been exclusively retained to recruit the Director of Major Gifts and Advancement Operations for San Diego Community College District (SDCCD).
About
As one of the largest of California’s 73 community college districts, the San Diego Community College District serves approximately 90,000 students annually at its three credit colleges, San Diego City College, Mesa College, and Miramar College, as well as seven campuses of San Diego College of Continuing Education.
The SDCCD maintains active partnerships with local industry, the community, the military, and educational institutions to ensure students have clear pathways to careers and the next stage of their education.
The District and its graduates have a combined economic benefit to the region of $4.5 billion annually – 92% of the District’s students remain in the region after completing their education. The District also proudly serves more than 5,000 active-duty military personnel, veterans, and dependents.
Our Promise For You!
Launched in 2016 by the San Diego Community District, the San Diego Promise aims to eliminate financial barriers to community college education. Qualified students at San Diego City, Mesa, and Miramar colleges, including those transitioning from the College of Continuing Education, can access a free education. Promise also offers grants for textbooks and supplies to support students in need. The program cultivates a supportive learning community to promote academic success. Funded by the state of California and generous donors, it has grown from serving 186 students to over 7,000 each year, ensuring that quality education is accessible to all.
The Opportunity
With the appointment of the first-ever Vice Chancellor of Development & Entrepreneurship in March 2023, the San Diego Community College District is building its first‑ever district‑level fundraising function. This brand‑new initiative is being guided in partnership with CCS Fundraising, a prominent consulting firm engaged by the District for a multi‑year collaboration to support visioning, strategy development, and the implementation of best‑practice fundraising systems.
Join SDCCD as it launches its inaugural fundraising platform creating one of the most powerful vehicles to alleviate poverty by expanding access to education, the great equalizer that opens doors and allows individuals to excel in life.
Are you a bold and visionary fundraising professional with a passion for education and community development.
Are you driven to break down barriers for students?
Do you have the skills and fundraising strategies to lead initiatives that create lasting change by ensuring students and faculty have the resources they need to succeed?
If you are a seasoned expert in securing six-figure major gifts and building ambitious, eight-figure strategic initiatives, this is your moment.
The San Diego Community College District is seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Major Gifts & Advancement Operations to innovate and boost their comprehensive resource and fund development program.
Position Summary
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Under the general direction of the Vice Chancellor of Development and Entrepreneurship, the Director of Major Gifts & Advancement Operations oversees the coordination, execution, and evaluation of a comprehensive resource and fund development program. This includes operational leadership for fundraising, donor stewardship, and related initiatives. The Director serves as a central coordinator for strategic fundraising efforts, including major and annual gifts, ensuring effective, efficient, and equitable operations aligned with district and college goals.
The Director of Major Gifts & Advancement Operations is distinguished by its focus on operational leadership and coordination of receipt of major gifts, ensuring efficient processes and effective donor engagement. The Director collaborates across district divisions, college departments, district and college foundations, and external partners to streamline fundraising efforts and ensure consistency in donor stewardship and engagement. Incumbents are responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating procedures for the receipt of private philanthropy, government funding, grants and similar competitive funds, and related financial activities.
This role is critical to the SDCCD’s work supporting student access to higher education and success, faculty innovation, community engagement, well-being and prosperity. Your work would directly impact the lives of countless individuals, helping them remove barriers and realize their potential.
Develop new initiatives to increase fundraising from current and prospective donors.
Oversee office and software systems to support all Development projects and operations; ensure compliance with all relevant regulations and laws, maintain accountability standards to donors, and ensure compliance with code of ethical principles and standards of professional conduct for fundraising executives.
Perform other duties as assigned.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge:
Principles of effective, efficient, and equitable public administration and organizational management, leadership, and operations.
Effective communication methods, techniques, and modes to engage with diverse stakeholder communities.
Principles and practices for effective operation of development programs including gift giving, solicitation, stewardship, donor recognition, and program administration.
Professional and ethical standards and practices as administered by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning, and Council on Resource Development.
Effective communication, public relations, and marketing methods, techniques, and modes related to development and investment programs, donor recognition, and community awareness.
Principles, concepts, operations, and processes in grant development and administration, accounting, auditing, budget development, and financial management.
Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment, including computer hardware and software.
Lived experiences of students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, and ethnic communities.
Skills and Abilities:
Develop individualized donor strategies and prioritize prospect engagement opportunities.
Develop and implement effective development and entrepreneurship policies, procedures, and activities.
Understand, evaluate, and provide strategic input on the impact of proposed and enacted changes in laws, regulations, programs, guidelines, and effective practices impacting development activities, grants, and entrepreneurship objectives.
Training and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience equivalent to: Bachelor’s degree and five years of leadership experience in fundraising, donor relations, or advancement operations, including work with major gift programs. An Advanced Degree and/or Certification in fundraising (e.g., CFRE) and experience in higher education fundraising or advancement are preferred.
Demonstrated cultural humility, sensitivity to, and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college staff, faculty, and students.
License:
Valid California driver’s license.
Compensation
Range 6 ($10,725.84 – $17,471.26) per month based on the current Management salary schedule Initial salary placement is commensurate with related experience and promotional rules. The District offers a comprehensive fringe benefit package including employer paid: medical, dental and vision plans; sick and vacation leave; and opportunities for professional development. Initial Salary Placement, Promoted or transferred employees will be placed as specified in the Management Employees Handbook and is non-negotiable.
This position is FLSA Exempt and may not accrue overtime. A temporary probationary period will be applied to the employee entering this assignment. The SDCCD Employment Web Page provides a link to employee Collective Bargaining Agreements and Handbooks, and more information about terms and conditions of employment to include salary and benefits.
Please contact Katie Croskrey for a confidential conversation and to learn more about this opportunity.
Phone: (858) 228-3606
Email: Katie@SterlingSearchInc.com
Please direct all correspondence, emails, and telephone calls to Sterling Search, Inc. Any communication with SDCCD will be redirected back to Sterling Search.
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