Reporting to the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning is responsible for securing planned and complex asset gifts and/or blended gifts; i.e., a combination of annual, outright, revocable and irrevocable deferred gifts. Primary responsibilities include the identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of alumni, parents and friends, with particular attention to those capable of gifts valued at $250,000 or more. The Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning values collaboration and partners in fundraising activities with a portfolio of school and regional major gift and annual gift officers. This person assists in providing technical expertise to development officers and university administrators. With oversight from the Executive Director of Gift Planning, the Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning participates actively with the rest of the gift planning team in the design and implementation of the gift planning marketing and communications. The Senior Director of Development - Gift Planning mentors, coaches and participates in formal training of fellow gift planning team members, development professionals and volunteers in blended and planned gift fundraising to further the fundraising and donor engagement goals of the organization.   

Reporting to the Executive Director of Development (Schools), with dotted-line reporting to the Dean of Undergraduates and the Dean of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies, the Director of Development – Undergraduate and Graduate Programs will plan, organize, and manage the development of complex major gift support for each of the Deans, as well as their constituent departments and centers. Specific responsibilities include helping identify, develop, and promote fundraising priorities that complement each Dean’s strategic plan, as well as identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donor prospects capable of gifts at the $100K to $4.9M level. All activities are coordinated closely with the appropriate manager in the Development and Alumni Relations Division. In conducting the work, this person will apply knowledge and understanding of Rice University, including its traditions, programs, campus issues, needs, and priorities. The Director of Development – Undergraduate and Graduate Programs will need to grow the graduate prospect portfolio while still maintaining and growing prospects for undergraduate programs, with a goal to manage a combined portfolio of 80-100 prospects with a capacity of $100,000.

Reporting to the Director, Alumni Programs, the responsibilities of the Assistant Director, Alumni Programs (Student and Recent Alumni) include developing and delivering programs and resources that strengthen and support student and recent alumni engagement. The Assistant Director will create long-term engagement strategies and integrate these constituencies (current students and recent alumni) within the larger cohort of alumni relations and fundraising efforts via creating comprehensive programming and communication expressly focused on this audience. This role will manage and cultivate alumni volunteers and will serve as a liaison with campus partners and student leadership.

The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts is a senior leadership position charged with the strategic development of Principal Gifts programs across Rice University. Reporting to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, Stephen Bayer, the Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts provides strategic leadership for the University’s ambitious fundraising goals. The Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts will collaborate with University leadership on crafting a strategy and execution plan to significantly increase annual fundraising. The incoming Associate Vice President for Principal Gifts is joining at an exciting moment in the University’s history with a new President, a highly committed Board, talented and passionate Deans, and a desire from the Rice community to grow and diversify charitable support to underpin critical initiatives.

Reporting to the Associate Director, Communications, the Development Writer works collaboratively with a team of writers, designers, communications professionals and fundraising staff to develop persuasive case prospectuses and proposals, craft presidential correspondence, interview stakeholders and donors, write compelling stories and marketing content and complete other communication projects as time allows. Finally, the Development Writer serves as a point person for creative decisions on select assignments, which may include leading brainstorming sessions with division partners, pitching concepts, organizing planning sessions and working collaboratively on strategy and goals.