Director, Advancement

• Develop and manage a portfolio of principal, major gift, and leadership annual giving prospects
• Develop sufficient knowledge of Eastman to effectively represent the school at local, regional, and national events and to provide guidance and assistance to regional University officers representing Eastman
• Serve as prospect manager in several of Eastman’s top markets, ensuring that an appropriately sized prospect pool is strategically qualified, cultivated, and solicited both personally and by liaising with key regional gift officers
• Effectively track and manage prospect “moves,” short- and long-term strategies, and next steps, including identifying and recommending opportunities for Decanal and Presidential engagement
• Drive prospect engagement strategy in their designated geographic regions
• Manage advancement projects within assigned areas of responsibility, including events in designated geographic regions
• Cultivate and promote prospects for volunteer roles at Eastman
• Oversee the Eastman Dean’s Circle, the school’s Rochester-based annual giving circle, including creating and overseeing a multi-year strategic plan and creating annual opportunities for engagement, stewardship, and communication
• Manage the Dean’s Circle pipeline with peer Eastman and regional gift officers
• Liaise with the George Eastman Circle (GEC) team to complement their calendar of Rochester-based events and stewardship opportunities

• Bachelor’s Degree
• A minimum of 7 years of advancement/development experience at an institution of higher education, a multi-faceted arts organization, and/or other community-based non-profit
• Experience with volunteers and/or boards and working on high-level events
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills
• ability to work both independently and as part of a team in fast-paced, multi-faceted environment
• Equal ease with creating, managing, and maintaining both internal and external relationships, including high-priority donors, alumni, and volunteers, as well as University leadership
• Superb oral, written, and interpersonal skills
• Proactive relationship-building skills, with an ability to create nuanced and thoughtful relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers, faculty, administrators, and trustees
• Excellent organization and project management skills, with an ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and deadlines with keen attention to detail
• Broad knowledge of the principles of fundraising and ability to participate in all aspects of the gift cycle
• Flexibility, thoughtfulness, and proactivity
• ability to think strategically but accommodate real-time input and feedback
• A personal belief in the mission, goals, and objectives of the Eastman School of Music

Experience with annual giving circles