Chapter Job Board

The Senior Director of Principal Gifts is responsible for securing transformational principal gifts of $5M+ for The University of Akron. This role manages a portfolio of up to 125 high-level prospects and donors, dedicating approximately 80% of time to face-to-face cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The position works collaboratively with central and college-based advancement colleagues to advance strategic initiatives and major philanthropic priorities.

Essential Functions

Principal Gift Fundraising ($5M+): Lead planning, identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and performance measurement for the university’s most significant fundraising opportunities.
Portfolio Management: Develop and execute strategies to achieve individual fundraising goals and secure transformative private support.
Collaborative Strategy & Execution: Partner with development staff, prospect research, and college-based teams; facilitate fundraising visits and lead cross-functional efforts.
Leadership & Supervision: Provide strategic direction and supervision to the Director of Development, ensuring effective advancement committee and corporate advisory council engagement.
Strategic Goal Setting: Establish and evaluate short- and long-term goals for principal gifts supporting endowment growth and capital projects.
Prospect Development & Volunteer Engagement: Identify new prospects and engage alumni, trustees, senior administrators, and volunteers in donor outreach.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required
Valid Ohio Driver’s License
Minimum of four years of progressive experience in development, alumni relations, marketing, public relations, or related fields
Demonstrated success securing gifts of $1M–$5M+ preferred
Proven relationship-building skills with high-level donors, business leaders, and philanthropists
Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and writing skills
Ability to manage complex strategies, travel, and work outside regular business hours
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor database systems

Additional Information

FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: Commensurate with experience
Background check required
Equal Opportunity Employer
Application Instructions
Apply online with resume and three professional references.
Application review begins February 7, 2026.
Contact: Cindy Harm, charm@uakron.edu

Website for more information: https://uakron.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UACareers/details/Senior-Director-of-Principal-Gifts_JR102599?q=JR102599

PURPOSE OF POSITION: To ensure that donors, corporate partners, and funders who are investing in United Way are receiving the highest level of engagement and recognition from the organization through personalized relationship building and strategic communications, and acknowledgement. Initiates cultivation of new corporate partnerships to ensure the vitality of the organization's corporate giving portfolio.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
1. Gift Solicitation & Recognition: Oversees individual gift solicitation processes and builds relationships with donors through personal interaction and 1:1 meetings by providing the highest quality customer service. Manages designation requests and special handling requests. Manages formal and informal thank-you processes for donors, corporations, and foundation supporters across the Fund Development team. Supports the Fund Development in additional marketing and communication outreach and postage as needed.
2. New Business Development: Identifies, solicits, and engages local businesses with the intent of cultivating them into prospective corporate partners. Conducts outreach, introductory meetings, and relationship-building activities to assess interest and alignment with UWSM’s mission and corporate engagement opportunities. Serves as the initial point of contact for new business prospects and strategically transitions qualified relationships to Corporate Engagement Managers for ongoing stewardship, ensuring accurate documentation and handoff of potential corporate fundraising opportunities.
3. Reporting & Data Management: Accurately records and manages gifts, contact info, pledges, and payment preferences. Assists with reports related to prospective, new, and current donor analytics.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION:
1. Volunteerism: Occasionally volunteers at programmatic events outside of or during traditional work hours. Occasionally tables at community events to represent the organization.
2. Administrative Duties: Manages printing and inventory of resources for donor solicitation and thank you letters. Carries out postage and record keeping of all printed solicitations. Maintains communication with the finance department to ensure accurate record keeping of pledges and payments.
3. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in business management, marketing, communications, organization management or similar; or 3 years’ experience in a similar role.
• Competent in MS Office products.
• Ability to learn CRM and giving platform software.
• Commitment to excellence and passion for the mission of United Way of Summit & Medina.
• Interest in the improvement of the Summit & Medina County community.

Website for more information:https://www.uwsummitmedina.org/careers/

Remote Status: On-Site
The Senior Grant Writer is a key member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) Development team, responsible for supporting the team in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to support the organization’s K-12 national education programs. Future growth opportunities may include engaging with prospects and donors.

