Director of Development - Major Gifts - Main Campus

Lakeland University

Lakeland University is a Bachelor's and Master's Degree-granting liberal arts institution with 2,500+ students enrolled across 24 countries. Our international institution offers more than 30 majors and five graduate degrees. 

We offer evening and online courses through our co-locations with Waukesha County Technical College, Fox Valley Technical College, Mid-State Technical College, Blackhawk Technical College and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. Lakeland also offers a Bachelor's and Associates Degree program at our international campus in Tokyo, Japan.

Lakeland is an Experiential Education institution. We believe students learn more by doing. At our residential campus, students can earn up to 25% of their degree through paid, professional work experience. Students have a pathway to graduate in four years with little- or no-tuition debt, making a Bachelor’s Degree accessible to anyone with the desire to learn. At Lakeland, Students aren’t just earning a degree. We are connecting them with globally recognized companies and they're learning the skills that employers are seeking. Classes are designed around these real-life experiences and students career goals — so when they graduate, they are confident and ready to start a career they’re passionate about.

Our adult learners earn their degree often while juggling careers and families. Our flexible delivery formats allow for students to earn credit in the classroom and in their workplace. Whether enhancing their resume, or looking to completely change their career pathways, we offer innovative pathways for degree completion.

Our student-athletes are a force to be reckoned with, as our men's and women's teams and individuals compete in NCAA Division III baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling.

https://www.lakeland.edu

Position Details

Director of Development - Major Gifts - Main Campus
Job
Full-time
Office/WFH
100% remote
6/2/2025
Northeast Wisconsin
Plymouth, WI

Lakeland University (LU) invites applications for a full-time Director of Development. Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement & University Relations (VPAUR), the director will secure private support for operations and programs throughout the university. The successful candidate will be a collaborative and innovative team member who, through strategic work and relationship building, will help grow our donor pipelines and the philanthropic landscape generally.

The focus of this position is to actively manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors. Work will include pipeline growth, donor qualification, cultivation, and solicitation, and stewardship of existing donors.

Interested applicants should complete the online application and submit a resume and cover letter. Review of applications will begin immediately and preference will be given to applications received before June 20, 2025.

  • Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors in support of LU's programs, with a focus on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and gift closure within assigned portfolio.
  • Meet with donors and donor prospects 25-50% of the time via travel, on-campus visits, phone, and video conferencing, including some evenings and weekends.
  • In partnership with the VPAUR, advancement colleagues, and assigned units, develop strategies to increase constituent pipelines.
  • Develop and maintain close collaborative partnerships with campus colleagues to ensure a strong baseline knowledge of academic and administrative programs and priorities to devise and execute sound prospect strategies for philanthropic opportunities.
  • Participate in advancement strategy meetings, assisting colleagues and providing support for all ongoing programs and operations as needed to help meet the fundraising goals.
  • Document all activities, interactions, and other relevant data in the advancement database.
  • Serve as the point of contact for assigned units for all fund administration and management questions.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited post-secondary institution.
  • A minimum of three years of successful advancement experience or more than firve years of experience in a closely related field.
  • Experience working in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality.
  • Demonstrated ability to positively represent LU in visits with alumni, donors, and constituents.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Graduate degree
  • Proven track record in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors.
  • Documented fundraising success.
  • Experience working in higher education or other complex organization.

Commensurate with background and experience.

A competitive benefits package is offered.


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