Job Description

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Position Summary:

Florida Atlantic University seeks an experienced fundraising leader looking to grow their career and join a relationship-focused, results-oriented, donor-centered advancement team.

Opened in 1964, Florida Atlantic University serves more than 30,000 students across six beautiful campuses in South Florida. The College of Education offers a comprehensive and forward-thinking academic experience for students pursuing careers across the full spectrum of education and human services. With five dynamic departments—Communication Sciences and Disorders, Counselor Education, Special Education, Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, and Curriculum and Instruction—the College prepares future educators, leaders, clinicians, and researchers to meet the evolving needs of schools, communities, and organizations. The College is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and offers undergraduate and graduate programs, including pathways in teacher preparation, curriculum design, counseling, speech-language pathology, educational leadership, and research methodology. Florida Atlantic’s university public laboratory schools serve as living laboratories offering students hands-on experience, curriculum development opportunities, and access to cutting-edge educational research. These schools span the full K–20 continuum. The College’s Centers include Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, and the Communication Disorders Clinic.

The Associate Director of Advancement for the College of Education at Florida Atlantic University works collaboratively with the Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, and faculty, and under the supervision of an Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement or/and a Director of Advancement. The Associate Director plans and implements a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan to meet the educational and programmatic missions and activities of the College of Education and its areas. The Associate Director qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of donors and prospective donors with the inclination and capacity to make five- to six-figure gifts to the College of Education at FAU.

The successful candidate will experience a commitment to Advancement at the very top from the President; a seasoned, dynamic Vice President of Institutional Advancement with a winning track record; an innovative and committed Dean at the College of Education; and the opportunities and responsibilities appropriate for fundraising leaders to complete Florida Atlantic’s next campaign.

Summary of Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement comprehensive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individual major, legacy, and principal gift prospects assigned. Work both independently and in concert with Institutional Advancement colleagues to implement strategies leading to direct solicitation of five- to six-figure gifts.
• Build a strong pipeline of alumni and other prospective donors to expand the portfolio of qualified prospects for gifts of five- to six-figure amounts.
• Create and execute solicitation and closure strategies for major gifts aligned with the College of Education and University fundraising priorities and campaigns, measured against the attainment of personal metrics associated with the position.
• Collaborate with the Dean, department chairs, and faculty to identify funding priorities, assess relevance and feasibility for proposed project/priority, and develop and manage comprehensive strategies to secure gifts for selected priorities.
• Devise individualized involvement/engagement strategies for all prospects using an approach that ensures that most highly rated prospects receive the most attention.
• Advise the Institutional Advancement’s Legacy Giving Office of prospects with an interest in a planned gift and work collaboratively to devise an overall strategy for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding planned gift donors.
• In concert with Institutional Advancement colleagues, oversee the preparation of necessary materials including concept papers, funding proposals, briefings for FAU leadership and board members when necessary, and scheduled stewardship reports, for all assigned prospects.
• Identify prospects to participate on boards, committees, or other programs that promote the cultivation process.
• Assist the Advancement team on special assignments to ensure long-term donor engagement and retention and support the Annual Giving team to successfully implement the College’s annual campaign.
• Partner with the Donor Relations and Stewardship Office to ensure appropriate stewardship is provided to donors on existing endowment and current-use funds.
• Facilitate effective communication between the College of Education and its programs, and the division of Institutional Advancement.
• Participate and assist in planning signature events at the University, within the College, and in the community that provide opportunities for strategic engagement with prospects and donors.
• Work closely with the College’s Dean and manage the advancement/fundraising function of the College of Education Advisory Board; act as a liaison to the Board and to the Office of Institutional Advancement on policies, procedures, and approvals.
• In conjunction with the College’s scholarship contacts, oversee that all donor outcomes related to scholarships, such as thank-you notes, event attendance, and in-person visits, are executed in a timely manner.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the Dean to discuss donors and other fundraising priorities with the College of Education.
• Work closely with a team of advancement and alumni engagement colleagues in the College of Education.

Successful Candidate Will Have the Following Characteristics:

• Collaborative, goal-oriented, strategic, and highly motivated working style.
• The ability to demonstrate leadership, take initiative, problem-solve, act independently and as a member of a team, successfully collaborate, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and prioritize, with a positive attitude and desire to learn and grow as part of a team.
• The ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, good judgment, maturity, and personal integrity.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, and an ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with a diverse campus community including senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students, as well as donors, prospects, alumni, and community leaders.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to handle a broad range of high-level and sensitive situations with diverse personalities, and the ability to adeptly respond to challenges.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills, with a demonstrated track record of establishing effective systems that foster collaboration and improve efficiency.
• Able to work beyond traditional work hours and on occasional holidays. Ability to travel as needed and adjust working hours to meet requirements of special tasks and events.
• Ability to translate academia-speak to diverse audiences.

​FAU Benefits and Perks

If Benefits & Perks are important to you, then FAU is the place to be! Working at FAU has its perks! In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, FAU offers:

• Excellent benefit packages including Medical (PPO/HMO $50 per month single & $180 per month family), Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending plans, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more.
• State retirement options including tax-deferred annuities and Roth 403(b) plans.
• State employees Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• Sick Leave Pool Program.
• Paid time off (eligible employees) including vacation and sick leave, 1 personal day, 9 paid holidays, and paid winter break (at President’s discretion).
• Paid Community Engagement Volunteer Service Day
• Employee Educational Scholarship Program (EESP) for eligible Staff/Faculty - Tuition assistance after 6 months of full-time employment. For in-unit faculty, the EESP program may be extended to spouses and dependent children (eligibility rules apply).

For details on FAU's amazing offers visit us at https://www.fau.edu/hr/benefits/index.php

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Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree and three to five years of fundraising experience is required.

Able to demonstrate measurable success in closing five- to six-figure gifts from individual donors, including alumni and friends, and/or institutional donors such as foundations and corporations.

Demonstrable experience developing fundraising strategies in partnership with senior academic and advancement leadership.

Demonstrated analytical skills related to complex donor research and information.

Proficiency in using standard computer applications, including word-processing, spreadsheet, CRM software, calendaring, email, and online applications, and a working knowledge of social media. Raiser's Edge experience is helpful.

Salary:

$90,000 - $100,000. Annually

Administrative, Managerial and Professional (AMP) FLSA Exempt

College or Department:

Division of Institutional Advancement

Location:

Boca Raton

Work Days and Hours:

Monday – Friday. This position will require travel and/or work outside of standard business days and hours related to donor activities and engagement.

Application Deadline:

2026-10-17

Special Instructions to Applicant:

**This recruitment may close without prior notice **

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Resume

Cover letter

OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED:

Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENINGS REQUIRED:

Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check.

REQUEST FOR ACCOMMODATIONS:

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations may contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 561-297-3004 or send an email at accommodate@fau.edu. To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057. For communication assistance call 7-1-1.