Position summary 

The Director of Development works as part of the Development team within University Advancement at JBU to build relationships with alumni, parents, and friends in an effort to further involve them as a donor to the university through annual gifts, major gifts, and planned gifts. Considerable travel (approximately 40-60 nights annually) is required to identify, cultivate, solicit, steward and manage current donors and donor prospects in an assigned region that includes a “home” and “regional” territory. 

Institution

John Brown University’s mission is to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual, and professional lives. Founded in 1919, JBU is a Christ-centered, Biblically-faithful, interdenominational university that represents the best of Protestant evangelicalism in our commitment to the following theological principles: the fundamental human need for conversion and lifelong discipleship; the centrality of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for the redemption of human beings; high regard for, and obedience to, the Bible as our authority; and active involvement in a local church, in missions and in ministries that work for Biblical justice and serve people in need. At JBU, we seek to integrate faith and learning, foster holistic Christian formation, promote pragmatic liberal arts education, and prepare people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life. All employees must affirm JBU’s Employee Expectations and Articles of Faith.

With more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 48 countries, JBU offers approximately 50 undergraduate programs, seven fully online bachelor’s degrees and 16 graduate degrees in business, education, cybersecurity and counseling. JBU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds program-specific accreditations from various agencies. More information is available at jbu.edu/accreditation.

JBU has benefited from stable and excellent leadership throughout the organization. President Chip Pollard started in 2004 and has led the organization in consistently meeting enrollment goals, completing two capital campaigns and launching a third, completing two strategic plans and launching a third, 17 major building projects, encouraging efforts to recruit and retain diverse faculty, staff, and students, and navigating the educational and financial challenges of the pandemic successfully. He served on the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) board for thirteen years and as chair for five years. Most of the president’s cabinet has served for over 20 years, and all cabinet members have held volunteer leadership positions in the CCCU, ACSD, CIC, NACUBO, and other higher education associations. JBU’s board of trustees are people of deep Christian faith, generous spirit, and professional expertise, with an average length of service of 11 years. They are deeply committed to maintaining JBU’s mission to educate students to honor God and serve others.

JBU has experienced a season of God’s favor and blessing, for which we are grateful. In the last 20 years, JBU has received over $300 million in gifts and grants and has built or renovated over 90% of the university’s facilities. JBU has only about $4 million of debt on over $220 million of assets. During that same time, JBU’s endowment has grown from about $50 million to over $150 million, much of it dedicated to scholarships and academic programs and to support maintenance costs for new facilities. This financial strength has enabled JBU to retain excellent faculty and staff with consistent compensation increases and funds for faculty and staff development. JBU has not been not immune to the economic and cultural challenges facing higher education, but it is positioned better than many institutions to respond.

JBU has received national recognition from many national newspapers and industry journals. For instance, in seven out of the last eight years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has named JBU on its “high honor roll” in its “Great Place to Work” survey. Two out of the last three years, The Wall Street Journal has named JBU the best public or private university in Arkansas. We are typically in the top 10% in our category (master’s level universities in the South) in U.S. News and World Report rankings.

JBU is located in Northwest Arkansas, a region predicted to have the third fastest job growth rate in the country behind only Austin, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina. Three of the largest corporations in the world are located here—Walmart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt—and there is a growing technology, entrepreneurial, and art business ecosystem in the region. The quality of life is enhanced with a world-class art museum, Crystal Bridges, 25 miles from campus, over 400 miles of mountain biking trails, several state and national historic sites, parks, and large lakes, and a new $33 million whitewater rafting park just five miles south of campus. Siloam Springs has approximately 17,500 people with affordable housing and good private and public schools.

Position Responsibilities 

• Consults with team to develop and implement appropriate donor cultivation and solicitation strategies for assigned region.
• Builds relationships with donors and donor prospects in assigned region through face-to-face visits, phone calls, emails, and mailings.
• Solicits annual fund gifts and major gifts (defined as $10,000 or larger) for the University.
• Introduces planned giving vehicles (including charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and revocable estate gifts) to appropriate donor prospects and works with advisor and other team members to prepare planned giving instruments.
• Pursues educational opportunities about fundraising techniques and donor relations by attending conferences, reading books, and subscribing to applicable magazines.
• Represents the University at alumni gatherings and other special events in assigned region and on campus.
• Attends regularly scheduled team meetings on campus.
• Consults with University Advancement team members to set goals and metrics.
• Assumes responsibility for meeting goals and metrics.

Essential Skills and Experience 

• A demonstrated track record in a previous position such as fundraising, sales, or an area that demonstrated a high level of interpersonal and communication skills. (Extremely high ‘people skills’)
• Ability to relate well to a wide variety of personalities, ages, and careers.
• Ability to articulate an understanding of Christian higher education.
• “Internal” motivation to accomplish objectives and tasks (a “self-starter”).
• Ability to work independently of daily supervision.
• Financial acumen and the ability to understand financial, business, and legal concepts.
• Demonstrates professionalism, persistence, initiative, and tact in building and maintaining relationships.
• Ability to ask and bring closure to annual, major, and planned gifts.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel) and Raiser’s Edge NXT

Education:  Bachelor’s degree required (preferably in a business related major). Master’s preferred.

About John Brown University

John Brown University's mission is to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives. We are a Christ-centered, interdenominational university that leads the nation in integrating faith and learning, fostering holistic spiritual formation, promoting pragmatic liberal arts education, and preparing people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.

Connections working at John Brown University