Assistant Director Of Development

Assistant Director of Development

Linfield University is seeking a relationship-driven and motivated fundraising professional to join University Advancement as Assistant Director of Development. This role offers the opportunity to build meaningful connections with donors, advance philanthropic support, and help strengthen the University's mission through thoughtful engagement and stewardship.

Job Description

Title: Assistant Director of Development

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Associate Vice President for Development

FTE: 1.0

Department: University Advancement

Effective Date: September, 2026

Job Summary:

The Assistant Director of Development (AsstDOD) is an externally facing position that is responsible for the qualification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of prospective and current donors to Linfield University in an effort to advance Linfield's mission and goals. The AsstDOD works as a generalist, with a focus of activity on mid-level gifts ($1,000 - $10,000). The AsstDOD is expected to initiate contact with potential donors, develop and implement appropriate solicitation plans and strategies, and involve other members of the university community as appropriate. This is all done in a donor-centered manner by linking the interests and passions of a donor with needs of the University. Frequent travel and occasional evening and weekend work is required to be successful in this position, as are highly developed communication skills, tact, diplomacy and excellent judgment.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of roughly 200 donor prospects to qualify, cultivate, solicit and steward gifts to Linfield, particularly in the range of $1,000 - $10,000. This work is done using a variety of methods and tools, including email, social media, in-person and virtual one-on-one meetings.
• Meet annual metrics relating to specific numbers of people making gifts in the $1,000 - $10,000 range, including donors new to that level of giving, donors that increase within that level, and donors that renew at that level after not doing so for several years.
• When appropriate, develop and implement plans to yield more significant philanthropic support, whether through an outright major gift or a documented deferred gift commitment.
• Collaborate with other members of the Advancement team to coordinate and complete special fundraising projects proposed by various departments of the University.
• Maintain accurate records of contacts with donors and prospects and ensure that all activity is recorded in the Advancement database (Salesforce).
• Develop partnerships with faculty and other university staff that provide opportunities for donors and prospects to learn about aspects of the university that would best align with their interests/passions.
• Ensure appropriate stewardship plans are prepared, and activities conducted, for donors.
• Demonstrate integrity, self-confidence, decisiveness, diplomacy, determination, intellectual curiosity and a passion for building a culture of philanthropy at Linfield.
• Provide regular reports of activities to demonstrate progress toward established goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned including following all University policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of two years of experience in development/fundraising, marketing, or sales.
• Ability to create authentic and meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, administrators, faculty, and students that lead to increased support of the University.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Passion for higher education, and in particular, the experience provided by a small private university in the liberal arts tradition.
• Ability to collaborate as a member of a strong, goal-directed team.
• Superior organizational skills.
• Ability to take initiative in managing projects and timelines with minimal supervision.
• Working knowledge of fundraising databases (preferably Salesforce), Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to handle confidential donor information with tact and discretion.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends to attend events and fundraising visits on and off campus.
• Must have valid driver's license and be able to conduct occasional overnight travel.

If you are passionate about building meaningful relationships, advancing higher education, and helping grow a culture of philanthropy, we encourage you to apply and consider joining the Linfield University Advancement team.

Linfield University participates in E-Verify to verify the identity and work eligibility of all new employees.

To apply, please submit your application materials through the Linfield University employment portal. We look forward to learning more about how your experience and passion align with our mission.

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