Director of Advancement, College of Arts & Letters

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Position Summary:

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

The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters is home to the largest number of academic departments at FAU, providing degrees in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Communication and Multimedia Studies, Architecture and Public Administration. The dedicated faculty of distinguished scholars, researchers, and artists across 18 academic programs offer 26 bachelor’s degrees, 17 minors, 12 certificate programs, and 20 graduate degrees that combine the best of a traditional and liberal arts education with cutting-edge instruction in emerging fields.

The Schmidt College of Arts and Letters is also a vibrant source of cultural and artistic programs offering over 150 diverse programs to almost 50,000 community patrons annually. The college is home to the Fogelman Sports History Museum, University Art Galleries, two performing arts theatres, Theatre Lab (a residential professional theatre company), and the future Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies building that will house the Craig and Barbara Weiner Holocaust Museum of South Florida at FAU and a state-of-the-art recital hall.

The Director of Advancement for the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University works collaboratively with the Dean, Associate and Assistant Deans, and faculty, and under the supervision of the Vice President and/or an Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement. The Director plans, articulates, and implements a comprehensive strategic fundraising plan to meet the educational and research missions and creative activities of the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and its programs and areas. The Director qualifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards a portfolio of donors and prospective donors with the inclination and capacity to make significant gifts ($100,000 and greater) to the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters 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 Schmidt College of Arts and Letters; 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 gifts of $100,000 and more.
• Build a strong pipeline of alumni and other prospective donors to expand the portfolio of qualified prospects for gifts of $100,000 and more.
• Create and execute solicitation and closure strategies for major gifts aligned with the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters 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.
• Partner with Institutional Advancement’s Legacy Giving Office 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.
• 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 Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and the division of Institutional Advancement.
• Participate in signature events at the University, within the College and in the community that provide opportunities for strategic engagement with prospects and donors.
• Manage the advancement/fundraising function of the Schmidt College of Arts and Letters 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 Schmidt College of Arts and Letters.
• Supervise a team of advancement and community engagement colleagues in the College of Arts and Letters.

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.
• 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.
• 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 seven years of fundraising experience, or a master’s degree and five years of fundraising experience, is required.

Able to demonstrate measurable success in closing gifts ($100,000 or more) 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 leadership.

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:

$165,000 - $180,000. 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 [email protected]. To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057. For communication assistance call 7-1-1.