Senior Director of Development, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
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Position Summary:
Florida Atlantic University is seeking a Senior Director of Development, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters – Boca Raton, FL.
The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters is home to the largest number of academic departments at FAU, providing degrees in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Communication and Multimedia Studies, Architecture, and Public Administration. The dedicated faculty of distinguished scholars, researchers, and artists across 18 academic programs offer 26 bachelor’s degrees, 17 minors, 12 certificate programs, and 20 graduate degrees that combine the best of a traditional and liberal arts education with cutting-edge instruction in emerging fields.
The College of Arts and Letters is also a vibrant source of cultural and artistic programs, offering over 150 diverse programs to almost 50,000 community patrons annually.
The Senior Director of Development for the College of Arts and Letters works collaboratively with the Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, and faculty, and under the supervision of the Vice President and/or an Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement. The Director plans, articulates, and implements a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan to meet the educational and research missions and creative activities of the College of Arts and Letters and its programs and areas. The Director qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of donors and prospective donors with the inclination and capacity to make significant major gifts ($100,000 and greater) to the College of Arts and Letters at FAU.
The successful candidate will experience a commitment to development at the very top from the President; a seasoned, dynamic Vice President of Institutional Advancement with a winning track record; and an innovative and committed Dean at the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
Summary of Responsibilities includes:
Develop and implement comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for assigned individual major and principal gift prospects. Work both independently and in concert with Institutional Advancement colleagues to implement strategies leading to direct solicitation of gifts of $100,000 and more, including experiences with closing gifts at the $1M+ level.
Build a strong pipeline of alumni and other prospects to expand the portfolio of qualified prospects for gifts of $100,000 and more.
Develop solicitation and closure strategies for major gifts aligned with the College of Arts and Letters and University fundraising priorities, and measured against the metrics associated with the position.
Collaborate with the Dean, department chairs, and faculty to identify funding priorities, assess relevance and feasibility for proposed project/priority, and develop and manage comprehensive strategies to secure gifts for selected priorities and
ensure that the most highly rated prospects receive the most attention.
Partner with Institutional Advancement’s Gift Planning Office to devise an overall strategy for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned gift donors.
In concert with Institutional Advancement colleagues, oversee the preparation of necessary materials, including concept papers, funding proposals, briefings for FAU leadership and board members when necessary, and scheduled stewardship reports, for all assigned prospects.
Identify volunteers to participate in boards, committees, or other programs that promote the cultivation process.
Partner with the Donor Relations Office to ensure appropriate stewardship is provided to donors on existing endowment and current-use funds.
Facilitate effective communication between the College of Arts and Letters and the Division of Institutional Advancement.
Participate in signature events at the University, within the College, and in the community that provide opportunities for strategic engagement with prospects and donors.
Manage the development/fundraising function of the College of Arts and Letters Advisory Board; act as a liaison to the Board and to the Office of Institutional Advancement on policies, procedures, and approvals.
In conjunction with the College’s scholarship contacts, oversee that all donor outcomes related to scholarships, such as thank you notes, event attendance, and in-person visits, are executed in a timely manner.
Participate in weekly meetings with the Dean to discuss major/principal gift donors and other fundraising priorities with the College of Arts and Letters.
Supervise a team of two development and community engagement colleagues in the College of Arts and Letters; Assistant Director of Development, Development Coordinator.
FAU Benefits and Perks
If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers:
Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and much more.
State retirement options, including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
Sick Leave Pool Program.
Paid time off (eligible employees), including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at the President’s discretion).
Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day
Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment. For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).
For details on FAU's amazing offers, visit us at https://www.fau.edu/hr/benefits/index.php
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Minimum Qualifications:
Master's degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization and six years of appropriate experience; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in an appropriate area of specialization and eight years of appropriate experience required.Preferred Qualifications/Skills:
Proven success in securing major gifts of $100,000+ from individuals or institutions.
Extensive development experience in South Palm Beach County and South Florida.
Proficiency in CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge preferred) and standard office software.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
Strategic thinker with sound judgment, professionalism, and personal integrity.
Collaborative, proactive, and adaptable working style.
Ability to translate academic language for broader audiences.
Salary:
$185,000 - $205,000 per year.College or Department:
IA: Advancement AffairsLocation:
Boca RatonWork Days and Hours:
Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.Must be able to work beyond traditional working hours and on occasional holidays. Ability to travel as needed and adjust working hours to meet the requirements of special tasks and events.
Application Deadline:
2025-11-11Special Instructions to Applicant:
This recruitment has been reopened; all previous applicants are still under consideration and need not reapply. This position may close without prior notice.APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
Resume
Cover letter
OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:
Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENINGS REQUIRED:
Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check.
REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS:
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations may contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 561-297-3004 or send an email at [email protected]. To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057. For communication assistance call 7-1-1.
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What We Do
Florida Atlantic University, founded in 1961, is currently serving more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. The University's student body, which ranks as the most ethnically and culturally diverse in Florida's State University System, includes many men and women of non-traditional age.
Long known as an outstanding teaching institution, FAU is undergoing rapid development as a center of cutting-edge research, particularly in the biomedical arena. This process has been accelerated by the University's partnerships with four internationally known biomedical research organizations, the Scripps Research Institute, the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and the Max Planck Society. Additionally, FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine recently welcomed its inaugural class.
