Executive Director of Development

Position overview

Southwestern Michigan College is hiring an Executive Director of Development to lead fundraising for the college and the SMC Foundation. This senior role is responsible for building and carrying out a full development strategy that supports gifts from individuals, major donors, corporations, foundations, planned giving, annual campaigns, special events, and stewardship efforts.

The role also manages the daily work of a growing development function, personally advances major and leadership-level asks, and helps create a cooperative, high-performing team culture. In addition, the position contributes to strategic decisions and keeps fundraising, marketing, and institutional goals aligned.

This is a 24-month appointment that ends 24 months from the start date, with the option to extend based on performance and funding.

Compensation

Salary range: $85,000 to $90,000 annually.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Development, Marketing, Communications, Project Management, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in fundraising and development, including a demonstrated record of securing and closing major principal gifts.
• At least 5 years in a leadership position with responsibility for operational and performance results, plus a history of guiding cross-functional teams.

Preferred qualifications

• 10 to 12 years of executive-level development experience.
• Experience building and monitoring budgets, working with electronic donor management systems, and staying current on prospect research trends.

Key responsibilities

• Create and execute broad development plans with annual and long-range revenue targets to expand support from foundations, corporations, and individual donors.
• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership to identify, cultivate, and close new major gifts from individual donors.
• Lead annual giving, capital campaigns, restricted gifts, special project fundraising, and planned or estate giving activities.
• Set department-wide performance measures, improve operating procedures, and share fundraising best practices across the team.
• Work with grant writers on proposal development, donor and funder relationships, and required reporting.
• Lead, coach, train, and motivate the development team while building a collaborative, supportive working environment.
• Define clear expectations, systems, and performance standards to maintain accountability and high-quality results.
• Follow ethical fundraising practices, protect donor confidentiality, and apply gift acceptance policies consistently.
• Collaborate with SMC Foundation board members to define board service expectations and build donor relationships.
• Preside over quarterly SMC Foundation board meetings, prepare agendas, and provide trustee training and professional development.
• Coordinate with the SMC CFO on financial reporting, audits, endowment activity, and scholarship fund growth.
• Build the development office infrastructure during the first 12 months, including database setup, donor communications, campus funding priorities, alumni relations, and fundraising pipelines.
• Perform additional related duties as assigned, since the listed responsibilities are not exhaustive.

First-year priorities

• Set up, populate, and maintain an electronic donor database on a weekly basis.
• Develop an annual donor communication plan and a regular solicitation cadence such as annual funds, year-end appeals, and giving days.
• Work with campus stakeholders to create a prioritized funding wish list and turn it into compelling fundraising cases.
• Launch an Alumni Association and begin focused alumni cultivation efforts.
• Establish concrete fundraising goals and manage a pipeline of high-need special projects that are not covered by operations funding.

Physical and working conditions

The position requires the ability to perform the physical demands of the role with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Maintain balance while moving on narrow, slippery, or shifting surfaces.
• Reach in any direction.
• Stand for extended periods.
• Walk for long distances or between work locations.
• Push and pull objects using upper-body force.
• Use coordinated hand and finger movements for typing, keyboarding, picking up small items, and similar tasks.
• Grip objects with the fingers and palm.
• Use touch to assess attributes such as size, shape, temperature, or texture.
• Speak clearly and exchange information verbally.
• Hear and understand spoken information at normal speaking levels, with or without correction.
• Perform repetitive wrist, hand, and finger motions.

This is classified as light work, meaning the role may involve exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, or negligible force constantly.

Close visual acuity is needed for tasks such as reviewing data, transcribing, using a computer terminal, and reading extensively. The role is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Application requirements

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter. Academic transcripts and a portfolio are optional. Three references are accepted and three references are required.