Position Responsibilities:
* Increase the fundraising ability and public visibility of NIHF, its programs, and mission
* Collaborate with the team to implement strategies to cultivate philanthropic partnerships, with a focus on foundations and corporations, in support of NIHF’s K-12 education programs
* Work with the team to write and submit letters of intent, proposals, and final reports to major prospects and donors
* Maintain comprehensive, accurate grant and donor files
* Conduct research on prospects who may support NIHF’s programs and mission
* Manage the team’s shared files and resources, including maintaining relevant templates and updated language for the team’s use
* Support the team’s annual strategic planning process
* Effectively communicate NIHF’s mission and programs to broad audiences
* Other duties, as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
* Strong writing, verbal, and organizational skills
* Self-directed, performance-oriented individual who has demonstrated initiative and achievement of goals
* Proven proficiency with MS Office applications
* Ability to learn Salesforce or other donor-related databases
* Ability to work effectively under pressure and respond to changing priorities, while adhering to deadlines
* Adept communicator who can effectively represent NIHF
* Proven research and analytical capabilities
* Detail-oriented
* Ability to regularly work in the office and attend in-person meetings.
* Ability to communicate effectively via email, chat, phone, and in-person meetings.
* Requires regular, reliable, and on-time attendance.

Credentials and Experience:
* Bachelor’s degree
* Salesforce experience a plus
* 3-5 years of grant writing experience in a nonprofit

Special Requirements:
* Writing samples will be requested

Website for more information: https://www.invent.org/about-us/careers

• Increase the fundraising ability and public visibility of NIHF, its programs, and mission
• Collaborate with the team to implement strategies to cultivate philanthropic partnerships, with a focus on foundations and corporations, in support of NIHF’s K-12 education programs
• Work with the team to write and submit letters of intent, proposals, and final reports to prospects and donors
• Maintain comprehensive, accurate grant and donor files
• Conduct research on prospects who may support NIHF’s programs and mission
• Effectively communicate NIHF’s mission and programs to broad audiences
• Other duties, as assigned

• Strong writing, verbal, and organizational skills
• Self-directed, performance-oriented individual who has demonstrated initiative and achievement of goals
• Proven proficiency with MS Office applications
• Ability to learn Salesforce or other donor-related databases
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and respond to changing priorities, while adhering to deadlines
• Adept communicator who can effectively represent NIHF
• Proven research and analytical capabilities
• Detail-oriented
• Ability to regularly work in the office and attend in-person meetings.
• Ability to communicate effectively via email, chat, phone, and in-person meetings.
• Requires regular, reliable, and on-time attendance.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Grant writing experience
• 2-3 years of experience in nonprofits/development a plus

• Writing samples will be requested

Website for more information: https://www.invent.org/about-us/careers

Leadership Akron is an independent nonprofit dedicated to advancing community leadership, impact, and influence. We are seeking a strategic, results-driven Development Director to lead all fundraising and revenue-generation efforts supporting our mission and annual operating budget of approximately $1.2 million.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the Development Director serves as the organization’s lead relationship builder and revenue strategist, overseeing major gifts, annual giving, grants, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events. This role works closely with senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and the Development Committee to ensure long-term financial sustainability and growth.

Key Responsibilities:
• Lead and execute a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy
• Drive revenue across major gifts, individual giving, grants, sponsorships, and events
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects
• Cultivate and steward strong donor, funder, and corporate relationships
• Plan and oversee fundraising events and donor engagement experiences
• Partner with and activate Board members in fundraising efforts
• Oversee development operations, CRM integrity, budgeting, and reporting
• Collaborate with staff to create compelling cases for support and donor communications

Qualifications Required:
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Minimum 5 years of progressive fundraising/development leadership
• Proven success in major gifts and donor cultivation
• Strong communication, planning, and relationship-building skills
• Experience using donor databases/CRMs
• High integrity and commitment to Leadership Akron’s mission
Preferred
• Corporate sponsorship and partnership development experience
• Grant writing and funder stewardship experience
• Experience working with nonprofit boards

Work Arrangement:
Full-time position with in-person presence expected for donor meetings, events, and community engagement. Flexibility supported when aligned with fundraising performance and relationship-building needs.

Website for more information: https://www.leadershipakron.org/job-board