Senior Director, Development

Senior Director, Development 

Who we are

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to higher education civic and community engagement, Campus Compact enables higher education institutions to develop students’ citizenship skills and forge effective community partnerships. Our resources support senior administrators, faculty, staff, and students as they pursue community-based teaching, scholarship, and action in the service of positive change.

Today, we stand at a defining moment: we are ready to scale our impact when the stakes for our work have never been higher. We know that higher education has a critical role to play in fostering democratic principles and culture by addressing polarization, strengthening civic participation, and ensuring students are prepared to navigate and shape our democracy. Thanks to the investment of philanthropic partners, Campus Compact is preparing for a period of significant growth and expansion, particularly in the areas of innovation, scaling, and coalition building. 

About the role

The Senior Director, Development advances Campus Compact by designing, implementing, and leading the organization’s comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure financial sustainability and growth. The role oversees major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, stewardship and donor relations, special events (for fundraising), and annual giving. While the organization has been primarily focused on foundation gifts, a key focus in the coming years will be to grow individual giving and major gifts. The Senior Director will partner closely with the President , vice presidents, the leadership team, and the Board of Directors to align fundraising goals with the organization's mission. This new position will also have responsibility for hiring a manager and building out the development team.  This person will have an exciting opportunity to join Campus Compact during a time of strength and growth, and play a pivotal role in continuing and growing on that momentum. 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Fundraising Leadership 

• Develop and implement a multi-year, strategic development plan with measurable financial goals.
• Create and manage the annual development budget, forecasting revenue and tracking progress against goals.
• Work cross-functionally with communications and program teams to craft compelling cases for support and align fundraising with institutional goals.
• Maintain in-depth knowledge of Campus Compact’s programs, activities, and structure to be able to persuasively articulate these to foundations and individual donors.
• Provide regular reports to the President and Board of Directors on progress toward fundraising targets. 

Major Gifts & Donor Cultivation 

• Research and identify new prospects, including individual donors and foundations, that are a good match to fund  Campus Compact as a whole and any individual programs and projects that align with our mission and priorities.
• Build out an individual giving program, targeting gifts in the 5-7 figure gift range. 
• Foster and manage relationships with program officers and senior foundation and private philanthropy leaders. 
• Steward new and existing donors to deepen their commitment to the organization.
• Engage executive leadership and the Board in donor cultivation, preparing briefings and accompanying them on visits as necessary. 

Team Leadership & Operations 

• Supervise, mentor, and coach the development team (including supporting those not on the team but who contribute to the success of the development including grant writer and data staff) to foster a results-driven, collaborative culture.
• Ensure the integrity of the donor database (e.g., Salesforce) for accurate reporting, gift processing, and data-driven strategy.
• Oversee grant compliance, ensuring timely submission of proposals and reports. 

Partner Relations & Communications 

• Build and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, identifying opportunities for sponsorship and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Work in partnership with the executive leadership team to manage a stewardship program to thank and recognize donors at all levels.
• Help translate and connect organizational and programmatic narratives to help drive fundraising strategies. 

Take on other responsibilities as needed and appropriate.

Key Considerations 

• Someone who has a track-record of and is excited to help grow a non-profit. Someone who enjoys getting into the details of the organization to really understand how to build a cohesive and successful fundraising strategy and team from the ground up. 
• "Player-Coach" Role: Since this is a new role and small team, the individual must be willing to personally solicit gifts while also managing the team, which will include hiring a new Manager level role. This person will also have support from our Senior Grants Specialist on our Finance and Operations team, as well as partnership from our President and Membership team. 
• Independent & Collaborative: This individual must be capable and comfortable working independently, while also able to maintain a strong partnership with the President, build effective relationships with program officers, and collaborate across the organization 
• Diversification: At this level, it is critical to move beyond reliance on one or two sources and cultivate a diverse portfolio of individual, foundation, grants, major gifts, and corporate donors - primary, with a secondary focus on individual-giving.
• Initial focus on building funding strategies and funding our student engagement and institutional change work and driving our Strategic Plan goals.
• Systems Focus: The Senior Director must ensure that data systems (CRM) are robust enough to handle donations and tracking required at this scale. 

Qualifications:

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in fundraising or revenue development, with a proven track record of securing major gifts/grants.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required;. CFRE certification is a plus.
• Leadership: 3-5+ years of experience supervising and mentoring development staff.
• Strong strategic thinker, financial literacy, and the ability to analyze donor data to guide strategy.
• Proficiency in donor management software (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge) and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace.

Expectations:

• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create compelling donor-facing materials.
• Organization, Time, & Priority Management: A strong project manager who is consistent, highly organized, and can easily manage competing priorities. We’ll rely on the manager to set and meet deadlines, plan and assign tasks, and deliver consistently high-quality work.
• Highly Collaborative: effective relationship builder with donors, partners, and internally across the organization at all levels.
• Data: Analysis skills to interpret engagement data across platforms and make action-oriented recommendations to improve our fundraising strategy and communications.
• Ability to travel 15-25% for donor meetings and events. 
• A deep personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As an employee of Campus Compact you strive to represent & live Campus Compact’s Shared Values & Commitments in both how you show up for and work with your colleagues as well as Compact’s partners and communities:

• Equity: We prioritize full participation and diversity of thought, experience, and background. We center equity in our actions, processes, and practices to uplift diverse voices and perspectives.
• Growth mindset: We consistently push ourselves and each other to do and be better. We are motivated by growth—embracing new ideas, prioritizing continuous learning, and meeting challenges head-on.
• Accountability: We recognize that long-term change requires individual and shared ownership of personal and organizational actions. We own our mistakes, give each other grace, collaborate openly, and hold ourselves to high standards of integrity.
• Responsiveness: We ensure our offerings, resources, and approaches are flexible, grounded in feedback, and responsive to the challenges of our time.
• Transparency: We are direct and authentic within our team, with our members, and with our partners. We know that building trust starts with consistent, honest, and transparent communication.

Preferred Experience With:

• Salesforce
• Fundraising Platform (donor prospecting)

Qualification Requirements:  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function in a satisfactory manner.  The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical requirements:

• This is primarily a sedentary position requiring the ability to sit at a desk and use a computer and phone most of the day. 
• Minor bending and lifting periodically (mostly related to help with events and office management needs)
• The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Information:

• Position Type: This is a remote, full-time, exempt position.
• Location: This is a remote position with regular travel required to meet with partners, donors, and attend Campus Compact and partner/network events. Additionally, occasional travel is also required for staff gatherings and Compact Events, most specifically our annual All Staff, in-person Retreat.
• Reporting Structure: President
• Compensation Band: $110,000 - $120,000
• Benefits: Campus Compact provides a competitive benefits package, including national healthcare coverage, generous paid time off, and an employer retirement contribution. The organization prioritizes employee well-being and professional development and lives out those values through a flexible work environment, an inclusive and caring culture, and dedication to professional development. 
• Organizational Breaks:
• Winter Break: Dec. 24th - Jan. 1st
• Summer Reset: Week of July 4th

To Apply:  

We would like this position to start as soon as is reasonably possible, but ideally no later than Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

You will be expected to upload a resume and answer the acknowledgement and application questions 

**Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, with priority given to applicants who apply by March 16th, 2026.

Campus Compact strives to attract and retain a diverse and talented staff who will contribute to the organization’s goals, mission, and vision. We encourage individuals of all ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply. Campus Compact is committed to increasing our team’s diversity, consistent with the values of our network. Campus Compact is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals. It does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), or any other basis prohibited by law. 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Campus Compact participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Campus Compact will only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.