Job Purpose

In coordination with the Associate Dean, plan and implement a fundraising strategy for the major gift team and annual giving team. Operate independently in assigned areas and take responsibility for developing a strategy to lead the regional and initiative strategy across the prospect identification and solicitation, proposal development, and coordination of internal support activities for assigned portfolio. Work with staff, donors, volunteers, faculty, and other university staff to assist in establishing and maintaining relationships with all university constituencies.

Reporting to the Associate Dean for External Relations, the Director of Individual Giving, is responsible for the design, implementation, management, and assessment of all aspects of the major gifts field fundraising operation at Stanford Law School as well as the annual giving field fundraisers. They work with school leaders to shape development opportunities and fundraising strategies and create and staff volunteer structures to complement high-priority initiatives.

The Director of Individual Giving is responsible for recruiting, hiring and managing a team of eight full-time staff, as well as leveraging efforts of colleagues from across the school and Stanford to build and execute successful programs and advance the highest priorities of the school. The Director also serves as a senior field fundraiser, managing a significant portfolio of individual major and principal gift prospects. The Director is expected to set the example for and inspire individual performance, as well as provide oversight, guidance, strategic advice, training and mentorship to the major gifts and stewardship and development communications teams.

The Director of Individual Giving is a member of the school’s external relations leadership team and is a critical participant in defining, implementing and assessing the school’s development strategy, working closely with the Dean, Associate Dean, faculty, fellow senior staff, high-level volunteers, and donors. The Director manages internal processes to ensure the success of the Dean and the Associate Dean in all external relations activities on behalf of the school, and represent the school to a variety of internal and external audiences.

Core Duties: 

• Manage major gifts teams focused on securing gifts of $100,000 or more from alumni, parents, and friends from across the globe. This includes leading regular moves management meetings. The major gifts team is comprised of 3 major gift officers and a project manager.
• Manage annual giving team focused on reunion and non-reunion annual giving portfolios. The annual giving team is comprised of 3 field annual giving officers and a development coordinator.
• Manage an active portfolio of major and principal gift prospects primarily in the Bay Area and Asia. Develop solicitation goals, objectives and strategies, and cultivate and solicit gifts to the law school and the university.
• Provide strategy, leadership and direction to gift officers, dean, faculty, and volunteers that has a broad scope and impact.
• Work with Dean, Associate Dean, faculty and lead volunteers to develop goals and fundraising activities.
• Provide opportunities for professional growth focusing on retention to increase capacity and stability of the team.
• Inspire and motivate staff by fostering a work environment that encourages new ideas, risk-taking, team-based efforts, celebrating current achievements and setting/meeting philanthropic goals.
• Direct staff and provide leadership to achieve goals and vision of the organization.
• Responsible for hiring and retaining staff, career coaching, personal development for direct reports and accountable for the performance of employees.
• Ensure appropriate resources are allocated towards programs, resolve internal allocation issues, and maintain focus on high potential/high return donors.
• Other duties may be assigned.