Description
Georgia College & State University (GCSU) is the state's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast-paced and technology-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award-winning, high-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.
As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction - among other ranking sources.
Georgia College & State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high-impact practices such as internships, service- and community-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.
The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville - Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.
Georgia College & State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.
Job Summary
Reporting to the Vice President for University Advancement, the Senior Director of Principal, Planned, and Estate Giving holds primary responsibility for Georgia College & State University's (GCSU) planned giving program. This position collaborates closely with all development officers across the university to build and sustain a robust estate giving plan, and assists the Vice President in identifying principal giving opportunities and prospective donors across campus. The Senior Director also identifies, cultivates, and stewards principal giving donors from the Lake Oconee Region and represents GCSU at events throughout that region.
Requirements
Major Gifts Fundraising & Portfolio Management - 60%
Develops, implements, and manages a sophisticated major and principal gifts fundraising program focused on cultivating and soliciting transformational contributions from alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and friends of the university.
Maintains a personal portfolio of high-capacity major and principal gift prospects, executing consistent, meaningful engagement strategies that advance relationships through all stages of the gift cycle toward solicitation and closure.
Creates and drives a strategic annual fundraising plan with ambitious dollar goals, defined prospect strategies, moves management timelines, and clear accountability metrics.
Collaborates with the Office of Alumni Engagement on engaging and recognizing alumni in designated units and supporting alumni efforts at the institutional level. Coordinate unit-level alumni engagement efforts with GCSU Alumni Engagement.
Partners with the Prospect Research team to identify, qualify, and prioritize a robust pipeline of major and principal donor prospects, ensuring a healthy and actively managed portfolio.
Designs and executes sophisticated long- and short-term cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies tailored to individual donor interests, capacity, and philanthropic motivations.
Coordinates State and Foundation resources to ensure all funds are utilized effectively and in full alignment with donor intent as outlined in gift and endowment agreements.
Collaborates with the broader advancement team on prospect management, corporate and foundation proposals, planned giving solicitations, and campaign initiatives.
Travels regularly - locally, regionally, and nationally - to cultivate and solicit major and principal donors and prospects in support of assigned college or unit priorities.
Staff Leadership & Mentorship - 10%
Provides direct supervision, coaching, and professional development support to assigned development officers and advancement staff.
Sets performance expectations, conducts regular check-ins, and evaluates staff progress toward fundraising goals and professional growth benchmarks.
Models best practices in major gifts fundraising, donor engagement, and advancement operations for junior staff.
Contributes to a collaborative, high-performing team culture within University Advancement.
Strategic Leadership & Campaign Engagement - 15%
Serves as a senior fundraising strategist for the assigned college or unit, providing vision and direction for long-range development planning and campaign goal-setting.
Plays a leadership role in comprehensive campaign planning and execution, including participation in silent phase strategy, case for support development, and volunteer engagement.
Partners with academic leadership, including Deans and faculty, to identify and articulate compelling philanthropic priorities that align donor interests with institutional needs.
Represents University Advancement at college-level events, leadership meetings, and donor-facing occasions as a senior ambassador for the institution's philanthropic mission.
Volunteer & Board Engagement - 5%
Provides strategic leadership to volunteer advisory and fundraising boards associated with assigned areas, ensuring members are meaningfully engaged in stewardship, cultivation, and solicitation activities.
Develops agendas, prepares briefing materials, and provides strategic direction to maximize volunteer board effectiveness and philanthropic impact.
Identifies, recruits, and cultivates new volunteer leaders to sustain and grow board capacity over time.
Stewardship & Donor Relations - 5%
Leads and participates in stewardship activities designed to recognize, engage, and retain major donors, including organizing high-level development events, impact reporting, and personalized recognition experiences.
Contributes to and oversees the development of donor communications including gift proposals, case statements, newsletters, and giving website content.
Ensures timely and meaningful acknowledgment of major gifts in coordination with the advancement services and stewardship teams.
Other - 5%
Performs other duties as assigned in support of the division's fundraising and advancement objectives.
