Global Philanthropy Manager

Play a leading role in the University of Glasgow’s fundraising and alumni engagement strategies by managing the University’s programme to secure gifts – generally between £10K and £1M – from potential donors in agreed priority international markets; cultivate, solicit and steward major donors at these levels, meeting targets for activity and revenue.

• With the Head of Strategic Philanthropy design the complex operational plans required to implement the strategies for international major gift fundraising working across teams in External Relations and with the four Colleges of the University. Set appropriate long (~3-5 year) and mid-term (~1 year) goals for these programmes and be accountable for the delivery of those goals. Plan and manage budgets accordingly.

• Working with colleagues across External Relations, design the Global Philanthropy team’s travel schedule to ensure resource has maximum impact, where possible ensuring travel can deliver against the University’s wider internationalisation goals as well as to fundraising and alumni engagement objectives. This will require using professional judgement and expertise to recommend whether the Principal and other senior staff should commit time to travel.

• Plan and deliver 8-10 international trips per annum for execution by the team, each typically between 5 and 14 days duration. Personally spend around 10 weeks overseas per annum in agreed priority markets.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of systems for managing the identification, cultivation and solicitation of potential major donors and ensuring the allocation of potential donors to pools and ensuring efficient pool management, encouraging staff to drop and “park” potential donor relationships to ensure focus remains on the most valuable, most promising potential donors. Liaise with the Alumni & Supporter Engagement team to ensure prospective major donors are identified from Regular Giving activity, the University’s events and volunteering programmes and other activities.

• Work with Planning & Development Operations staff to produce regular reports analysing performance in international major gift fundraising, analysing future potential and recommending priority areas for future action.

• Research and remain abreast of developments in international major gift practice. Provide expert advice to senior colleagues, particularly the Director, the Principal and members of SMG.

• Provide operational leadership and direction to the team responsible for the delivery of the University’s International Major Gift programmes, acting as coach and mentor to ensure they fulfil their potential and managing performance using the University’s Performance & Development Review and other tools and incentives.

• Use professional judgement and expertise to plan, lead and manage the University’s relationship with a portfolio of current and prospective major donors. The post-holder will need to represent the interests of the entire University in developing these relationships from research and teaching to widening participation, entrepreneurship and civic programmes.

• Use professional expertise to develop and implement a programme of proactively meeting with potential international major donors to understand their interests and motivations, set them on a path to major level support and solicit gifts in person (mostly 5,6 and occasionally 7 figure gifts).

• Using specialist knowledge of potential donors and University projects and programmes, and significant independent judgement, creativity and lateral thinking, articulate convincingly and persuasively the University’s priority themes and projects for philanthropic support. Prepare powerful case statements and gift proposals for prospective donors tailored to the specific interests of each prospective donor and liaising with the appropriate beneficiary area of the University to ensure the object of the proposal is properly costed and can be delivered.

• Use professional expertise and judgement to advise, coach, brief and task University Leadership, senior members of the academic community and senior volunteers to plan, co-ordinate and execute approaches to and solicitation of prospective major donors. This will include members of the University’s Campaign Leadership Board, typically alumni at Chief Executive level in industry and other sectors. This will require high levels of tact and significant ability to influence beyond authority.

• Using expert and developed knowledge of the relationship with donors, liaise with and provide advice to donors and to academic colleagues with regard to the best and most appropriate use of donated funds, balancing donor’s wishes, College/School wishes and University priorities, which are sometimes in conflict.

• Partner with relevant staff across the Development & Alumni Team to ensure best practice in international major gift cultivation and solicitation is shared and that there is consistency of approach and efficiency in the development of policies and procedures in the development of relationships with potential and current donors.

• Ensure effective liaison with the Alumni & Supporter Engagement team to ensure an integrated approach to relationships with potential international major donors: for example that the volunteer programmes can provide effective engagement opportunities for potential major donors and that the best potential volunteers are fed into those programmes.

• In collaboration with the Head of Alumni & Supporter Engagement, develop a strategy of alumni engagement in agreed priority international markets that delivers value to internationally located alumni and provides opportunities for them to contribute expertise and opportunity.

• Partner with relevant staff to ensure that Regular Giving, Stewardship and Gift Management programmes, policies and procedures are fit for purpose for internationally located donors and that all tax and regulatory requirements are adhered to and that internationally located donors see the impact of their gifts.

• Participate fully as a member of the Development & Alumni and External Relations teams, ensuring strong links and good working relationships.

• Be prepared to undertake projects appropriate to the grade of the role but that might fall outside its direct remit of as the Director, Head of Global Philanthropy and/or Vice Principal External Relations may advise.

A1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and management skills in a similar or number of different specialist roles. OR Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9,10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional experience in a management role.

A2 Authoritative knowledge of the principles, theory and practice of major gift fundraising and alumni relations including regulation (e.g. Data Protection) and legal requirements in an international context.

A3 Understanding of and belief in the importance of universities and why they merit philanthropic support.

A4 Understanding of internationalisation objectives in a higher education context.

A5 Ability to rent vehicles and drive overseas, in particular in North America.

C1 Results oriented self-starter

C2 Team player, able to both respect and work across boundaries.

C3 Intellectually curious with an interest in people’s motivations and in the University’s work.

C4 Analytical problem solver with ability to generate and encourage new ideas.

C5 Strategic thinker with ability to set a plan and see it through to delivery.

C6 Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills including active listening, negotiating, high levels of tact and significant ability to influence beyond authority.

C7 Strong writing ability with capacity to adapt from storytelling to concise and clear gift intention drafting.

C8 Gravitas; credible as a senior University representative to CEO level external contacts and to senior University leaders; able to command the respect of a team.

C9 Excellent organisational skills and the ability to resolve conflicting priorities.

C10 Ability to manage resources efficiently for maximum impact.

C11 Ability to work across cultures, adapting approach and manner accordingly.

E1 Significant experience major gift fundraising gained in a higher education or similar environment.

E2 Experience of working independently in international markets.

E3 A track record of securing philanthropic gifts between four and six figures in person.

E4 Experience of working with and influencing senior staff and senior external figures.

E5 Experience of managing and developing staff.

E6 Experience of the systems and processes necessary to underpin successful fundraising including reflecting and managing alumni and donor relationships on Raiser’s Edge or a similar database.

Salary will be Grade 8, £46,047 – £53,353 per annum.

This post is full time and open ended.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension – pensions handbook