Associate Director of Development

Following a record-breaking fundraising year, Chapman University is seeking a dynamic and relationship-driven Associate Director of Development to join our University Advancement team.

In this role, you’ll serve as a front-line major gift officer, building meaningful relationships with alumni, parents, donors, and friends of the university. You’ll partner closely with deans, faculty, and campus leaders to connect philanthropic interests with opportunities that advance student success, academic excellence, and institutional priorities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a fundraising professional who enjoys strategic relationship building, donor engagement, and making a lasting impact through philanthropy.

Why Join Chapman?

At Chapman University, you’ll join a collaborative and high-performing Advancement team during an exciting period of momentum and growth. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with university leadership, engage passionate supporters, and help secure transformational gifts that shape the future of our students and programs.

If you’re motivated by relationship building, inspired by philanthropy, and excited to make a meaningful impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and help advance Chapman University’s next chapter of success.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

✅ Manage a portfolio of approximately 120-150 major gift prospects and donors

✅ Develop and execute strategies for donor qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship

✅ Partner with deans and university leaders to identify and advance philanthropic opportunities

✅ Prepare and present compelling major gift proposals

✅ Travel regionally to engage alumni, parents, donors, and supporters

✅ Achieve annual fundraising goals and key performance metrics

✅ Collaborate across University Advancement to create integrated donor engagement strategies

Required Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3+ years of experience in major gifts, fundraising, donor relations, institutional advancement, or a related field
• Knowledge of the major gift fundraising cycle
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong donor relationships
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational, analytical, and portfolio management abilities
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across a diverse campus community

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working with boards, advisory councils, or other leadership groups in support of fundraising or institutional priorities.
• Familiarity with the Southern California philanthropic community.
• Experience working in higher education advancement or a similarly complex nonprofit environment.

Chapman University is a nationally ranked institution offering traditional undergraduate and graduate programs in the heart of Orange County, one of Southern California’s most diverse and vibrant regions. The university achieved R2 status in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a distinction held by just 10 percent of all U.S. universities.

Chapman University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status or sexual orientation in the administration of its education policies or any other policies or programs administered by the university.