Job Details
Director of Advancement
2026-03-31 Rochester Institute of Technology all cities,AK
Description:
Job Level Overview
Specialized Contributor Level 3 - A senior-level role requiring broad understanding of the profession or field of work. Independently leads diverse and often complex assignments, projects, or programs. May act as a mentor and guide less experienced staff.
Additional Details
This role manages and advances major gift fundraising initiatives in support of university priorities through strategic partnership with academic leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues, with a dedicated focus on the Kate Gleason College of Engineering (KGCOE). The position serves as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of prospects aligned with the dedicated college priorities, developing and executing cultivation and solicitation strategies that result in gifts of $100,000 and above while expanding the prospect pipeline through meaningful engagement. This role collaborates across University Advancement, with volunteer leaders, and with stakeholders to coordinate stewardship activities, donor engagement opportunities, and events that deepen relationships and strengthen philanthropic investment in RIT's mission.
The successful candidate works closely with internal partners and external stakeholders to advance donor engagement, document strategy execution, and assess outcomes that improve fundraising effectiveness and efficiency. This role requires strong relationship management, communication, and organizational skills, along with the ability to manage complex priorities and maintain accurate prospect activity documentation. Candidates should bring demonstrated experience in fundraising or constituent engagement, technical aptitude with advancement systems, and flexibility for travel and occasional evening or weekend commitments within a collaborative, fast-paced university environment.
FLSA Category
Exempt
Work Location
Hybrid
Compensation
$81,600 - $100,000
Application Materials
When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.
Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
Additional Details
In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.
If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-###-#### or email your request to ...@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards leadership annual gift and major gift donors and prospects in coordination with faculty, staff, and volunteers
- Manages a robust portfolio of prospects, creates fundraising strategies, develops relationships with donors, solicits gifts, and coordinates effective donor stewardship
- Develops an understanding of the educational, research, operational, and financial needs and goals of assigned college
- Cultivates relationships with alumni, parents, companies, and other friends, and collaborates with the teams in planned giving, principal giving, alumni relations, parent engagement, regional advancement, and corporate and foundation relations to encourage donors to support university initiatives
- Plans, coordinates, and directs special events for donors and prospects
- Updates the prospect management database with information related to donor strategies, proposals, contacts, and results
- Other duties as assigned
- Knowledge of cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts
- Skill in written and verbal communication
- Ability to network, establish, and foster working relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to manage multiple projects, take initiative, and coordinate follow-up
- Ability to collect, synthesize, and process information quickly and accurately
- Bachelor's degree in related field
- 7 years of relevant experience
- Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered
Job Level Overview
Specialized Contributor Level 3 - A senior-level role requiring broad understanding of the profession or field of work. Independently leads diverse and often complex assignments, projects, or programs. May act as a mentor and guide less experienced staff.
Additional Details
This role manages and advances major gift fundraising initiatives in support of university priorities through strategic partnership with academic leadership, faculty, and advancement colleagues, with a dedicated focus on the Kate Gleason College of Engineering (KGCOE). The position serves as the primary relationship manager for a portfolio of prospects aligned with the dedicated college priorities, developing and executing cultivation and solicitation strategies that result in gifts of $100,000 and above while expanding the prospect pipeline through meaningful engagement. This role collaborates across University Advancement, with volunteer leaders, and with stakeholders to coordinate stewardship activities, donor engagement opportunities, and events that deepen relationships and strengthen philanthropic investment in RIT's mission.
The successful candidate works closely with internal partners and external stakeholders to advance donor engagement, document strategy execution, and assess outcomes that improve fundraising effectiveness and efficiency. This role requires strong relationship management, communication, and organizational skills, along with the ability to manage complex priorities and maintain accurate prospect activity documentation. Candidates should bring demonstrated experience in fundraising or constituent engagement, technical aptitude with advancement systems, and flexibility for travel and occasional evening or weekend commitments within a collaborative, fast-paced university environment.
FLSA Category
Exempt
Work Location
Hybrid
Compensation
$81,600 - $100,000
Application Materials
When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.
Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae or Resume
Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
Additional Details
In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.
If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-###-#### or email your request to ...@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.