Director, Advancement - Major Gifts

The USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Advancement team supports the School’s philanthropic, alumni, industry, and constituent engagement priorities through coordinated fundraising, donor relations, stewardship, communications, events, and advancement operations. Working in close partnership with school leadership, academic departments, faculty, university advancement colleagues, alumni, donors, and external partners, the team advances university fundraising campaigns and school-level fundraising plans while building long-term relationships that support Viterbi’s strategic priorities and philanthropic goals.

Position Overview

The Director, Advancement - Major Gifts manages a portfolio of approximately 75 major gift prospects, developing and implementing strategies to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts of $250K–$5M+ in support of the School’s highest priorities. Working independently and collaboratively with Viterbi leadership, faculty, and University Advancement colleagues, the Director builds donor relationships and secures philanthropic support for the School.

Core Job Duties

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 75 major gift prospects, primarily $1M+, developing individualized strategies, contact plans, and solicitation pathways.

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors capable of making gifts of $250K–$5M+.

• Develop and present compelling fundraising proposals for priorities including endowed chairs and professorships, graduate fellowships, capital projects, and program support.

• Partner with the Dean, faculty, academic leaders, and Advancement colleagues to develop gift opportunities, strengthen donor relationships, and secure philanthropic commitments.

• Prepare and staff university and school leaders for donor meetings, solicitations, and follow-up.

• Identify and engage volunteers who can assist with prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Develop and implement effective donor stewardship plans and coordinate recognition and follow-up with university and school partners.

• Manage prospect activity, travel, and cultivation strategies to maximize fundraising effectiveness and productivity.

• Maintain timely and accurate prospect records, contact reports, forecasts, and next steps in accordance with University Advancement policies and procedures.

• Achieve established fundraising revenue, activity, pipeline, and proposal goals.

Preferred Position Qualifications

• Demonstrated success as a fundraising professional, including personally securing major gifts of $250K–$5M+.

• Experience with major gift fundraising and campaigns, preferably at a complex research university.

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with donors, faculty, administrators, board members, trustees, and university partners.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including fundraising proposal development and presentation.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital tools for prospect management and contact documentation.

• Master’s degree preferred.

• Valid driver’s license required; evening and weekend work may be necessary to support donor engagement and fundraising priorities.

Additional Expectations: Job duties, responsibilities, and assignments are subject to change based on business needs, advancement priorities, university fundraising campaigns, school-level fundraising plans, donor and constituent needs, emerging technologies, and organizational requirements. The incumbent is expected to work with agility, adapt to changing priorities, support alignment between university-wide fundraising initiatives and Viterbi School priorities, identify opportunities for innovation, and contribute to continuous improvement across the advancement and fundraising enterprise.

Work Modality and Travel: This position is designated as hybrid. The employee must be available to work onsite as needed to support business operations, donor and constituent meetings, fundraising meetings, school and university events, campaign activities, peak-cycle priorities, and constituent needs. The position may require local, domestic, and international travel, as well as occasional evening or weekend work to support donor engagement, fundraising events, campaign activity, and other advancement priorities. Any hybrid work arrangement must comply with the Viterbi School of Engineering Flexible Work Arrangement Policy and is subject to approval, operational needs, and change in accordance with that policy.

The annual base salary range for this position is $132,562.81 - $148,831.35. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope of responsibilities, work experience, education and training, skills, internal equity, and market conditions.

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