Executive Director of Development -San Jose State University

At a glance

San José State University is growing its development leadership team! Another Source is partnering with SJSU to recruit a newly created Executive Director of Development as the university builds momentum toward the public launch of its comprehensive campaign. This leader will manage and develop a team of six fundraising professionals supporting areas including Social Sciences, Humanities & the Arts, Health & Human Sciences, and Education, while also maintaining their own portfolio and cultivating six- and seven-figure gifts. It’s a unique opportunity to combine people leadership, fundraising strategy, and frontline development at an exciting time of growth for SJSU. Interested in helping shape SJSU’s next chapter of philanthropy? Learn more and apply! 

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source's client, San José State University, is recruiting an Executive Director of Development to join their team in San José, California. This is a hybrid opportunity with three days onsite per week. 

Here's a little about San José State University: 

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San José State University offers the opportunity to advance philanthropy at a public university with deep connections to one of the world's most dynamic regions. As part of the California State University system, SJSU combines the reach and mission of public higher education with access to an extraordinary network of alumni, businesses, community organizations, and philanthropic partners. 

The Executive Director of Development joins University Advancement at an important level of leadership, helping translate SJSU's academic and institutional priorities into meaningful opportunities for donors to make an impact. The role works across the university and with alumni, donors, college leaders, faculty, staff, community members, and volunteer leadership to strengthen philanthropic support.  

To learn more about University Advancement at San José State University, please visit: https://www.sjsu.edu/advancement/ 

To learn more about San José State University and its impact in Silicon Valley and beyond, please visit: https://www.sjsu.edu/about/ 

Did you know? San José State is part of the California State University system, the nation’s largest four-year public university system. See how the CSU creates opportunities for students and communities across California: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqVB150TbD8 

About this role: 

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Development, the Executive Director of Development is a senior member of the Development leadership team, providing strategic direction across major gifts, fundraising initiatives, campaigns, and donor engagement. 

This is both a leadership and frontline fundraising opportunity. You’ll lead and develop a team of six fundraising professionals supporting the College of Social Sciences, College of Humanities and the Arts, College of Health and Human Sciences, and College of Education, along with broader campaign and university fundraising initiatives. You’ll coach development officers through portfolio strategy and solicitation cycles, strengthen collaboration across the team, and help build fundraising capacity as SJSU prepares for its comprehensive campaign. At the same time, you’ll remain an active fundraiser, managing your own portfolio of high-level prospects and cultivating relationships that lead to significant six- and seven-figure gifts. 

For a development leader who enjoys building teams, shaping strategy, and staying close to donors, this is an opportunity to have a broad impact across SJSU at an important time of philanthropic growth. 

Scope & Impact 

Leadership & Fundraising Management – 50% 

• Lead and develop a team of six fundraising professionals supporting multiple colleges and university priorities, establishing fundraising strategies, priorities, and goals. 

• Coach development officers through the full fundraising cycle, including portfolio strategy, cultivation, solicitation, and closing significant gifts. 

• Provide regular coaching, performance feedback, strategic guidance, and opportunities for professional development. 

• Strengthen portfolio and prospect management practices to ensure consistent activity, accountability, and movement of prospects across the team. 

• Partner with deans, university leaders, and Advancement colleagues to translate academic and institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities. 

• Help build fundraising capacity and strengthen team practices as SJSU prepares for the public phase of its comprehensive campaign. 

• Represent University Advancement at activities that bring together donors, prospects, alumni, and university leaders. 

Prospect & Donor Engagement – 45% 

• Maintain an active portfolio of approximately 30–40 high-level prospects and personally identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors, including opportunities for six- and seven-figure gifts. 

• Develop donor-centric strategies that connect individual interests with meaningful opportunities across SJSU, extending beyond the colleges directly supported by the team. 

• Develop and execute fundraising plans aligned with university, college, and campaign priorities. 

• Partner with colleagues in Annual Giving, Planned Giving, and Corporate and Foundation Relations to advance comprehensive fundraising strategies. 

• Cultivate strategic relationships with alumni, businesses, community organizations, volunteer leaders, and other university stakeholders. 

• Develop gift Memoranda of Understanding when appropriate and facilitate their processing. 

• Model a high level of ethics and integrity in every donor and campus relationship. 

Public Relations & Engagement – 5% 

• Participate in campus and college activities that advance SJSU’s fundraising mission. 

• Collaborate with Marketing and Strategic Communications on fundraising collateral and messaging. 

• Support donor recognition, stewardship, and other fundraising communications for university publications. 

What you will bring: 

• Bachelor’s degree.  

• Seven or more years of successful professional development and/or fundraising experience, including cultivating and soliciting a portfolio of donors and demonstrated success closing gifts.  

• Demonstrated ability to identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors through the development cycle, including success securing six- and seven-figure gifts.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Master’s degree.  
• Two or more years of experience working in higher education.  
• Two or more years of experience leading teams or personnel as part of a management role.  
• Experience with metrics-driven major gift fundraising programs and capital or comprehensive campaigns in a college or university environment.  
• Substantial frontline fundraising experience, including personal success closing six- and seven-figure gifts.  
• Thorough knowledge of fundraising within a capital or comprehensive campaign environment.  
• Ability to develop donor-centric cultivation and solicitation strategies, open doors with new prospects, and connect donor interests with institutional priorities.  
• Demonstrated ability to engage and support volunteer leadership in fundraising, consultation, and advocacy.  
• Deep appreciation and understanding of the academic enterprise and the ability to articulate academic values internally and externally.  

Compensation & Benefits 

The anticipated salary range for this position is $160,000–$165,000 annually. 

This is a hybrid position with three days onsite per week in San José, California. 

Why a career with CSU is for You: 

The CSU system offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary: https://www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/careers/benefits/Documents/employee-benefits-summary.pdf 

• Immerse yourself: Being on campus allows you to enjoy renowned sporting events, artist events, world-renowned speakers. Stroll through trails, museums, and enjoy all campus has to offer. 

• Tuition waiver: up to 2 courses, or 6 units, per semester for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner or eligible dependent child for any of the 23 campuses.  

• Mission driven culture: Transforming the lives of a diverse student body, including first-generation students and under-represented communities. 

• Jury duty: The CSU will continue an employee’s salary while they are on jury duty, regardless of length of jury service. 

• CalPERS Retirement Plan: CalPERS is a defined benefit retirement pension plan. Lifetime medical benefits for you, your spouse, or registered domestic partner. Learn more here: http://www.calpers.ca.gov/ 

• 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan (Similar to a 401k plan) 

• Employees in this classification are entitled to two vacation days (16 hours) per month. 

• A healthier you. Access to athletic and gym facilities on campus  

• Transportation support. Pre-tax commuter benefits 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination:  

The California State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all CSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). 

Another Source works with their clients on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.    

#AS1