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Director of Development - College of Fine Arts

Why Join Us?
The 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Foundation & Alumni Association supports the mission of the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø by engaging alumni, building community relationships and promoting a culture of philanthropy.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact at an organization dedicated to advancing education and fostering lifelong connections through donor-centric, mission-driven work.


Position Overview
The director of development for the College of Fine Arts is a fundraising professional responsible for securing major gifts of $50,000 or more and leading efforts to engage alumni and friends in support of USD.

Reporting to the vice president of development, this position plays a key role on the development team and contributes to the organization’s overall strategy and success. The successful candidate will understand and embody the Foundation’s purpose and core values.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Major gifts fundraising (80%)

• Manage a portfolio of 80 to 120 major gift prospects and donors.
• Travel locally, regionally and nationally, including overnight and occasional weekend travel.
• Cultivate, solicit and steward donors by aligning their interests with USD priorities.
• Conduct at least 12 to 15 significant donor interactions per month.
• Collaborate with university leaders, faculty and athletics staff to create compelling giving opportunities.
• Partner with the donor relations team to ensure timely recognition and stewardship.
• Record all donor activity in the Foundation's CRM system in accordance with prospect management policies.
• Support campaign and annual giving efforts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Alumni and donor engagement (20%)

• Develop strategies to increase alumni involvement and identify potential major donors.

• Attend university events, donor gatherings and alumni activities.

• Collaborate with alumni engagement and communications colleagues to strengthen donor connections.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated success in major gift fundraising.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet fundraising goals in a fast-paced setting.
• Knowledge of fundraising principles and donor stewardship.
• Proficiency in Microsoft; experience with donor databases such as Raiser's Edge preferred.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in fine arts, business, marketing, communications or a related field.
• One to three years of fundraising, business development, sales, marketing or communications experience.
• Higher education fundraising experience preferred but not required.
• Valid driver's license and a safe driving record.

Salary Range: $70,000 to $90,000, based on experience.

The USD Foundation & Alumni Association is an equal opportunity employer. This position includes a comprehensive benefits package and generous paid time off. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and resume to Joe Hoose, chief of staff and vice president of talent management, at careers@usdfoundation.org.