Rhode Island School of Design Hiring for Executive Director, Major and Planned Gifts at Providence, RI Full Time

Rhode Island School of Design (RISD or the College) seeks a strategic and experienced development professional to manage and lead its
major and planned giving teams. RISD’s Division of Institutional Advancement is positioning for a historic campaign under the
leadership and vision of O’Neil Outar, VP of Institutional Advancement. If you’re looking to join a cohesive and talented team
dedicated to being the best and breaking records, we are interested in hearing from you.

The Executive Director, Major + Planned
Gifts oversees the Planned Giving and Major Gifts programs for RISD. In consultation with the Vice President, Institutional Advancement, the
Executive Director supervises the major and planned gifts staff, develops and executes comprehensive program strategies for major and
planned giving including implementation of a multi-year plan and timeline with clear goals and metrics for cultivation, solicitation and
stewardship of assigned program prospects. The Executive Director manages, coaches and mentors assigned officers to achieve their personal
productivity goals and supports creative prospective major donor engagement. The Executive Director, Major + Planned Gifts collaborates with
the Executive Director, RISD Fund to ensure both frontline fundraising teams seamlessly advance relationships with prospective donors found
to have major and/or planned gift capacity.

The Executive Director maintains and advances a personal portfolio of 50-60 major gift
($100,000+) prospective and current donors, conducting at least 50 personal visits annually. The Executive Director devises personalized
engagement plans for each assigned prospective major donor, leveraging RISD cultivation opportunities, presenting gift opportunity proposals
that speak to a donor’s philanthropic goals while supporting the mission and goals of RISD. The Executive Director employs the
Raiser’s Edge database to manage prospective donor strategies and moves, documenting all prospect interactions in a complete and
timely fashion and ensures that supervised staff do likewise. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate a proven ability to
work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of divisional and institutional colleagues, within an environment that
values diversity as defined by, race, color, religion, age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, coach and mentor assigned major and planned giving officers using a
  moves management process informed by a multi-year plan and timeline with clear goals and metrics for each officer addressing the
  cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of assigned prospects. The Executive Director ensures that officers achieve their personal
  productivity goals and supports creative prospective major donor engagement

• In consultation with the Vice President,
  Institutional Advancement and assigned staff, develop and execute a comprehensive program to engage and secure major gift ($100K+) and
  planned gift commitments in support of RISD’s mission and strategic goals from alumni, parents, and friends, setting dollar goals to
  meet or exceeds them while monitoring progress on an ongoing basis.

• With input from the Vice President, Institutional
  Advancement and Director of Prospect Management and Analytics, establish a strategy to advance potential donors through the relationship
  development process; ensure progress at the program and individual officer level; monitor officer portfolio and prospect assignments.

• Implement a comprehensive major and planned giving program that engages prospects and recognizes their support, informed by
  feedback from collaborations with Institutional Advancement teams including: RISD Fund; Special Events; Donor Relations; Communications;
  Alumni + Family Relations; Prospect Management and Analytics.

• Proactively engage with the Executive Director RISD Fund to
  ensure regular communications, strategy execution and transition of major gift prospects are identified and highlighted though the RISD Fund
  program to major gift officer assignments.

• Work with Institutional Advancement Events team to conceptualize, plan and
  implement RISD events in assigned territory(s) that build the RISD brand and foster deeper engagement among top prospects and
  philanthropists in that area. 

• Work with Institutional Advancement Donor Relations team to develop and execute high
  quality stewardship plans, maintaining detailed records, for assigned prospects that sustain successful relationships. 

• Manage and maintain a portfolio of 50-60 major giving prospective and current donors at the $100,000+ level. Develop and execute an
  annual solicitation plan for submitted proposals and gift closures providing gift projections of commitments. Maintain a rigorous schedule
  of 50 personal visits per year, creating moves management plans related to them that include strategies of engagement and
  solicitations. 

• Utilizes Raiser’s Edge prospect tracking/management system, to identify, assign, rate, and
  track assigned prospects, complying with department policies and procedures and ensure assigned staff do likewise.

• Conduct
  independent research through the Institutional Advancement database, Internet sources, and referrals from RISD representatives and
  volunteers to identify and appropriately engage assigned prospects. 

• Work collaboratively and synergistically with
  peers on the Institutional Advancement Senior Management Group (SMG) including Executive Director of the RISD Fund; Executive Director of
  Alumni + Family Relations; Executive Director of Advancement Services; and Executive Director of Campaign Planning + Strategy to achieve
  organizational goals and strategies.

  QUALIFICATIONS

  Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required.
  Master’s degree in relevant field or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Ten years+ of fundraising
  experience devising and managing fundraising programs, preferably in higher education or the arts. Proven ability to manage complex
  organizational relationships and work effectively with executive leadership. Program strategy development and execution experience,
  preferably in a campaign environment. Individual and team success in securing and maintaining 7-figure+ accounts and/or philanthropy.
  Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to write and present persuasively. Strong
  organizational skills working in a fast-paced environment. Demonstrated effectiveness in outreach to volunteers and other fundraising
  partners. Interest/experience in art and design desirable. Proven ability to work and communicate effectively with a broad spectrum of
  divisional and institutional colleagues, within an environment that values diversity. 

  Application and
  Nomination

  Review of applications will begin October 25, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. A resume and cover
  letter explaining how the applicant meets the qualifications specified in this announcement may be submitted to [email protected], attention Maureen Pena.