Job Description

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Assistant/Associate Director, Principal Gift Qualification and Research

Apply now Posting #: 5433
Position Status: Full-time regular
Location: San Diego
Position Type: Administrator, University Advancement

Department Description

Giving is paramount in the University of San Diego's ability to support the many needs of the university and its students across the campus and around the world. Development is, by definition, the process of creating and enhancing relationships with (potential) donors to ensure current and future funding. It is incredibly exciting and inspiring to be working at a university that fosters a university-wide ecosystem that strengthens the collective capacity of our students, faculty, staff, and community partners to address humanitys most urgent challenges through meaningful, sustainable, and innovative collaborations to advance USDs mission. Members of the university development team are uniquely positioned to be a part of changemaking every day as they work with numerous constituencies within the university community as well as our engaged alumni, parents, and friends.

University Description

The University of San Diego, an engaged and contemporary Catholic institution, was founded by the Diocese of San Diego and the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1949. Governed by an independent board of trustees since 1972, USD remains committed to a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition and the pursuit of truth, goodness and beauty. Inspired by this centuries old tradition of Catholic higher education, the University welcomes people of all faith traditions and any, or no, religious background. The future success of USD relies on the contributions of those who seek to foster the development of engaged global citizens and an earnest confrontation of humanitys urgent challenges.

Detailed Description

The assistant/associate director for principal gift qualification and research is responsible for proactively identifying and qualifying emerging principal and major gift prospective donors to support the universitys fundraising goals. Reporting to the senior director of principal gifts, this position works closely with the associate vice president (AVP) for Development, frontline fundraisers, and other advancement leaders to maintain a robust pool of qualified prospective donors for all approved fundraising priorities for USD with added focus on pipeline development.

The assistant/associate director will generate high-level prospective donor intelligence, align donor interests with institutional priorities, and recommend tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies, ensuring a consistent and tactical flow of newly qualified prospects into active portfolios. This position will engage prospective donors in-person, through correspondence, telephone outreach, and/or Zoom. This role requires a strategic mindset, initiative, and expertise to produce actionable results that enhance engagement and increase the likelihood of transformational gifts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Qualification and Discovery

• Identify and qualify new prospective donors with the capacity and inclination to make six- and seven-figure gifts within 1824 months in support of approved fundraising priorities for USD with added focus on pipeline development.
• Serve as the critical link between prospect identification and advancement leadership and/or frontline fundraisers ensuring a consistent and strategic flow of newly qualified prospects into active portfolios.
• In collaboration with the advancement research team, analyze data to uncover prospective donors based on wealth indicators, philanthropic history, engagement, inclination, life stage, and other key characteristics.
• Conduct in-depth research and evaluate key qualification indicators to surface new and under-engaged prospective donors capable of principal or major gifts.
• Synthesize complex data into meaningful donor insights and strategic recommendations for major gift officers, the senior director, campaign director, AVP, and senior leadership.
• Fully comply with the universitys prospect management/move management system including the filing of donor/prospect contact reports; protect confidentiality in all communications regarding proposed and consummated gifts.

Outreach and Cultivation

• Initiate contact with potential donors, build relationships quickly, and create research profiles for the senior director.
• Connect donor passions to institutional priorities, identifying compelling entry points for engagement.
• Support campaign messaging and strategy for all stages of the donor engagement life cycle for major and principal gifts and emerging leadership prospects.
• Prepare strategic briefings and pipeline reports for advancement leadership team.
• Collaborate with senior director on gift proposals (with unrestricted, restricted, and planned gift components) to support donor solicitation and yield gifts toward institutional priorities.
• Review and finalize briefing documents for leadership that articulate donor strategy to ensure goals for prospect development are clearly defined, and leadership is prepped for donor conversations.
• Research, write, and edit collateral for principal and major gift donors, coordinating with colleagues, faculty, and leadership to create personal and accurate communications; research, write, and edit other donor communications, as needed.
• Support long-term strategies to grow transformational giving at the university.
• Attend conferences and professional development seminars to stay current with fundraising strategies and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned by senior director.

Background Check

Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement

Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.

Job Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Assistant director-level: at least three years of professional level experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and/or related field.
• Associate director-level: at least five years of professional level experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and/or related field.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking; ability to communicate positively and effectively with a diverse audience; possess exceptional critical listening and thinking skills.
• Strong professional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with faculty, advancement professionals, academic administrators, senior executives, volunteers, and trustees of the university.
• Must exhibit attention to detail with excellent organizational and time management skills; remain professional under pressure.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to travel.
• Must have a reliable vehicle and a valid drivers license.
• Must be friendly and personable; mature, positive attitude; a team player.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Demonstrable success in personally qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding six- and seven-figure gifts or more from individuals.
• Experience working on large-scale, comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
• Knowledge in strategic development, donor cultivation, and engagement, ideally within higher education or a complex organizational setting.
• Familiarity with moves management and prospect research tools (e.g., iWave, DonorSearch, WealthEngine).
• Proven record of knowledge in the full spectrum of philanthropic fund development, including special gifts, major gifts, capital campaigns, annual giving, special events, prospect research, proposal development, and gift planning.

Performance Expectations Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong sense of integrity and ethical conduct.
• Cultural competency and sensitivity a must; ability to understand different cultural contexts, viewpoints, and faith traditions; demonstrate respect for others, adapt to different cultural settings; and accept cultural differences.
• Possess a high level of comfort and effectiveness working with high-net-worth individuals and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire confidence, to motivate, and to persuade; strong managerial and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of constituencies sufficient to render credibility in assessing fitness of prospects for principal gifts.
• Entrepreneurial, creative, self-starter, and oriented toward action and results.
• Ability to anticipate, recognize, and solve problems.
• Ability to establish priorities, set and meet goals, and manage many tasks simultaneously.
• Handle all activities and highly confidential information with patience, discretion, good judgment, courtesy, and tact while working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications; ability to become proficient with new technologies and CRM platforms.
• Knowledge of Catholic faith, practice, and culture.
• Knowledge of USDs policies and procedures.

Salary and Benefits

$6,666.67 - $7,500 per month; Excellent Benefits

The University of San Diego offers a very competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, a retirement contribution given to you by the University, and access to on-campus Fitness Centers. Please visit the benefits section of our website to view all of the perks and benefits that USD has to offer.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including departmental budget.

Special Application Instructions

Resume and Cover Letter Required

Click the 'Apply Now' button to complete our online application. In addition, please upload cover letter and resume to your application profile for the hiring managers review. If you have any questions or difficulties please contact the Employment Services Team at jobs@sandiego.edu.

Hours

40 hours per week

Note

External job postings will be up for at least three days. After that time, applications will be reviewed by the hiring manager/committee throughout the posting period. A candidate may be selected at any time which could then close this posting on a date earlier than listed.

The University of San Diego is a smoking and tobacco-free campus. For more information, visit

Advertised

December 18, 2025 Pacific Standard Time

Applications close

Open until filled

Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at . This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response stands and protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. To request a paper copy, please contact the Clery Act Compliance Manager via email at clery@sandiego.edu, by calling (619) 260-4768, or in-person in the Hughes Administration Center, room 150.

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