Executive Director of Development at Louisiana Community and Technical College System in Baton Rouge, LA

Job description

Will work on-site. The Executive Director of Development is the senior fundraiser and leads LCTC's major gifts program. Working closely with the Executive Vice President and the President this position identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individuals, employers, corporations, and foundations capable of transformational investments in Louisiana's community and technical colleges and their students. The role carries a major gifts portfolio and builds the systems, team, and board engagement needed to grow and diversify philanthropic revenue in line with the LCTC Foundation Strategic Plan 2026–2029. The Executive Director of Development uses student outcomes, workforce data, and compelling stories to show donors the return on their investment in Louisiana's workforce. Reports to Executive Vice President. College: LCTC Department: LCTC External Relations Type of Appointment: Full-Time Salary: Will be commensurate with both education and experience. Key Responsibilities: Major Gifts and Principal Giving (50%) • Manage a portfolio of approximately 75–100 qualified prospects (individuals, employers, corporations, and foundations) with capacity for gifts of $25,000 and above. • Move prospects through identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, and personally close major gifts. • Meet annual goals for substantive donor contacts, proposals submitted, and dollars closed, as set with the Executive Director. • Prepare tailored proposals, gift agreements, and pledge agreements, including endowed scholarships that may qualify for Board of Regents matching programs. • Build multi-year investments from industry partners and employers tied to high-demand workforce programs, equipment, and student support. • Lay the groundwork for a planned giving program, including bequest and deferred gift conversations with longtime supporters. Fundraising Strategy and Growth (15%) • Develop and carry out annual and multi-year fundraising plans with the LCTC leadership team. • Set ambitious, achievable goals aligned with the LCTC strategic vision and the Foundation Strategic Plan 2026–2029. • Track performance, report progress to the Foundation Board, and adjust strategy based on donor trends and system priorities. • Assess readiness for, and help plan, future campaigns and signature funding initiatives. Development Operations and Team Leadership (15%) • Supervise and develop the Development and Foundation Coordinator, who manages gift processing, donor records, acknowledgments, and stewardship logistics along with annual conference sponsorships. • Build systems for moves management, prospect research, portfolio accountability, and accurate donor records in the Foundation's donor database. • Ensure gifts are accepted, documented, and reported in line with LCTCS policy, including gift-in-kind and gift acceptance procedures. • Use metrics to guide decisions and foster culture of collaboration, learning, accountability, and excellence. Board, College, and Community Partnership (10%) • Equip Foundation Board members to open doors and make asks by preparing materials, coaching, and creating meaningful ways to engage. • Coordinate with college foundations on prospect clearance, joint solicitations, and shared donor stewardship so LCTC presents one voice to statewide donors. • Represent LCTC at community events, conferences, and external meetings. • Build strategic partnerships that expand awareness of and philanthropic support for Louisiana's community and technical colleges. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Outcomes Storytelling (10%) • Partner with communications, finance, academic, and workforce teams to keep fundraising aligned with system priorities and measurable impact. • Gather completer, wage, and employer outcomes data and student stories to strengthen proposals, impact reports, and donor communications. • Perform other duties as assigned. Measures of Success: • Portfolio: A fully qualified major gifts portfolio w